Page 59 of Desolation
Zedd and Hale are on the ends of the would-be orgy, with the twins and Ash in the middle. At my visible discomfort, Ash says, “Lana, turn the damn light off and crawl in. We’ll all behave tonight.”
Yes, sir.
Flicking off the switch, I clamber into the bed and place myself dead in the middle, between Ash and Luke. I nuzzle into the feather-stuffed pillow and sigh, a lightness in my soul.
Bring on the training, Witch Bitch.
I’m ready.
Chapter Fourteen
Lana
The smell of coffee and bacon tickles my nose and I rise from my slumber like a vampire, my nose twitching in the air to take in the delicious scent.Coffee and bacon? Come to mama!I throw off the covers and leap out of the empty bed, racing down the stairs.
“You assholes better have saved me some bacon or there will be hell to pay!”
They know they have to save me coffee but they’re animals when it comes to food.
I slide to a stop near the kitchen island on the hardwood floor at the sight of a woman with similar features to Serenity. I regard her suspiciously. She’s identical to Serenity in build and facial structure but the hair and eye color are opposite on this woman. Unlike Serenity, her long, ass-length hair is silver and she has teal eyes.
Fuck me, is there another one?
My mood sours as the stranger openly laughs at the scowl on my face. “Wow, you guys weren’t joking when you told me how much she dislikes my sister.”
Sister. Bleurgh.
Warily, I make my way into the kitchen. Nothing, not even Witch Bitch 2.0, is keeping me from bacon. My eyes zero in with laser-like precision on Zedd, holding a plate of deliciousness. He offers it to me and I snatch it out of his hands, making my way to the counter and hopping onto a bar stool where a steaming cup of coffee awaits.
Maybe if I ignore her presence, she’ll do the same for me.
Sipping and munching, I sigh in bliss until the woman suddenly pops up at my side and holds her hand out. I almost jump but coffee-saving instincts kick in.
I guess that’s a no to my plan.
“Hi, I’m Lilli. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I eye her pale hand like it’s a shock chair but slowly reach out to shake it with a barely-concealed wrinkle of my nose.
“Hello.” That’s all I can politely manage.
She laughs and plops down onto the empty chair next me, leaning her cheek on her propped-up hand. I’m irritated that the guys left her an opening by leaving us alone in the kitchen and that this chick won’t take a hint.
“Listen,” she says in a lilting voice. “I know how my sister can be, more than anyone else. She seems super arrogant and rude but it’s the only way she knows how to handle new people. Really, she’s an awkward potato.”
I furrow my brow at her. “An awkward potato?”
She drops her hand down and nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! She doesn’t do so well with social interaction in general. If she’s sassing you, that means you have potential. I know it’s ass-backwards but I swear, if she just ignored you and remained quiet like she does with most people, that would mean you’re never going to get on her good side."
Ignoring this peppy ball of energy next to me, I look back at my bacon and consider that. I suppose that isn’t completely unbelievable. After all, I use sarcasm as a defense mechanism for absolutely everything. Maybe there’s some truth to her words and she seems genuine enough so far.
Holding a piece of bacon and gesturing with it at Lilli, I say, “So, say I believe that—what do I do, going forward, to smooth things over? I wouldn’t like anything to distract from my reason for being here, which is my training.”
Look at me trying to be mature. I deserve a pat on the back.
Lilli mulls over my question with a pinch of her lips. “Honestly, she doesn’t have many friends, what with being the leader of our realm. If you can give her banter right back to her, I would say keep doing that but only if it’s in jest. Not because you dislike her. I think she’s potentially excited to have a friend that shares the same weight of responsibilities as her, even if she can’t see that yet.”
Well shit. Never expected to feel bad for Witch Bitch.
