Page 364 of The Spider Queen
I held up my hand to silence her. “Just give me a moment.”
She stared at the counter, her face a mix of emotions.
“Why couldn’t you tell me?” I asked. There was no anger, not even hurt in my tone. Only curiosity. “Even after I came clean with you about my true identity, why didn’t you tell me about yours?”
“I wasn’t allowed. I was spelled into silence.”
“You were my only friend,” I said quietly. “Thank you, Herron.”
She blinked.
“For everything. Your friendship has meant the world to me.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Get what?”
“You’re not mad at me?” she asked. “You’re not mad at him?” She gestured to Dad whose face was carefully blank.
“Mad? My parents ensured I was being cared for even though they couldn’t be the ones to do it. And you have been by my side since we found each other. How much of an ass would I be to question your loyalty?”
“Even though it was a set up?” Her voice was whisper thin.
“Was it all a lie?” I cocked my head to the side. “Was I a burden? Was I a terrible person? Did you secretly hate me?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t care, Herron. It doesn’t matter.”
“Are you sure?”
I nodded and with a grin said, “I showed you my devil self and all you did was faint. I expected more screaming.”
She launched herself at me. I braced for her to feel my wings, but her arms went around me like I didn’t even have them.
I hugged her back just as fiercely. I looked at my father as I held on to my dearest friend.
Thank you, Dad,I mouthed.
His smile was wide, and I swore I saw his dark black eyes glisten with tears.You’re welcome, my daughter.
Epilogue
Five months later
I sat at the bar of The Rex Hotel, nursing a glass of wine. I smiled at the handsome bartender and watched as his eyes turned glassy.
Whoops. Too much monster mojo.
I lessened the glamour and released my hold on him.
“How’s the wine?” he asked as he straightened his bowtie.
“The best Valpolicella I’ve ever had,” I told him honestly.
He grinned and then moved away to help another customer.
It had been five months since I’d transformed into a devil. Five months of figuring out how to use my devil fire, learning to fly, and keeping the glamour in place so as to not scare the crap out of humans.
