Page 51 of Reaper Flame

“Try me!”

Zander had a point, though. The Hulk had taken over my bed, and the only place to go for space was the Captain’s cabin on the top deck. It’s a good thing my time as the Kitten prepared me for keeping a low profile, because I needed to spend the day avoiding all the Seven men.

* * *

After West got up at noon, I gave Vixen strict instructions to make sure no one disturbed me, then locked myself in my cabin like Rapunzel for the rest of the day.

Mieko slipped her Kindle under the door to keep me company, already pre-loaded with some of my favorite classics. I finishedThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydeand got halfway throughPride and Prejudicebefore losing concentration because the room smelled like a sex den. Lizzie wouldn’t have the problem of her sheets smelling like dirty, bloody sex with an inked Adonis. Even alone, I couldn’t avoid them!

Whether I liked it or not, I had to attend Vixen’s party. Music had been playing for the last half an hour, and Vixen wouldn’t stay patient for much longer. Would it be awkward seeing the guys together? When we used to live together in Lapland, it was simple. Their agreement to share me had been a mind fuck, but at least we were on the same page. Now, I didn’t know whether we were even in the same fucking dimension.

I picked out a soft green silk dress to wear. It swished around past my ass and had long sleeves that hugged my wrists. The luxurious fabric tied around my waist to accentuate my figure and left a plunging neckline similar to the fit of a blazer. After not topping up my fiery pink hair, it had faded to a baby pink hue. I ruffled it up at the roots to give it a ‘just out of bed’ look.

Go, Candy.I pushed myself.If anyone should miss out on the party, it should be Zander.

I made my way to join the others.When I arrived, everyone gathered on the deck. A delicious assortment of snacks and drinks was laid on a table. From the empty platters and West re-filling his plate, it looked like he’d already made a considerable dent in the mountain of food. Next to him, Q and Rocky were engaged in a comical heated debate about something. Mieko and Vixen were watching, laughing at them and trying not to get involved. Zander stood alone, sipping a glass of wine. I could feel his eyes on me as soon as I stepped out, but I avoided his gaze, pretending he was nothing more than another deck chair.

“You took your fucking time,” Vixen remarked as soon as she saw me, but her tone was light. Mieko nudged her in the ribs, and Vixen cleared her throat. “Now that we’re all here...” She threw me a pointed glare. “We have an announcement to make.”

Mieko took her hand and squeezed it. It was sweet that they were in love and everything, but couldn’t they cut the rest of us a break? They were the perfect example of what a healthy relationship looked like. It was nothing like the explosive reaction that happened between West and I last night when we wanted to kill each other.

“What is it?” Rocky asked as they took a long and dramatic pause for effect.

“We’re getting married!” Mieko squealed, her voice high-pitched and giddy. She was practically floating on air as she held up her hand to show us the dainty silver band with a flat surface and the letter ‘V’ engraved.

“Pretty neat, huh?” Vixen said, holding up an identical band with an ‘M’ on it. Among the array of other rings she wore, it blended in.

“Marriage?” Zander’s shoulders tensed. “Now?”

“It’s legal!” Vixen stuck her chin up high. Not that legality was an issue the Sevens usually had a problem with. “Nothing is stopping us, and why not now? Life is too fucking short. If we’re all gonna die soon, why wait another day?”

“We wanted to wait until everyone was together again to tell you,” Mieko said, her eyes glistening with happy tears. I didn’t know whether to be pleased they wanted me there to make the announcement or guilty they’d put their happiness on hold on my account. “Vix asked me on the day of the funeral.”

Rocky was first to barrel over and pull the two of them into a big bear hug.“Congratulations, guys!”

Q followed close behind. Although he was smiling, it was intermingled with sadness. For him, it was another painful reminder of how he lost the love of his life.

“Congrats,” West said, raising a glass in their direction. “Welcome to the family, Mimi.”

Zander didn’t move or say anything. His expression stayed blank, like a sexy fucking mannequin.

“Candy?” Vixen turned to me. “What do you think?”

Shit. I hadn’t realized I’d been standing gawping at them.

“I think you owe me for introducing you,” I said. “And if you hurt her, you’ll have me to answer to.”

As well as being my best friend, I almost saw Mieko as a little sister. She’d come so far in the time we’d known each other. She went from being a dancer who tried to stay in the shadows and was afraid to say the word ‘sex’ aloud to helping with my escape and getting engaged to the Ice Queen.

I didn’t believe in soul mates. I thought all of that was bullshit. Even if they did exist, what were the chances of two people finding each other among six billion other assholes? But Vixen and Mieko made a perfect complementary pair. Vixen’s no-bullshit attitude and Mieko’s caring nature didn’t sound like it’d work on paper, like fried chicken and waffles, but it did.

West poured a glass of champagne and walked over to join me. His fingers brushed against mine as I took the glass, sending a tingle up my arm, but I didn’t meet his gaze.

“Maybe you should give them tips for the big day?” West suggested under his breath. If it wasn’t for the mischievous glint in his eyes, I’d have smashed my knee into his balls. Instead, I rolled my eyes and shoved him hard. As usual, it hurt me more than him.

No one had properly addressed my sham wedding to Giles yet, and I wanted to avoid the subject. I had a reputation to uphold, and marrying that loser was like Beyoncé hooking up with Bob Ross.

While everyone fussed around Vixen and Mieko, Zander left the throng of the group. He went over to the railings, gripping them with white knuckles, and looked moodily across the ocean. He was an emotional vampire. Why did he have to drain all the happiness out of a good situation?

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