“With their parents on the Dark Council and High Council, they’re modern day royalty, basically,” Evie shrugs but Brynne rolls her eyes.
“You say that like you aren’t right there with them.”
“Wait, what?” I ask, looking between Evie and Tori.
Tori winces a little when our eyes meet. “Our mother is the Witch representative on both councils. And our coven matriarch.”
“So, how come they’re assholes and you’re not?”
“All the demonic dynasties areobsessedwith bloodlines. They want to make each generation stronger than the last until they’re like, uber-demons or something. It’s glorified dog breeding.” Evie sneers.
Tori sighs. “I feel bad for them.” Her admission almost makes me inhale my drink.
“You fucking what now?” I gape at her, incredulous.
She shrugs. “Yeah. I mean I can only imagine the pressure they’re under. Hard to grow up under all that expectation.”
“Oh poor little princes, all powerful in their ivory towers,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Don’t forget, with more money than God,” Brynne adds, knocking my elbow as she downs her beer.
“I’m serious!” Tori insists. “They’ve basically got their whole lives laid out for them. A gilded cage is still a cage.”
“See how they’re sitting over there?” Evie nods. “How Calanthe is closest to Roth, Lyra is hanging all over Killian, and Cynthia is trying her best to get between Thane and Luther?”
“Yeah? So?”
“Everything is calculated. Lyra is gunninghardfor Killian, so she’s trying to lay claim to him publicly because her cousins are also gunning for them and she wants him all to herself, but he’s not touching her back which means he’s not claiming her in return. Cynthia’s getting touchy-feely with both Thane and Luther, probably angling to hook up with one of them and make the other jealous—you know, because she’s the Legacy of Envy? The fact that Calanthe’s sitting so close to Roth and he’s not trying to light her hair on fire means he can’t, for some reason. Bet you anything it’s because their families are trying to set them up.”
“So the rich and powerful stay rich and powerful, what else is new?”
“But can you imagine what it’s like to live like that? Where everyone’s watching every move you make?” Tori asks. The thought never occurred to me, honestly. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to be invisible that if I was suddenly in the spotlight, I’d probably spontaneously combust. I shudder at the thought and finish the rest of my drink. After two more rounds of shots to finally loosen up enough to follow the others out to the dance floor where I’m pulled into the throng of swaying bodies.
It feels like I’m floating as the house music drowns out everything around me, silencing the insidious voices tells me I’m not good enough and never will be. Quieting the cruel whispers I hear late at night, preying on my doubts. Here in the dark, I can lose myself without becoming lost.
As I move to the beat, eyes closed, head tilted up, I imagine the shadow snake again, only this time the exploratory toucheshave turned to teasing caresses. I imagine the slow slide of its weight moving from my shoulders to rest around my hips. Those caresses become more insistent until I’m dancing with them instead of the music, letting the pressure guide my body.
And it feels so fuckinggoodto just let go.
I’m not Nyx anymore.
I’mfree.
The pressure drifts up my stomach, between my breasts, and around my throat. My head tilts back in response, and a light brush against my lips makes me open my eyes slightly, only to find darkness.
“Close your eyes,” the darkness whispers, and I obey, because I know this darkness. Warmth engulfs me from behind, sliding across my stomach and igniting an ache between my legs that demands attention, bereft from the earlier teasing. Pressure trails upward from my waist until my neck is held steady and the shadow touches my lips again, but this time it’s warm.
Soft.
Gentle.
And then, it’s not.
The darkness demands entrance, exploring, imploring, and I’m only too happy to surrender when I’m pulled into a tight embrace as the shadow winds around me.
But I’m not scared.
I’m safe in the darkness.
