Page 33 of Hunger & Harmony

“Not everyone is who they pretend to be.”

My brows furrow. Suddenly, the sun is too bright against my face, my skin practically itching with overstimulation. I wander back into the shadows as I respond.

“To be fair, I think I know them better than you,” I say, lips downturned.

“Don’t be naïve, Cadence. Vampires . . .” she murmurs. “They’re not human. They’re not like you.”

“But they’re not ‘monsters’ or whatever, either,” I defend. “It’s not naïve to be decent to my employers, anyway.”

It’s been forever since we’ve had any kind of disagreement. Anger pulses through me, like none I’ve ever felt towards her. She won’t stop twisting a knife I’m trying to ignore. I hate how painfully aware the divide between vampires and humans has become, especially when it shouldn’t matter.

Is that naïve? Am I truly incapable of independence in the “real world” like my parents always said?

Am I still a teenager clinging to my sanity in that hospital bed?

Wrong notes crackle through the phone. I wince and grip the phone tighter.

“I really have to go,” I say. “Let me know when you can talk next.”

No response, but more wrong notes.

“Love you,” I say before swiftly cutting the line.

My head is spinning, and my chest is so, so tight. I don’t know how long it’s been since Niko left, or if Lorelai is going to march through that door in just a moment.

All this for a job. I scoff at myself, stuffing my phone back in my pocket. Except . . .No. It isn’t the job I’m spiraling over.

Hot tears spill over. The muted thud of signs against barricades and shouting in the background doesn’t help. I take some breaths, trying to steady myself again. Maybe I really am just a stupid, silly girl. Defying my parents for music and now blowing up at my best friend for my supernatural employers.

No, that’s too simple. They’re not just my obligation. How could I ever think that when I’ve cried for Ezren’s past? When I’ve witnessed Selene’s strength and worries? When I’ve seen the worst of Niko, and refuse to let it define him?

Maybe that’s the most foolish thing of all. Even if he did want me, even if we somehow crossed the line . . .

What would it cost to be his?

8

STATIC & STARS

“Idon’t like him!”

Staring back at me is one frazzled woman. Her strawberry-blonde hair is a damn mess, and her brown eyes are red and puffy. The bathroom lighting isn’t doing her any favors, either.

“Ugh,” I groan as my hands rub down my face.

I’m running on fumes, and they’re not even coffee-flavored. When my back presses against the wall, I realize how hard I’m breathing.

Gravemont’s nightmares weren’t finished when we left the hotel. At some points, I’m not even sure the bus was still moving. After an hour or more of crawling through traffic and shouting crowds, we broke free onto the highway. Not that the six hours since have proven much better.

Wrong notes ricochet off every corner in this bus. Ryel and Ezren have been exchanging tense murmurs across the table since the journey started, while Selene and Lorelai have been pacing between the built-in seating and the doors Niko closed hours ago.

Being alone in the bathroom is barely any relief. Sleep has been nonexistent, too, even when Lorelai offered me to rest in one of the bunks. I’m pretty sure it’ll already be dark when we scrape into New Lure.

My first time in Aurea’s biggest, most beautiful city, and I’m falling apart. Not exactly how I imagined this tour would feel three stops in. Between Niko, Viola, and my parents . . .

Do I rip the band-aid off? The phone in my back pocket digs against me, like it’s daring me to check. I mean, could it get any worse?

Somehow, the lack of new notifications answers that question with a resounding yes. Usually, my parents would be blowing up my phone, and my mom especially would’ve already sent a hundred more messages. A chill slinks down my spine as I swipe up to view the older notifications, her three messages from two days ago waiting like a death sentence.