The heart palpitations started up again, and I wasn’t sure I would survive it.
“He is either the best thing to happen to you or the worst,” Frito said at my side.
I nodded, lovesick to my core. “Either way, it will have been worth it.”
Chapter seventeen
Skylar
“Monica Merriweather,” I shoutedwith glee as soon as I saw her fabulous self emerge from a horse-drawn covered coach. She wore stiletto ankle boots and dark sunglasses with a lavish faux-fur overcoat. Her kinky black hair was done up in braids that wove around her scalp like serpents, and her many piercings glinted in the afternoon sun as she flashed me a brilliant smile.
“Skylar Larkspur,” she shouted, matching my exuberance and throwing herself into my arms. We twirled together, wings alight and buzzing with affection, as a few locals stopped to stare at our happy reunion.
“You packed a lot of shit,” I said as I took one handle of the very large trunk the valet had unloaded. With his help, we hauled it onto the luggage trolley, compliments of the Purple Pegasus Motel.
“Just my entire closet and my shoes and my tattoo kit and all my makeup and hair products, and my special pillow and blanket and silk bonnet. You know, the essentials.”
“Are you going to give me a tattoo?” I asked, thrilled at the prospect.
“I’ve got this new ink that only shows up in the dark. Very sexy. I thought you might like to give it a whirl.”
“I’d love to,” I said, hugging her again. “Goddess, I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too. I’ve missed you so much, Skybear. You look great, by the way. Have you changed up your skincare routine?”
“Not unless you count cum facials,” I said with a wink.
“You fucking slut,” she squealed and jabbed me in the gut. “Oh my Goddess, you don’t even know.”
“Know what?”
“Cedrych has been all over theDaily Scrolls, getting drunk and starting fights in taverns across Emrallt Valley. The rumor is that the queen has checked him into rehab.”
“He’s probably just restricted to his rooms in the palace,” I said, feeling a little bad for him, despite all the trouble he’d caused. “But Cedrych isn’t my problem anymore.”
“And thank the Goddess for that.” Linking her arm with mine, we dragged the trolley behind us as she caught me up on all the Valley gossip during our short walk to my motel room.
I’d taken on a second job of cleaning the other rooms in exchange for free rent. It was easy enough to do, and I rather liked making everything neat and tidy. I hadn’t told Hieroabout my side hustle because I didn’t want him to worry I was working too hard, but I was building my savings, just as he’d instructed. I’d thought more than once about his offer to have me move in with him, but I wanted to work on myself for a bit, make sure I could be responsible without my Daddy having to clean upallof my messes.
“What have you done with my friend Skylar?” Monica asked when she saw my living quarters, cleaner than I’d ever kept a room before.
“It’s the new me,” I said, spreading my arms.
“Clearly,” she said and peeled back the duvet cover of the second bed to find a red thong I’d somehow forgotten.
“That’s just my bathing suit,” I said, snatching it from her.
“Great idea, let’s hit up the pool.”
Twenty minutes later, Monica was in her teeny bikini, and I was wearing my thong while we sipped rum drinks by the pool. Clementine, the motel owner, passed by and waved, thanking us for doing our duty to draw in more customers. I laughed gaily and told her to join us, but she said she had too much paperwork to do.
“So, tell me about him,” Monica said, her berry red lips sucking booze from the straw like it was a flower blossom. Her bejeweled sunglasses hid her eyes, but I could imagine they were brimming with curiosity.
“What do you want to know?”
“Don’t be cagey with me, young man. I want to knoweverything, obviously.”
I smiled, feeling rather smug. “Well, I told you already he’s a minotaur.”
