“You broke our most divine law. You didn’t really expect to get away with that, did you?” His jaw drops, and a look of performative shock crosses his features.
“Not that,” I drawl, cracking my knuckles. He’s a big guy, but I could take him. Easily. I didn't like the way he sneered at Cleo throughout our sentencing one bit. I pierce his eyes with my gaze. “I couldn’t care less about you exposing me; I made my choice. I accept the consequences. Why did you bringherinto it?”
His lips part, and a flicker of confusion crosses his eyes before he deadpans, “Stay out of it.”
“Not my style.” I toss him a lopsided grin, taking another deep inhale of the mist, realizing for the first time how light my head feels.Whoa.Deciding I’ve wasted too much time on his sorryass and I have a party to get to, I whisper, “You’ve done enough damage as is, and she deserves a hell of a lot better.Leave. Her. Alone.”
Then, I give him mybestpredatory smile, reveling in the way his throat subtly bobs upon hearing my words.
I saunter back into the crowd, giving way to the music and dancing with the angels, continually scanning the crowd and taking note of the wings I see.
Green, red, blue, black, white, silver, and yellow wings surround me, all of which are magnificently unique, but none as breathtaking as midnight blue.
I must really get under my new best friend’s skin. And no, she doesn’t know we’re best friends yet, but she’ll figure it out soon enough. Sadly, I haven’t seen her tonight.
It feels like forever since I last saw her. It’s been a whole, what? Six hours? That’s six hours too many tonight if you ask me.
I thought she’d be here. I have no clue why I thought she’d join me tonight. I mean, she made it very clear she had other plans. But what other plans could she possibly have that would take precedence over the most amazing angelic party ever with her new best friend?
I’ve danced with so many people—women and men—I’ve lost count. I’ve also lost count of the number of alcomistybreaths I’ve taken.
…You caught me. I’ve had a lot to drink… or breathe, is it? Frankly, I’m surprisedyou’resurprised. I’m an angel, not a saint. Drinking my sorrows away was the plan for tonight all along. Keep up, buttercup.
The only thing that would make tonight even more spectacular would be a certain short, feisty brunette with golden-brown eyes.
I mean, seriously. What could she possibly be doing right now? I’ll bet she found a way to work after hours and is taking pleasure in working overtime. She’s probably in her office right now, sitting at that little desk of hers, twiddling her thumbs andwishingshe had attended the party tonight.
Good. She should know she’s missing out.
…I have the best idea.
My feet start walking before I can fully register where they’re going.
Up, up, up they go. Up the stairs and across the rainbow bridge, into the palace, my greatest foe. One step in front of the other: left, right, left, right, right, left, left, right.
The building’s bright lighting nearly blind me as I make my way through its grand hall, staying on the first level because, although I can’t entirely remember why I’m here, I’m certain this is where I’m meant to be.
Oh,fuck. I’m wasted.
I chuckle, laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all, as I stumble through the hall for what feels like forever. Then, I lean on a door for extra support during this difficult time.
Feeling adventurous, I turn the doorknob to this dark mysterious little room on the first floor. I sniff the air, catching the scent of eucalyptus. Oddly enough, it’s comforting.
I venture deeper into this dark abyss, leaving the door cracked open and embracing the dark with a warm smile. The light from the hall barely shines into the little room. I glance to my right, my eyes catching on something moving. The light from the doorway casts only a shred of light on the being.
I squint my eyes and realize it’s her—the angel I’ve been looking for all night.
But why is she sleeping on this couch here in this little room?
Her head rests gently on a beaten, worn-out pillow, her thick, dark hair splaying across the pillow in all sorts of directions, and her wings are nowhere to be seen. She must have magically tucked them away again.
A knitted blanket is loosely draped around her waist, nearly falling off.
Oh no, we can’t have that.
I approach her as quietly as I can given my sorry state and gently wrap the blanket around her, tucking her in.
Upon closer inspection, I notice a hardcover book in her grasp, still open. I smirk softly, admiring her obvious passion for reading. I may be an idiot sometimes, but it’d take an even bigger idiot to miss the way she stares in longing at all the books in the library daily.
