Page 31 of Vicious Little Vows
Crispin leaned toward me, pretending to kiss my cheek, but as he did he whispered, “Just try to enjoy yourself.” He brought with him his springtime smell and a shiver of magic as his lips lingered a heartbeat longer.
Flustered, I lifted my menu. I already knew I’d be ordering the matcha beignets, but after the day I’d had, I needed something warm and cheesy. I had almost relaxed enough to be excited about the prospect of thegourmet four cheese mac and cheese with prosciuttowhen Marcie walked into the restaurant.
In her floral dress and denim blazer, she was a little dressed down for the establishment, especially with her thick pelt of dark hair untamed. At first I thought she was alone, then I spotted impressive white wings outside through one of the street facing windows. So Marcie and Lucas, but where was my mom?
Marcie gave me a pointed look, then took a seat at the bar.
“I have to go to the bathroom!” I blurted, then stood abruptly, forcing Ringo to grasp my hair to keep steady. “Order me the mac and cheese,” I said to Crispin, not wanting to miss my opportunity despite what was most likelypending doom.
Crispin gave me a worried look, but I had already started moving. Dawn and Rian would probably think I was relieving myself in Ringo’s presence, but it was a price I’d have to pay. It wasn’t like Rian had the highest opinion of me anyway.
I caught Marcie’s eye as I headed toward the restroom, hoping she’d take the hint and follow me. I supposed I could have just joined her at the bar, but Dawn would have been pissed about me ditching her, and relative privacy was probably better.
With my nerves jangling, I entered the bathroom. It was bright white and sterile, the only other color small hints of modern chrome. I walked past the first few stalls, two of which were occupied and might prove problematic, then turned around to pace back as the door started to open. Before whoever was outside could come in, someone burst out of the first stall, slamming the door shut. It was a gargoyle, and his head nearly reached the ceiling. He must have been hunching down to conceal himself within the stall.
Ringo jumped from my shoulder and up onto the stall railing as I staggered back, the second stall opening right in front of me. A female angelic stepped out, white wings on full display. She lifted her hands palms out, her blue eyes wide. “Don’t jump away. I only want to talk.”
I took another step back, already thinking of Crispin, though maybe I should jump to Sebastian out in the street. I had none of the guys to give me a power boost, but it was a short trip. Maybe I could manage it on my own. And if I couldn’t, I certainly wasn’t going to let the angelic know it. Let her think I could poof away as soon as she reached for me.
“What do you want?”
Someone was pounding on the bathroom door, but the angelic kept her eyes on me. Her hair was white blonde, glistening like silk down her shoulders. Her simple tank top and jeans looked out of place with the hair and wings. “We want the blade, but we’d rather work with you than against you.”
I relaxed just a touch, though I shouldn’t have. They weren’t with the kidnappers trying to give me afamily reunion, and in fact, were probably with the gargoyles who’d taken most of my kidnappers out. And now I knew they were linked to the angelic Sebastian had mentioned. The one gathering allies to go for the blade. “Were you the ones who stormed the warehouse?”
She flinched. “Yes, but I assure you, we wouldn’t have hurt you.”
“No? You sure killed everyone else just fine.”
She glanced back at the gargoyle, but didn’t say anything. With her attention back on me, she took a step closer, then stopped as I held out my hands to ward her away. “We only want to speak with you, but you are never alone. You can’t trust that devil, Sebastian. If you’ll let us, we can help you.”
I realized the pounding had stopped on the door. Had Marcie not understood my signal?
“I’ll be the judge of who I can trust, but I’m willing to hear you out.” Truthfully, I wasn’t, but all information was good information, and maybe she knew something about the fairy who’d been with my kidnappers. If not, she at least knew whoever else was after me.
She glanced back again. “Not here.” She pulled a white card from her jeans pocket, then held it out to me. “Meet us tomorrow night. Come alone.”
Cautiously, I took the card. Something abruptly slammed against the bathroom door, nearly pushing the gargoyle aside, but he stood his ground.
“We must go.” The angelic looked past me toward the closed window and realizing her intent, I moved aside.
She brushed past me, leaving a waft of flowery perfume. “We’ll see you tomorrow.” She slid open the window, then hopped out. A moment later, I heard the flap of wings.
The gargoyle gave me an awkward smile, leaned forward with one hand still bracing the bathroom door against another pummeling from outside, then launched himself toward the window.
I staggered back, not wanting to get hit by his wings. The door swung open and Crispin fell inside, toppling far enough for the door to swing shut again behind him.
Ringo remained perched on the bathroom stalls, his fur all puffed up. With the gargoyle out the window, he hopped closer. “I was ready to claw their eyes out, if you needed it.”
Before I could respond, Marcie popped up between us, rolling her eyes as she beheld Crispin on the floor. “It seems I’m too late. I came to tell you our great grandfather has caught word of your existence. He is offering great riches to anyone who can claim you.”
I tucked the angelic’s card discreetly into my bra, my hands trembling. “Yeah, tell me something we don’t know.”
THIRTEEN
We had our order packaged to go. Dawn was not happy, and Rian watched us all too knowingly. As we left the restaurant with Crispin’s hand on my lower back, I made a mental note to investigate Rian’s motive for dating my ex boss. If he was only trying to get more information on what his king was up to, he was going to the top of my shit list.
And yeah, maybe the people trying to kidnap me should have been up there, but you know, girl code.
