Prologue
FLINT
Halloween
The town hall’s draped in plastic cobwebs and orange fairy lights, the punch bowl bubbling like a witch’s cauldron while the crochet club cackles over whose costume is the most original.
I make my escape from the witches and stride towards my sister, Ember, standing by the door dressed as a pumpkin, one hand gripping a crutch as she balances on her good foot, the other stuck in a cast.
“You ready to go?” I slide my gaze over Drake and smirk. With the flames licking his cheek and a sprinkle of gold glitter, he looks more like Pete’s Dragon than the fierce dragon he has inked on his chest. He’s clearly trying to chat up my sister. Good luck with that, man.
“Hi, Emberrrr,” Seraphina slurs as she pushes through the door. She wobbles on her feet and hiccups as if she’s just emerged from a barrel of cider. Another stumble and she collideswith my chest, gripping the overcoat of my shredded zombie fireman costume. “Mister Sparkles. Chiefy Flintsy.” She pats my chest over the torn fabric, then slides her hand over my heart as if checking if it’s still beating. Her nails scraping my skin through the tear sends a zigzag of electricity straight to my groin.
I grip her arms, my brow creasing as I study her. “Seraphina, are you drunk?”
She hiccups again. “Nooo. Maybe. Half drunk. Quarter drunk. Math’s not my strong point.” She covers her mouth, snorting and giggling, her nails black and sharp, dangerous like the way she’s looking at me now. “Maybe I just need another drink.”
“Not on my watch. You’re not old enough to drink.” I drag a hand down my face, smearing the white and red face paint Ember did a while ago. “Damn it, Sera. I’m taking you home.”
“But—” She wobbles again. “I haven’t had the ch—” Hiccup. “Chili yet. After chili, Pops.”
Pops?
She reaches up on her toes and presses her lips to my cheek. “Then you can take me home. Promise.”
My lips part as I stare down at her, lost for words, the ghost of her kiss lingering on my skin, spreading over my flesh and leaving goose bumps there. What the fuck has got into this girl? She’s my son’s ex-girlfriend, I need to be the adult here. Not get blindsided by her lips.
I steady her, holding her upright. “Maybe some food will sober you up.” I turn to Em, torn between taking care of Sera and my sister.
Ember waves her hand as if dismissing me. “Don’t worry, I’ll manage. I’m not the one hiccupping cider fumes.”
“You can’t walk, Em.” I nod to her foot and the crutch under her arm.
Seraphina puts her tiara on the top of my head and giggles.
I press my lips into a thin line and give her a warning glare, but she just hiccups.
Ember shrugs. “I’ll hobble. It’s only a few blocks.”
“Like hell you will.”
Drake’s voice cuts through Hollywood’s singing on stage. “I’ll take her.”
I raise my eyebrow. “You?”
“Me.” Drake shrugs. “You’ve got your hands full, Chief. Don’t worry, your sister’s safe with me.”
I doubt that. But Ember’s a grown woman who can handle herself.
Seraphina tugs on my sleeve with another hiccup.
“Fine. But dragon boy—” I turn to Drake, giving him my best glare. “Behave.”
Drake grins as if he’s the dragon that got the goat. “Come on, pumpkin.” Drake offers his arm and leads Ember out the door. “Let’s get you home before you turn into soup.”
I turn back to the eighteen-year-old hanging off my arm. I don’t have time to worry about my sister right now. Sera needs to sober up before she does something she’ll regret, like kiss me again. Because there’s only so much of her lips I can take before I snap.
“Come on,” I say, steering her towards the double doors that lead to the town hall kitchen. “You wanted chili, you’re getting chili.”
