“Stay with Daria,” I bark, pushing her to the other side of the bar where Daria stands.I speed through the club.She’ll be fine on her own.I don’t want to leave whoever the fuck that was out there free to cause trouble later.If he’s the threat, maybe we can finish this debacle tonight, before the wedding starts.I’ll put money on the fact Octavia would be high up in some influential magician books if we did.
I’m out the door and on the street in a flash.Thank you, vampire speed.The guards by the door startle and lunge for me, but I swat them off, and they quickly realise who I am.
But whoever that motherfucker was is long gone.
Likely swallowed by the crowd of people thronging outside the club.The people and the paparazzi.I close my eyes and inhale the night air.Try to detect the hint of vampire I got.But there’s nothing other than the stench of booze, sweat and hormones—who the hell was that?
I continue searching the surrounding night, desperate to find whoever is just out of my reach.But I see nothing.He was wearing a long trench coat, but all I see are a bunch of half naked magicians in far too few clothes for how cold the night is.
Maybe it wasn’t a vampire at all?Maybe it was just some overly hench magician.Penelope did mention fucking up some deal with three guys.It could well have been one of them.
I slope back inside the nightclub to find Penelope standing with Morrigan, not Daria.They look like they’re having an intimate conversation.And I know all too well about those sorts of conversations between sisters.But the fact she’s disobeyed me hasn’t gone unnoticed.I don’t want to get in the way, but also, I am self-aware enough to know I am nosy and stand close enough I can just about hear what they’re saying.
Besides, I am her bodyguard.It’s a legitimate need to be close enough to her so I can protect her if necessary.Especially after whoever that was lurking about just now.
Morrigan rolls her eyes at Penelope, who stiffens in response.
“Let’s stop bickering for a second,” Penelope says.
“I didn’t start it,” Morrigan snaps.
“Would you shut up a minute, I am trying to do something nice here.”
Morrigan huffs in response but dutifully closes her mouth.“Sorry.”
“Thank you,” Penelope says.“Let me start by saying,I’msorry.Okay?”
“I beg your pardon?”Morrigan steps back, her eyebrow raised at Penelope, and my heart sinks.I can tell Penelope is being genuine, and Morrigan isn’t making it easy.But as soon as I recognise that, Morrigan must too because she softens and says, “Really?”
“Yeah, really.”Penelope hangs her head.“It’s just that I’ve always dreamt of having a princess wedding.You know?Like a real one with a poofy dress and all the attention on me.”
Morrigan cups Penelope’s hand.“You’re aware you actually will have a princess wedding one day…”
Penelope shakes her head and frowns at her sister.
“First of all, you literally area princess, Pen.So, of course, when you find the right person, you’ll have the full-blown wedding of your dreams.”
Penelope stands a little straighter then nods slowly.“I guess.I hadn’t really thought of it like that.Anyway, I know we’ve had our issues, but if it was my wedding, I would want it to be perfect, and I suppose what I’m saying is that this is a peace offering, and an acknowledgement that I’m not going to do anything to fuck this up for you, okay?”
“Okay?”Morrigan says, her tone mildly disbelieving.
“Look, I don’t want to make a big deal of this, but I learned about this tradition from a different city.It’s where the bride has something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.And given yours and Stirling’s house, I just thought… Well, I thought that you may want these…”
She pulls a little velvet box out from her purse and hands it to her sister.Morrigan opens it and her eyes immediately well up.
“These were Nana’s,” Morrigan whispers, her voice all choked.
“Yeah, they were.They’re old, and blue, new to you and borrowed from me.I thought maybe you would wear them.Given, I’m sure, that everything else you wear will be black, I thought they’d be a cute flash of colour.”
“Oh, Pen,” she says and closes the box and pulls her sister in for a hug.“They’re beautiful.Are you sure you don’t mind me wearing them?I know she gave them to you before she passed.”
Penelope shrugs.“I’d like you to wear them, I think it fits the pair of you.Just keep them safe for me and give them back when you’re done.”
Morrigan nods, and I take that as my cue to go and escort Penelope out.
I sidle up to the pair of them.“Evening, Dahlia,” Morrigan says.
“Good evening, I think it’s time for the princess here to leave for the evening.”
