No. I think she likes it.
Please,Oberi cut in.I can smell the pheromones.
We entered the Villain’s Den and headed to the foosball table. “Guys on that side, girls on this side,” Ava announced.
I started around the table, but I stopped dead in my tracks when a voice came from the corner.
“Girls? That vampire ain’t a girl!” a guy accused.
“Vampire?” a deep voice mocked. It was Mad Dog. “He’s not one of us. He’s mermaid scum.”
“I am too a vampire!” Ivy stammered.
It was weird to hear her sound so unsure. Usually, Ivy was always down for a fight, but this was definitely a soft spot.
“Watch it, Mad Dog,” I warned. The chairs squeaked as he and his gang stood.
“Whatcha gonna do about it?” Mad Dog challenged. “You’re out of fight club. No one’s going to come to your rescue. We could beat your ass, andyou’dend up in Cellblock 9.”
Chancey just about lost it. He stripped off his jacket and shoved it into my hands, preparing for a brawl. “You really want to go?”
Mad Dog’s entourage surrounded us, and a few of them ended up on the other side of Ivy. Oberi growled, but none of us moved.
I hesitated. I wanted to kick Mad Dog’s ass, but we’d be in deep shit if we started a fight.
“You want to be called a girl? We’ll treat you like one,” one of Mad Dog’s cronies cackled. “Come on, pretty lady. Show us what’s under that little skirt of yours.”
“Yeah,” another chimed in. “Prove you’re a girl. Show us what’s between your legs!”
“You thinkthat’show you treat a lady?” Ava snapped. “No wonder none of you are getting laid.”
“You shut your mouth!” Mad Dog growled.
“Or what?” Ava asked boldly. “Show us how youreallytreat women. Go on, Mad Dog. Fucking hit me and see what happens.”
The entire Villain’s Den fell silent.
Ava scoffed. “That’s what I thought.”
“I won’t hit a lady,” Mad Dog said. “But I wouldn’t mind going after her husband—”
“Ava! Charlie!” Kallie squealed as she entered the room. She rushed in so fast that I didn’t think she realized what was going on.
Mad Dog cut off, and Kallie scoffed at him. “What areyoulooking at? Get lost, blood breath.”
Kallie grabbed my arm, and she yanked me and Ava out of the room. Ivy and Chancey rushed behind us, and Oberi growled at Mad Dog as we left. I stumbled over Rishi and into Marcus when we reached the hall.
Ivy sounded dejected. “Iknewthis would fucking happen. It always does, every time I want to try. And you guys wonder why I stick with one thing.”
“Don’t listen to them,” Ava pleaded. “You’re trying to figure out who you are. You should be able to call yourself whatever—”
“No, it’s fine.” Ivy sighed. “We should just… go. Come on, Chance.”
“Yeah. Thanks for breaking that up, Kallie,” Chancey said.
“No problem,” she said quickly, like she had more important things to discuss.
“We’ll catch up with you later,” I said to Ivy and Chancey. “Be careful out there, okay?”
