I jumped back with a palm against my chest, throwing on a fake smile laced with shock. Cyrus threw an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side as bodies flooded us, filling our empty hands with shots.
“Thank you,” he whispered from the corner of his mouth.
Phoenix, who towered above the rest, nudged his head at Cyrus, and Cyrus left my side, pulling a wad of cash from his pocket. He slapped it into Phoenix’s hand just before I was ripped away.
A swarm of red hair appeared, and Monday threw her arms around me. “I haven’t seen you since Founder’s Day. I didn’t even get a chance to congratulate you! You’re getting married! To Cyrus...” her voice dropped, excited but confused. “How did that even happen?”
Monday Mitchell. Dark, quirky with a vibe that screamed Gothic-hippie. She always wore eccentric clothes and was headstrong about joining Sacred Sea from the second we entered our first year at the Academy.
After hugging her, I held her at arm’s length. “Thank you,” was all I could say, then I changed the subject. “I’m sorry the Shadows stopped your initiation.” I squeezed her hand. “After they’re gone, it will pick right back up.”
“Maybe now that it’s getting closer to your twenty-third birthday, we could initiate together like we’ve always planned. The bright side, right?” Her smile faded. “If only Adeline were here, then it would have been perfect.”
I nodded and turned, trying not to dull the night. I was already on the verge of a breakdown, and there was no need to push myself over the edge.
Not far from me, I spotted Kane approaching Cyrus.
Kane was already drunk and slurring an apology to him.
Cyrus gripped Kane’s shoulder, leaned in, and whispered something I couldn’t make out.
Kane edged back with a scowl, then stalked off to the bar.
Someone pinched my sides, and I jumped in place before spinning into Fable’s arms.
A shriek pounced out of me, and I threw my arms around her, holding on for dear life. “You’re here,” I gasped, unable to believe it. “Is Ivy here, too?”
Maroon painted her beaming smile, and her curled hair floated above her waist as we pulled away from each other. She looked flawless, wearing leather pants and a forest-green crop top under a fur vest, her heart-shaped belly button punctuating her midsection.
“Monday, hey.” Fable gave her a quick hug, too. “No, Ivy is home with Dad. I can’t believe she was okay with me being here, though.” But it didn’t surprise me. Ivy believed I was linked to the Shadows. If she were right, Fable would be safest with me.
The bar was already crowded, so the girls dragged me to a table instead.
Seconds later, grave yet fierce vocals pumped from the speakers crowning the stage. A song about how much it hurt pounded into my ears as it flooded the room, tempting to stick its fingers through me and poke my raw heart.
I downed another shot that was dropped in front of me.
“—How Cyrus could snag Voodoos without the Heathens coming is beyond me. I will say I do miss Fallon. If she’s not working, she’s too busy with Julian or whatever they’re doing in Norse Woods.” A groan. “Love blows.”
I knew it was Monday talking, but I was lost in the song as they got lost in small talk.
“The Heathens aren’t here?” Fable asked. “But this is Phoenix’s bar.”
“Oh, Phoenix is at the bar, but not the others. I still haven’t seen Phoenix or Zephyr, though. Have you seen them yet?”
Fable shook her head. “Only Julian, Beck, and like the back of Phoenix’s head just as he was leaving the ball. Apparently,no onehas seen Zephyr.”
“I wonder what Phoenix looks like,” Monday said, turning in her chair to peek at the bar, but Fable’s arm shot out to stop her. “What?” Monday smiled. “Is someone scared?”
“Did Cyrus mention anything about Zephyr to you? Is he still cursed?”
Then, “Earth to Adora.”
At that, I came to. “Hmm?”
“What’s going on with you?” Fable asked, concern curving around her features. “You’ve been a different person. Are you still upset about the engagement? You two looked happy together.”
Monday leaned in so no one would hear but still spoke over the music so we could. “What? You’re upset about the engagement? Is it because of Kane?”
