Page 30 of Skyla

I rolled off the bed and refilled my wineglass. “I’m still sorry, though.”

“And,” Maggie gestured around the room. “I’m hella jealous of this place. This is insane.”

“It’s beautiful, but I’d rather be home.”

She reached over and put her hand on mine. “I think this is your home now, babe.”

“Not you too.”

“Yes. Me too. Because as much as you’re angry and haveeveryright to be, they’re also right.”

I stared her down, now moving across the room to sit in the chair in front of the gorgeous vanity I hadn’t even noticed in my first investigation. “How so?”

“Someone was always going to find out about you. I didn’t think it would be because of faery cocaine, but at least it’s a good story.”

“What—”

“Sky. Babe. Have you seen yourself? You’re so graceful you move like you’re on rails. You notice things other people don’t. Hear things people shouldn’t hear. Are way,waystronger than you look. Most of the time you can blend in, but there are signs. At some point, someone was going to guess, or you would triggerathanasíaand then everyone would know.”

“If I did trigger it at least I’d be safe,” I muttered.

Maggie tossed the toy so Puff followed it, launching herself onto the furry mouse like it was real. “My point being, they’re right. It didn’t happen the way any of you wanted, but it happened. You’re here. In a fucking beautiful apartment with five drool-worthy fae who would literally throw themselves in front of a bullet for you. I know you’re panicking because everything is different, but things could be worse.”

I sighed. She wasn’t wrong. Yet my chest still ached with the sting of… “Why do I feel betrayed?”

“Because you were. But not by the Shadows.”

Kramer.

“They have him here.”

Maggie’s eyes were bright with anger. “I’d like to have a nice, up-close and personal word with him.”

“Get in line.”

My best friend got up and took her wine glass and cookies to the kitchen. I followed and leaned on the counter while she raided the fully stocked fridge and got a bottle of water. “I’ll level with you, Sky.”

“Be my guest,” I let the sarcasm show.

“I still remember the day you came home after you met them. You were smitten with the big, burly, blond fae who called you ‘baby girl’ and told you he wanted to touch you and never stop. You had stars in your eyes, and they never left. They only got brighter once you got to know the rest of them.”

I stared at her, waiting for more.

“You haven’t so much aslookedat anyone else in the last three years. Why are you putting up a fight against something you’ve always wanted just because it’s not how you imagined it?”

Slamming my glass down on the counter, I started to pace. “Is that what I’m doing?” It was a serious question.

She laughed. “You don’t like change, babe.”

“Does anyone?”

“No. And again, you’re allowed to be pissed. But most of this is a good thing. You’ll get to have ridiculously hot sex withfaemen. You know what people say about fae men?”

I did know, and just the thoughts had me blushing.

“They will protect you from the Legion and the other fae. You only have a week left till your birthday. The only thing you’d be losing is working at the Crimson Petal, and it’s not like it was your dream job.”

“I am going to miss dancing.”

---