“You’re a cat,” Rory said lamely.
“I’m a panther, and you used to pet me.” She smirked when Rory’s jaw fell open.
“You don’t seem the type to let someone pet you,” she mumbled as they walked back inside. “Besides, what does that have to do with me calling you Lo?”
“Lo is what everyone calls my panther form.”
“You named my new identity after yourcat?” Rory asked incredulously.
“Panther, and yes.” She guided Rory toward the kitchen. “I know everything is overwhelming, but I will not hesitate to lay you out if you continue to speak to me the way you did.”
“Or eat me,” she said under her breath.
“I heard that.”
After pouring them both a cup of coffee, Rory slid onto a stool at the island. “Sera and I went to the underground market for memory potions,” she admitted. “They didn’t work. I’m not sure what else to try other than asking aMunin, but I refuse to involve an innocent person.”
Lauren tapped her red nails on the side of her mug. “You’re nicer than you look. Dumber, too. Never go to the underground market without me again.”
“I’m going to call Kordie,” Rory announced and put her cup down to grab her phone. “I need to get my hair cut.”
Lauren eyed Rory’s long locks. “Why?”
She ran her fingers through the ends of her hair. “I don’t know, but I have to.”
TheAngelblinked, and then a look of understanding crossed her face. “I think I might have an idea,” Lauren said, glancing at Rory’s hair again. “You always wore it down or in a long ponytail.”
Uneasiness raced through Rory’s body. “How many times was I attacked?”
“A few.” Lauren hiked a shoulder nonchalantly.
Rory shuddered and lifted the phone to her ear. She all but yelled, “I need a haircut today,” when Kordie answered.
“Hello to you too,” theAlchemistreturned. “Come in whenever. I’ll fit you in between clients.”
“See you soon.” Ending the call, she stood. “Can we leave now?” Her anxiety over her hair was higher than ever after hearing Lauren’s admission.
She rushed across the kitchen, cleaned the coffee maker, reloaded it, and programmed the auto setting to start around the time her father woke up for work. Their schedules were so different that they rarely saw each other during the day.
He’d kept her grounded since returning from Vincula, and the least she could do was make sure he had coffee.
Rory and Laurenwalked into the salon, and when Kordie spotted them, she squealed and flitted across the room. Her hair was a deep blue today, and it looked great.
“I just finished my last client, and I have half an hour before the next arrives.” She directed Rory to sit in a nearby chair and ran her fingers through Rory’s hair, placing it in front of her shoulders. “How short did you decide to go?”
Lauren sat in the waiting area flipping through a magazine and, without looking up, said, “Short enough that it’s harder to grab when she’s running or fighting.”
The blood drained from Kordie’s face, and she leaned forward to whisper in Rory’s ear. “Is she serious?”
“I can hear you,” theAngelinformed her. Kordie jumped slightly and widened her eyes when they met Rory’s in the mirror.
Rory shifted in her seat and stared at her reflection. “Yes. Cut it to here.” She motioned slightly below her shoulders. “Can youchange it back to my normal color?” Rory liked the black, but she wanted to see what her natural brown hair looked like now that her grey-scale sight was gone.
“If someone grabbing it is what you’re worried about, why don’t you just wear it in a bun?” Kordie mused.
“It’s doubtful I’ll be prepared for a fight at all times,” Rory pointed out. “I’d rather not wear a bun every day.”
Her friend nodded and clapped with a giddy smile. “Perfect. I’m going to give you waves too. It will look great with your new length.”
