by Sedona Venez
“Okay, so let me get this right. Mom leaves a frantic voicemail about needing to leave town to take care of an emergency. Leaves this dress with instructions to get my ass to Ryker Alfero's party all because of some witch retreat?”
“Pretty much.” She looked me over with an impish smile. “But you've got to admit, she does have impeccable taste. Look at you. You look like an exotic sex kitten.” She swiped her hand like a cat. “Damn, your body is just sinful. And I’m envious as hell.” She looked at my eyeglasses disapprovingly before trying to snatch them off. “Will you give me those cock-blocking glasses?”
Dodging her attempt while popping her on the hand, I said, “I'll have you know I've been told these glasses make me look like a naughty teacher that's about to hand out punishment to a very bad boy.” I pretended to slap a ruler in my palm with a stern glare.
Light squinted. “Okay, keep them on. You need all the help you can get to counteract the disapproving air you get every time you're around Others.”
I rolled my eyes before leaning against the floor-to-ceiling mirror. “Give me a break. They despise us because we're hybrids but are more than happy to use our services to find them escorts. What type of hypocritical shit is that?”
Light shrugged. “Not all of them are like that. Just the prejudiced asswipes on the Council. And they don't fucking count.”
“Let's be honest. The Other Council controls everything that happens behind the scene. If it weren’t for the fact we are damn good at what we do, they wouldn't have shit to do with us. They need us. We have a lock on filling the female Other shortage gap. So you bet your sweet ass that every time I get the opportunity, I'm going to stick that shit in their faces. Without us, a family of female Fae-witch hybrids, they wouldn't have a chance in hell of finding those pretty little females that they parade around like show horses.”
“Okay, that's true, but wolf-shifters are sexy as hell.”
My body stiffened as I tried to calm my breath. Oh shit! Not again. The last time she dated a wolf-shifter, it was disastrous. “Light, please tell me that you haven't been sleeping with wolf-shifters again?”
“Oh, don't get all uptight and righteous with me. I didn't say I've slept with one… lately. But you don't know what you're missing. The sex is hotter than hell.”
My mouth tightened. “I don't care how hot the sex is. It's not worth the involuntary side effect of binding with his crazy ass forever. Besides, there are rules, Light. Rules to protect us and them.”
Light ticked them off her fingers. “No sex with the same guy more than once. No relationships with humans. Ensure limited sexual contact with Others.” She shooed me with her hand. “Too many rules if you ask me.”
“Our lives are not that bad.” I cringed inside because in reality, it was, but I tried not to dwell on something I couldn't change. None of us could. “We're strong, confident, successful, and beautiful.”
“And don't forget bitter.”
“We're not bitter. We're realistic. The Credence family made a decision centuries ago that the death associated with falling in love with a human is not worth the backlash from the Other Council. Our oath to them is the only thing keeping the truce intact.”
Light leaned forward, sloshing champagne. “Oh fuck, you're doing that denial thing again. All the truce with the Council has gotten us is a constant watchdog waiting for us to fuck up and kill someone so they can try to railroad us like they tried with Great-Grandma Solista.”
I couldn't deny that. There hadn't been a death due to the Credence Curse in centuries. A fact that annoyed the Others who were chomping at the bit to finally destroy us. They were vigilantly waiting for one of us to falter by falling in love with a human, thereby reviving the Credence Curse and breaking the tenuous truce with the Council.
Light scoffed. “The only reason the Credence family made the oath of ensuring that the curse never reared its ugly head again was because our ancestors were emotionally broken from losing every man they loved. Shit, they threw their hands up in the air in defeat and came up with some fucked-up rules that don't make a bit of sense. Now we're stuck living a nomadic, loveless life that's made us very bitter. You and I know that it's not healthy. But whatever gets you through this shit of a life.”
My fist clenched. I didn't need her poking me with the mental stick like some bully. I got it. We were fucked up. Case closed. “Has it ever occurred to you that you're being selfish? Do you know how many women would kill just to have the life we live? We have more money than we could ever spend. We age significantly slower than humans. It's a win-win situation.”
She actually gave me a “poor thing” look. The nerve of her.
“Okay, Storm, tell me what's the sense of having all of that when we will never have anyone to share it with? We roll over every morning to an empty bed. Face it, we're going to die alone and no amount of money is worth living a life that is emotionally empty.”
Oh shit! She's going through one of her depression spells.
“Do you really think I like the fact that I will never have a man to share my life with? It's a fucked-up situation, but to dwell on a situation we’re born into is just a waste of time.”
She looked at me with more clarity than I've seen in months. “Yes. I think you do.”
I cocked my hands on my hips. “You think that I enjoy living my life like some emotional leper with no chance in hell of having companionship?” I scoffed. “You don't know me as well as I thought you did.”
“Oh, I know you well, Storm. And what I know for sure is that you live your life in this emotional shell, not willing to show anyone that you care. Damn it! Make some fucking mistakes. Let yourself feel again. Do something… because it's breaking my heart to watch you wither away pretending that all you need is your career and money.”
