Marching over to my bed, I exhaled hard and dropped onto the squishy softness, needing something I could punch but not maim—at least for now.
She followed, running a hand through her wild hair like she didn't want to be in this situation either, but here we were.
“If I told them, E would’ve had Riot’s best storming the city. Climbing through windows and slitting throats just to send a message.” She mimed each action as she said it, even sticking out her tongue like she’d been killed. It made me chuckle.
She rested a hand on my knee, face all serious. “That’s why I came here. Just me. If you say you’re good, I’ll believe you, but I had to hear it from your mouth. That’s my sisterly duty.” She winked.
And just like that, the anger drained out of me, and the level-headed boss returned.
Somehow, my middle sister, the werewolf with the rage-prone bio dad, was the most grounded of us, so I let it all out.
I told her everything—the notes, the petals, the gifts. How this one felt different. There was no anger or malice when I touched what they’d left. Just a genuine desire to please.
It felt good to explain it all and be understood.
“Okay,” she said, checking her watch as she stood. “I’ve gotta scout some talent on this coast for a bit, so I’ll be around. If anything changes,anything, you tell me, okay?”
I nodded. It was a fair compromise. Unlikesomeone else, she believed in me.
She pulled me into a hug. “You’re my baby sis, and I love you to pieces. Even if you’re kind of a bratty bitch.”
I hugged her tighter, savoring the wildflower-and-woods scent that clung to her. “I know. That’s why I didn’t stab you with my Jadas. I’d miss you too much.”
We laughed as I walked her out the door and to the elevator. She winked at Alic on her way out and waved over her shoulder.
I waved back, keeping my face calm until the doors closed. All of that feigned peace dropped as I turned to him.
“Aniyah, I know?—”
I raised my hand, keeping my voice firm and cold. “Don’t speak unless spoken to.”
I finally looked at him dead in the eyes, my voice venomous. “You wanted to see me be strong? Then keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Because if you speak one more word withoutpermission, I’ll cut off your useless dick and feed it to the pigeons.”
I stepped inside and paused just before slamming the door in his stunned face.
“Traitor,” I spat.
Then I shut the door without another word.
* Song: Shiny by Lil Mariko
11
ALIC
Itold myself I did it because I was worried that she wasn’t taking this stalker seriously. I swore that I had to do it because I needed to protect her at all costs. But the truth? I didn’t trust that she’d do what needed to be done. Not after she tried to hide it, not after she admitted shelikedit, so I went behind her back.
I called Nova.
I picked the one person Aniyah wouldn’t instantly shut out, wouldn’t steamroll or seduce into silence. Someone she respected. Someone she’d listen to. And Nova, being Nova, she heard me out, thanked me, and said she’d set up a meeting for tomorrow, but the second Aniyah opened her door the next morning, that guilt hit me like a fist to the gut. I couldn’t even look at her.
I brushed her off when she asked what was wrong, and when she told me she wanted to sit down and talk later, I just nodded like a coward and lied straight through my teeth. “It can wait,” I had said, even though her voice had been soft like she actuallywantedto spend time with me.
Then her phone pinged on the way into the club.
She glanced at the screen, and I saw it. That shift. Thatpause. I knew it was Nova.
She looked up at me again, apologizing profusely likeshehad done something wrong.
