Seriously?
“Villain” by Stella Jang?
I catch myself halfway through baring my teeth at the jukebox and shake my head.
Passive-aggressive vinyl demon. I know it’s messing with me.
“A-Aurora?”
Eve’s voice jolts me back to the present, back to the real world.
Part of me knew, at the time, that they were sitting there, watching, but most of me didn’t, and still doesn’t, give two shits. If I could do it all over again, I’d do the same goddamn thing.
Filthy fucking perv. I hope he bleeds out slow.
Eve leans forward, voice shaky but fierce.
“That guy was terrifying. The way he talked to you—like he owned you or something. I was about to stab him myself, but then you—”
She swallows hard.
“Your eyes were glowing, Aury. You didn’t even sound like you. And he was bleeding. What the hell did you say to him?”
Her voice breaks a little; she’s overwhelmed but still trying to stay upright—for me.
She shakes her head, her eyes wide. “Seriously, what the hell just happened?”
She’s all over the place, words spilling out faster than she can string them together. But across the table, Thane is still. His head tilts, a smirk playing at the edge of his mouth, and it sends a different kind of shiver through me.
Then, after a beat, he turns to Eve, his voice steady and soothing.
“It’s okay, babe. We had a long couple of days looking for Aurora. And keep in mind, she’s been through something neither of us can even begin to comprehend. Plus, that man is a suspect in several rape cases in the area. He won’t tell anyone about what happened here tonight. You need some sleep, Eve. Maybe we should get you home.”
Why is he covering for me?
And how does he know about Harlan?
“Aurora, what do you say we call it a night? Maybe we can get together again later in the week.”
“Oh, yeah. Sure. My neck is killing me, anyway. I’m sorry, Eve. I don’t know what came over me. I’m just tired of men like him taking whatever they want without consequences. No offense, Thane.”
“None taken. And for the record, you should be proud of what you did. You stood up for yourself. And scared him so shitless,you most likely saved a bunch of other women from a horrible fate.”
“It’s fine, Aurora. You’ve always had a short fuse. But I love your huge, fiery heart. And after what happened with Jameson, I don’t blame you for shoving that knife into that pervert’s balls.”
At least they don’t seem upset with me.
“But seriously, why do I smell fucking kettle corn? This place doesn’t sell kettle corn. And now I really want some!” Eve slams her hands down on the table as she searches the shadows and corners of the bar for a secret kettle corn peddler.
Ezra said my magic smells like kettle corn and that it’s soft and kind, but what I just did to that man was anything but soft or kind.
Still mumbling about kettle corn, she plants a kiss on Thane’s cheek. “Be right back. Gonna pay the bill. My treat tonight. No arguments.”
Thane looks like he wants to argue, but before he can open his mouth, Eve leans down and whispers something in his ear. It must be good because his smile is so bright it could power a damn city. Thane pulls her into his lap and kisses her with so much passion that I get a little hot and bothered. Eventually, Eve comes up for air and stumbles to the bar.
Thane has said some crazy shit tonight. Now might be my best chance to ask him a few questions.
“So, Thane, you said the last time we were here that you met Ezra at a low point in your life. I don’t mean to pry, but what happened?”
