Page 54

Pulling a white button-down from his closet, he considered it in one hand and the black Henley he held in his other. White always made his green eyes pop, or so he’d been told.

That was like one time, dude. Calm down.

Teddy jumped up onto his bed, settling herself into a spiraled loaf of black fluff next to his pillow, staring back at him with what almost appeared to be entertainment.

Ethan held up the black Henley. “Maybe this one instead?” She stared back blankly, slowly yawning. “Super helpful,” he said, tossing it onto the floor into the ever-growing pile. “White shirt it is.”

Jumping in the shower, he quickly scrubbed the office from his body, his nerves forcing him ready faster than he expected. “What if she doesn't show up?” Ethan mumbled to himself, rubbing his hands through his hair.

Teddy stretched out, extending her front paws towards him, before rolling onto her back. Ethan smiled, bending over and rubbing her belly. “I need to chill out, don't I?” She meowed in between stretches.

Moving to the living room, he checked himself in the mirror by the front door before pulling out his phone to check the time. 6:18 PM.

I’d better go early, better safe than sorry.

He grabbed his jacket from the hook by the door, trying to ignore the hammering of his heart in his chest. It was a good kind of nervousness, he told himself. Excitement. Did he really believe it? No, but he tried to convince his brain otherwise.

Ethan opened the door to the hallway, turning back to Teddy, who had already reclaimed her spot on top of the couch. “Any last words of advice?”

She stared back blankly before resting her head on her paws.

“Love you too,” he said, closing the door behind him and making his way downstairs to the bus stop.

The city buzzed around him as he got off the bus and stepped onto Pine Street. He tried to quiet the flurry of thoughts in his mind as he headed towards the waterfront to Pike Place Market, but they only seemed to grow louder the closer he got.

Ethan stuffed his shaky hands into the pockets of his jacket, telling himself it was just the cold and not the paralyzing anxiety of not knowing what the night would bring. Definitely not the fact that he had no idea if this was a date or not. Hell, he didn't even know if Evie would show up.

But, as soon as he turned the corner onto Pike Place, he got his answer. Evie stood under the Public Market sign, bathed in its red neon glow. Ethan choked down his nerves.

I can’t believe she actually showed.

Evie leaned against the brick wall, one foot propped up behind her, dark hair spilling over her shoulders. Even from a distance, she was breathtaking.

She looked up, catching his gaze, and Ethan’s breath caught. It’s now or never, he thought.

Evie smiled slyly back at him, and his shoulders dropped just a little, the nerves quieting.

With a steadied breath, he pushed the nervous energy aside and made his way toward her, ready for anything and everything the night might throw at them.

Istood beneath the Public Market Center sign, its red neon glow painting the street in crimson. It was wild to think that only a short time ago I’d been here with Dad, picking out flowers from one of our favorite local vendors. Now, I barely recognized myself, and the only thing left was my memories. I shook the thought away as my throat tightened.

Leaning back against the brick wall, I propped my foot against it, dark hair spilling over my shoulders. A rush of rejuvenating power surged through my veins from the darkness I’d consumed earlier. Despite the night, my skin gleamed brighter than ever, and my hair radiated with a dark and vibrant luster.

Everything had gone to plan, and I’d made sure to feed well. There had been no shortage of options downtown, especially by the marina. Even now, I could still taste his fear. The Blue-collar worker had been tending to his boat, a welcome change from the usual corporate assholes I’d been hunting lately. The man’s darkness had been as thick as the tar he was using to seal the boat he was working on and just as blackened.

Every vile cruelty embedded inside his memories still rushed through my blood: sexual harassment complaints from all kinds of women and a wife who flinched when he raised his voice.

One less rotten soul festering in this city, I thought.

His darkness would sustain my glamour for hours, staving off the ache of hunger while I got closer to Ethan, and in turn—Preston.

I felt the stares as men passed by, their gaze drawn from my heightened allure. Another thing I’d noticed and finally understood about the curse even more now. The pull to my orbit was even stronger after feeding.

Darkness didn't just sustain me—it supercharged every aspect of me, weaponizing my own beauty. But not just my appearance, though.

The golden light Layne had helped me see, the well of my power, thrummed stronger and more potent inside me. I wondered if it heightened my golden song as well?

Tonight might be the perfect time to try it, I thought, but the feeling of guilt briefly needled at me.