Carolina stripped off her nightgown and prepared in silence.
When her boots were laced, she stood and eyed herself in the looking glass. If Abuelo could see her now. Her mouth went dry at the thought. There was no one in the world who would be prouder of her. Certainly not her papá. But her actions tonight might change his mind and everyone else’s in this pueblo. She’d find a sediento, slay it, and bring its fangs back as evidence of her kill. She’d show them she was as good a hunter as anyone in her father’s guard.
Heart thundering, she placed a mask she’d cut from an old cape over her face. She didn’t want to get caught and snitched on before she even made it out of the hacienda. She figured it’d be best to stay concealed until she wanted to make herself known.
She tugged on her flat-brimmed hat and grinned. In this outfit, she no longer looked like the prim and proper daughter of the mayor. She dressed like a monster hunter. Though she’d never seen a hunter with such temptingly round hips. She winked approvingly at her reflection.
“What in the stars?”
Carolina whirled around. Her cousin Nena had woken up, her mass of dark curls falling into her eyes. Nena shoved them back and scrambled onto her elbows. “Carolina?”
“Um…” Carolina tore the hat and mask from her head and attempted to conceal them behind her back.
Nena snorted. “There’s no use trying to hide now. I already saw you done up like some masked vigilante.” She cackled, the sound like a gun blast within the sleeping casa.
“Quiet!” Carolina grabbed a pillow from her bed and chucked it at Nena. It bounced off Nena’s face and landed on her lap.
“Hey!” Nena protested.
Carolina rushed to Nena’s bedside and knelt before her. “You must not tell a soul about this.”
“About what? Whatisthis?” Nena gestured toward Carolina. “Is the fiesta we’re having tomorrow evening for Abuelo meant to be a costume party?”
“No. I…” Carolina chewed on her lip for a moment. “Nena, you must promise to keep a secret.”
Now Nena’s attention was truly sparked. “What sort of secret? Why are you dressed like this? Are you planning on sneaking out?” She gasped. “Is it about a boy? Or a girl?” Nena’s thick brows wiggled. “Have you kissed yet?”
Carolina shook her head. “This isn’t about kissing, Nena.Saints.”
Nena’s jaw dropped in shock. “Did you do somethingmorethan kissing?”
Her cousin was thoroughly awake now and sitting up. Her hands rested on the pillow; her nightdress hung loose over one shoulder. Nena was the prettiest girl in el pueblo by far. She was curvy and had dark brown skin that always smelled of citrus andvanilla. She was only three months younger than Carolina, but they lived vastly different lives.
Antonina Fuentes was free to do whatever she pleased because the things she loved most—dancing, flirting, sewing, and donning beautiful dresses—fit into what her parents expected of her. Nena would happily marry a suitor of their family’s choice because marriage meant she could finally travel away from DelOro. That was perfectly wonderful for her, but it wasn’t what Carolina wanted in life. She didn’t care about shopping or capturing the attention of gentlemen. What Carolina wanted was to hunt. And not for this season’s most coveted lace.
“What is the secret you wish me to keep?” Nena queried. “So long as it isn’t something that will put you in danger, I am ready.”
“Well…about that…”
Carolina slowed her stallion as they came to the entrance of the forest. The usual sounds of midnight greeted her—crickets, leaves shuffling in the breeze, water flowing from a stream nearby. But she would not let the normalcy trick her. Nor would she let the thrum of fear in her mind turn her away now. She had never been so far from el pueblo. Not once in all her eighteen years. She wouldn’t let her own trepidation ruin this moment.
“This is the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Nena said.
“Hush,” Carolina whispered. “Do you want the entire world to hear us?”
She wouldn’t let Nena ruin this moment either.
“What world?” Nena replied. She had put a mask over her face as well, but there was no denying who she was. Her figurealone would give her away to anyone from their town. And Nena had never been shy about that.
Nena searched left and right. “The only people I see are the two fools right here.” She gestured at the two of them.
Carolina rolled her eyes. “No one asked you to come.”
“What did you expect me to do when you told me what you were up to? Just nod my head and saybest of luck? You’re my cousin, I must look out for you.”
“You’re younger than me.I’msupposed to be looking after you.”
Nena fluffed her curls. “But I am far more mature.”