My heart froze over years ago and nothing was going to change that fact. “And what would be the point of that? Unlike you, I do care if I hurt a human.”
Light pursed her lips. “There's nothing in the rules that says we can't have fun.”
“Okay… so you find a guy. You build up all these—feelings, then what?” I arched a brow. “You can't build a life with him because you eventually have to walk away.”
“Exactly, you just said it. We walk away. But at least we experienced it. We understand we aren’t going to skip out into the sunset in some fucking fairytale ending. But we can have fun while it lasts and then move on to the next.”
She was out of her fucking mind. “That's bullshit! I'm not going to open myself up for the experience. All I need a man for is straight up S-E-X.”
Light's face flushed, working herself up for another big blowout with me. “No, what's bullshit is you walking around living this half existence because you’re scared that one day that S-E-X will turn into love.”
I scoffed. “That's never going to happen. I'm happy with what I've got… my career and my family. And if I need a warm body… I'll have it for one night. Then I'll be the one walking away… well-fucked.” I flicked her hair playfully before walking away to check my makeup.
“I give up. Think what you want. But at least you might actually have a chance to get laid tonight, all thanks to your mom.”
Frankly, I didn’t even recognize myself tonight. My pouty lips glistened with lip-gloss, making them look sensuous; my hazel, almond-shaped eyes looked sultry. I loved looking sexy, but my hectic work life didn’t exactly incite the need for sex-on-a-platter makeup. “What, am I in kindergarten where I need my mommy picking out my outfit?” Unlike most mothers who encouraged their daughters to cover up, Mom's motto was less was more, tight was right, and classy was the fine line between stripper wear and couture.
“She knew you would’ve worn a stuffy business suit if she didn’t.”
I cocked my hip. “And what’s wrong with that?” I was more than annoyed by the fact that I had to go braless to wear the body-hugging, black silk gown with a wide-set neckline that reached my belly button. Thank g
oodness it had a sheer mesh overlay to prevent an embarrassing incident.
Light snorted as she bounced around to a music video. As fate would have it, Knox's video. What the hell was going on? Did the goddess of fate hate me so much that she had to throw his existence in my face like a slap? “If you haven’t figured it out yet, we sell sensual indulgence, pleasure, and damn near kink.” Her smile disappeared when she noticed my frown. “Hello? Where’s the sexy, fun Storm who would hang out with me all night in the club?”
I was close to screaming that she vanished somewhere between graduating from college and starting this job from hell. “She finally grew up and started taking life seriously.” I tapped my bottom lip mockingly. “Years of working overtime to keep up with all the work that my mother, aunt, and cousin…”—I looked at her pointedly—“refuse to touch.”
Light’s lips pursed with disproval. “No, years of stifling who you are did that. Embrace your hotness, Storm. Loosen up. You’re so uptight you make a nun look like a stripper. We just want you to have fun. Don’t take shit so seriously. Live a little.”
My eye twitched as I stifled the need to shut off the damn television. “Well, one of us has to take shit seriously around here.”
Light wrinkled her nose. “Another dig at me? It doesn't matter because I'm comfortable with what I am.”
I smiled mockingly. “A wild party girl who loves to prank call me at three in the morning, singing horribly off-key?”
Light held up her hand. “That was once. Okay, twice. Anyway, that’s off topic. I’m a Fae-witch who lives life to the fullest. Face it. I'm the fun to your repressed seriousness and we are a team. Just embrace it.” She sighed. “I just wish you would just loosen up. Work those curves. Sway that hot ass. And for goodness sake, have some rough sex like real soon because you’re getting fucking cranky from penis withdrawal.”
I plopped down on the sofa with a tired sigh. “I have sex. Every night—lots of it.” And it was very good… not great, but I'd learned to pick my battles.
Light snickered. “Umm, sex toys don’t count.”
I had no shame about sex or my toys. I winked at her. “It’s the best kind of sex baby—safe. Besides, penis withdrawal is not a medical condition. It's a state of knowing when to stop trying to attain something that doesn't exist… a real man who gets me.” I plopped my feet onto her lap. “And I'm a hard woman to get. I'm like an onion… way too many layers.”
Light pushed my legs off her lap. “It might help if you actually get out of the office. You know, actually go out and get back on the dating stroll. This time, aim for someone not so boring. Tom screamed vanilla.”
I arched a brow. “Really?”
Light smirked. “What?”
“What?” I mocked her. “Tom wasn't a relationship.” I snorted loudly. “He was my fuck buddy. You know, the type of buddy you call in a pinch.”
Light rolled her eyes. “In other words, you only called him when your toys were on the disabled list.”
I pointed at her. “Exactly! And I've yet to meet a man good enough to put them into retirement.” I paused. “Shit, find me a man who could do that and I'd have a toy-burning party wearing nothing but stilettos. I’ll give you one better. Find me that man and I'd strut around Mom's BDSM club butt-ass naked in those stilettos. Either way, I'd be smiling like I won a beauty pageant.” I did an exaggerated beauty contestant wave.
