Page 93 of The Road to Ruined

"Where do you get that kind of money?" I whisper.

He shrugs. "It's not a bad life, Teagan. You'll see. Are you mad?"

I shake my head. "I would be, but—"

"But you were about to stab the one in the white dress?" he whispers, kissing my neck.

"No, I wasn't going to stab her. I might have punched her in the face, but this is so much better."

Because I can feel how angry she is, and there's power in that, too.

"You look beautiful, by the way," Sebastian says.

"You don't have to say that," I tell him. "It's too loud for them to hear you unless you're yelling anyway."

"I wasn't saying it for them," he says. "I forgot to tell you before you left this evening—you're beautiful."

I pause, waiting for something filthy or sarcastic to follow the compliment. When it doesn't, I blush. "Thank you."

We finish off the first and most of the second bottle of champagne before Blakely and her friends get up and start dancing, leaving me alone in the booth with just Sebastian.

A group of girls walk by, attempting to take a discrete photo of us and failing when the flash goes off. They all scurry away laughing.

"Sorry. That happens sometimes," I say. "Is that a problem for you? Photos of your face?"

"No," he says. "I told you—only you and one other person recognize this face as being both things, and there are no records of me ever existing. Not even at San Flores anymore, and they'll never even notice it. I enjoy it."

"Enjoy what?"

"Being able to move through spaces and crowds like this," he says. "I like being the other thing, too. It scares people. Even the members of The Order see me and they know they should be afraid. They know the quiet, masked things are the ones who will kill them if they ever become inconvenient. But I also like it when they don't know they should be scared."

"Like Blake and her friends? They sure seem to like you."

"Theyseemto," he says. "But if they really knew what I was, they'd be running. Not you, though."

I shrug. "No. Not me. I'm kind of jealous, though. I don't know if I'll ever be able to move through the world like that, no matter where or what I am."

"Can I get you anything else?" the server interrupts.

"No, thank you," Sebastian tells her.

She rests her hand on his shoulder. "Let me know if you change your mind," she says.

"See?" he says as she walks away. "Just like that. I'd rather paint the walls with her guts than stick my dick in them, but she has no idea. Most people are too stupid to see what's in front of them."

"I guess that includes me," I say.

"You recognize monsters," he says. "You just like to play with them—there's a difference. Do you want to go to a real party, Teagan?" He reaches between my legs, cupping my pussy in his palm. "I'll put on my mask, and you can be my pet. I'll show you some things that'll make your thighs clench." He leans in, kissingmy neck. "I could show you some things you'll never be able to unsee, too, but only if you want to see them. Do you want to?"

Yes.

"I can't," I tell him.

"Why not?"

Because Declan told me not to go anywhere with you. And now, I'm scared.

"I'm playing normal girl, remember? For just a little bit longer anyway. Do you know how to dance?"

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