She smiles and takes a deep breath. “Here goes nothing.” She closes her eyes.
We wait, but nothing happens. No. My heartbeat races. “It didn’t work.”
“I haven’t tried it yet. I’m too scared.” She giggles nervously.
“Oh, shit. You scared me.”
“Here.” Before I can do or say anything, Emmett steps forward and bites my neck.
“Ow, fucker!” I push him off.
My blood is coating his lips when he looks up at me. He licks his lips then smiles, “Tastes like candy.”
“Seriously?”
“Yea.”
“It worked?”
“Yea!”
Without warning, Harlow shifts into her demon form and gone is the beautiful winged woman, and in its place is a horribly ugly creature with dark leather looking skin, pointed ears, eyes too large for its face, and pointed razors for teeth.
I scream out and naturally jump into Emmett’s arms.
The harpy’s eyes follow me and smiles before shifting back into Harlow.
“What the fuck!” I say, pushing myself off Emmett and standing back up.
“I gave you a warning.”
“She’s right.” Emmett says, like he wasn’t scared. If he had a heart, I’m sure it, too, would be pounding out of his chest.
Harlow looks at us, humor dropping from her face. “Thank you. Sincerely. I won’t ever forget this. A harpy’s word is their bond. You have me in your service, for whatever you need.”
“Well, if you want to keep managing the bar, that would be outstanding.” Emmett smacks my arm like I was being insensitive.
“What?”
Harlow laughs. “I can do that, but anything else in the future. Let me know.” With that, she turns away and walks through the door. Emmett and I follow and don’t speak as we walk to the car.
When we pull into the driveway, he looks at me. “Are you nervous?”
“Nervous that when I get in the pool I’m not going to shift? Yea. I’m fucking terrified, man.”
He squeezes my shoulder affectionately.
EVERLEE - BITES AND FLIGHTS
Knoxhasbeenonthe roof for the last two hours and hasn’t come out of the pool. He may never come out. In fact, Emmett, being the guy he is, went to the store and got fresh fish and delivered them on a platter for Knox. I about puked, but Knox was beyond happy and so it was hard not to be happy for him.
Everyone has their powers back, the evil villain is locked away- hopefully for forever, and Brady is getting stronger every second. Everything is wonderful. Great, in fact.
I dry the last dish from dinner and put it back in the cabinet when a pair of hands wrap around my neck with a firm grasp. “Tell me, little fae,” Jax whispers in my ear. “What should your punishment be?”
“Punishment for what?”
“Your little stunt earlier.”
