That’s all I know. That’s all they’d tell me.
I would be sad, but I didn’t know Beau that well since most of my family disowned me for my decision to leave the hunt.
A sniffle to my right pulls my attention from the happy couple. I extract a tissue from my clutch and hand it to Evangeline’s mother, Mira. I wonder if Evangeline knows—I mean, certainly she does—that her mom is a witch.
A powerful one.
The curse of having hunter DNA is being able to identify supernatural beings. I don’t come across monsters often, but when I do, there’s a physical tell; a feeling. Goosebumps when it’s not cold. The hairs on my arms and neck standing tall. It’s as if they give off more energy than humans. Gargoyles must be different because I not onlyfeeltheir monstrous presence, but their human forms glitch around me.
My skin has been buzzing all night around these monsters.
I’ve been anxious sitting next to Evangeline’s mother. Being a witch, Mira has the magical capabilities to dip into my head. As a child, I learned how to implement shields to protect my thoughts. I have them in place now but depending on how strong of a witch she is, she might be able to push past them and find out my family is full of horrible humans. If you’re listening, Mira, I swear I’m not one of them.
I never sensed Mira's magical abilities as a child, but I was just a kid and still learning. I first met her when we moved to Upstate New York in second grade, and I became friends with Evangeline who lived next door. Mira barely spoke then and hardly left her bedroom when I was at their house. Then three years later, Evangeline told me her mother got sick and was being treated at a psychiatric hospital for undisclosed mental health issues.
I first realized she was a witch last year while dress shopping with Evangeline. Most witches have an aura around them. Mira’s is a shade of pink. My best friend’s aura is purple. Her magical powers only recently emerged; otherwise, I would have been able to sense them when we were younger.
Same with my family. If my father had known our neighbors were witches, he never mentioned it to me. Though, most hunters don’t fuck with witches. Their magic is too unpredictable.
I wish Evangeline would have confided in me about this new part of her life. I suppose there’s still a lot I don’t know about my best friend, especially when it comes to her mother. She rarely spoke of her after her hospitalization, but to be fair, I kept secrets from Evangeline too. I didn’t tell her my family hunts monsters or that I spent nearly ten years training to follow in their footsteps.
Now there’s no way I can tell her. She would hate me. She would never want to speak to me again.
I’ll just have to keep pretending I believe she’s getting married to a human until she’s ready to tell me monsters exist.
If she ever does.
The ceremony is held on the rooftop of Xander’s penthouse. Despite the pleasant late May breeze, the night is warm. Decorations glitter against the dark sky and my best friend looks stunning in her yellow sun dress that hugs her thick body like a second skin.
Evangeline is a big girl like me. We’re the same age too. Well, I’m older by a few months. I just turned forty-two last month, and I’m not sure how I feel about this getting older thing.
Forty-two and I’ve been single my entire life. No long-term relationships and a lot of horrible one-night stands. Dating is exhausting for fat people and at this point, I want to give up on finding my one true love.
Not to mention that sex just isn’t good for me.
I must be broken.
I know who could help fix me.
I turn my head to find Locheran sitting in the aisle chair in the row directly across from me. He pays me no attention as the chaplain leads the ceremony.
Of course Locheran’s not looking at me. Why would he be interested in some short, big bellied,human?
The first time we met, he avoided me like I was a fucking disease. The look he gave me when Evangeline introduced us was a mix of what appeared to be pain and disinterest.
Asshole.
I mean, I get it. He’s gorgeous in both his human and gargoyle forms. Tall, but not as tall as Xander. I’d say about six foot three, which is tall to me since I’m five foot four. He’s got the most gorgeous purple skin and navy-blue hair that falls down his back in silken strands. His eyes are a beautiful violet. I got a good look at his monstrous side the night we met because his human form glitched the most around me.
I’m not saying I have a crush, but I definitely wouldn’t mind having sex with him. Something tells me he’d be the one to make me come. Especially since Evangeline warned me he’s a player. That just means he knows what he’s doing.
But the man—um… gargoyle—can’t bear to look at me! And tonight I look fucking hot. I’m wearing a fitted green dress with a high slit that shows off my thick thighs. I’m also having a good hair day, not that my hair style matters anymore. It’s time for a change. I’ve booked an appointment at a salon next week to dye it blonde.
I’ve always been known for my fiery red hair, just like my father and brothers. Now I hate it. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing an O’Hern hunter staring back.
Fuck.
I’m depressing myself.