Light laughed huskily. “As much as I love you, if that man actually exists, I'd kick your ass to get at him first.”
I shook my head. “Proving the fact that a good lay is hard to find.”
Light scrunched her nose. “Shit, there's no disputing that fact. I just want you to acknowledge that Tom's fucking boring.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “That's what I liked about him. No chance in hell of me falling for him. Something you should take heed to.”
“Oh, hell no! The Credence rule says no relationships or bonding. It says nothing about picking absolute snoozers in bed. Shit! If I can't have a decent fucking relationship, then at least I can have hot sex. Lots of it.”
I fluffed my hair. “He's not that bad in bed…”
Light's brow hit her hairline.
“Okay, yes his tongue game was horrible…” I shuddered with distaste because it was so bad that I told him to cease any further attempts.
Light gestured for me to continue.
I held my hands out in defeat. “Okay, he's bad in bed.”
“Exactly. It's time to rotate back on the dating market.” She looked at me matter-of-factly.
“So says the woman whose longest relationship is with that champagne glass in her hand,” I responded coolly. Relationship conversations were not one of my favorite topics. It rated as high as the topic of ex-boyfriends. Once I was done with them, I erased them from my memory bank like yesterday’s trash. It was easier that way. “Let’s move on.”
Light pursed her lips. “It’s the Credence Curse. You're scared of it striking again.”
“Oh, fuck the Credence Curse. Everything from the inception of time has been blamed on the curse.” I snarled. This was another one of my hated topics. “Mom trips on the curb… It’s the Credence Curse. A boyfriend’s penis ‘accidentally’ slips into another woman’s mouth… It’s the Credence Curse. Enough already! Off with their heads, literally.” I made a chopping motion.
Light sat up quickly, spilling her drink. “Off with their heads? Oh, sweetie, you better get some sex like real soon because you’re getting bitter and crazy.”
My eyes narrowed. “I’m not bitter or crazy. I’m just keeping it one hundred percent real.” I drained my glass, looking at her with satisfaction as I filled it up again, giving an air toast. “Any man who wants me is going to have to work real hard to get me. Jumping through hoops to make me remotely interested.”
“Storm, you’re not the only one who’s almost got caught by the curse. Just let it go,” she stated flatly.
I gritted my teeth. “I have.”
“You haven’t. Zero worthwhile boyfriends are a testament to that fact.” Light sighed. “You dated Tom because he was consumed with his career. You need someone who will let you put your guard down. Encourage you to make some dirty little mistakes.”
“Oh, hell to the no! That's a deal breaker.” I took a huge swallow of champagne, letting the bubbles roll over my tongue.
“Okay, but can we agree with my original assessment that you’re a sexual submissive? Then all will be right in my fantasy world.”
I snorted. “I can't be sexually submissive to any man. I love control too much.” In fact, I craved and demanded it.
“You just haven’t met the right man to earn your submission.” Light scowled. “I just can't believe that Tom left you for that submissive whore.”
“I was done with him way before he left.” This was the truth. So it didn’t hurt that he left me for a woman that was everything that I wasn’t: blond, thin, and submissive.
“That goes to my original statement about you needing a good lay,” Light responded.
“I'm not the only one that needs one.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I'm on a penis hiatus. Pacing myself.”
I was so tired of the same lecture. “Can you tell me how we moved from our mothers ditching us for a witch retreat to my lack of a good lay?”
Her eyes widened. “It’s all related. And please don’t act like they haven’t done crazier things. Our whole life is filled with years of therapy sessions all due to those two crazy hags,” she grumbled. “Can you believe they’re sending me of all people to some stuffy charity ball to meet some heavy hitter tiger-shifter who's in town?” She crossed her arms. “I don't do stuffy.”
I choked on my drink. “Wait, you get a tiger-shifter and I get stuck with a wolf-shifter? How is that fair? We've got three tiger-shifters on our roster and only one wolf-shifter. A missing one at that.”
“Don't ask me. They passed out the assignment and now I have to spen
d a perfectly good Friday night completing it. Thank goodness Rhia and Bethany are available to come with me tonight.”
I responded with annoyance. “Am I the only one that realizes that shit is falling apart? This is critical meltdown time. I feel it and it’s making me fucking nervous.”
Light brushed her hair from her brow. “Do tell, wise one.”
My eyes opened with shock. “Celina is missing. And Jack is calling me like a jilted lover. I can't hold everything together on my own.”
“Uh, alone?” She raised her hand. “I'm your partner. Stop panicking. Celina is not missing. You know how flighty she is. She's probably on some fabulous vacation with one of her many wealthy lovers. And your father…”
I gave her an evil stare.
Light held up her hands defensively. “I mean Jack—he’s probably looking to get some money from you.”
Yes, that's definitely what it was. Jack always popped back into my life at the most inopportune times just like a pimple on prom day. He must have either spent all of his gambling winnings, or one of his many women must have thrown him out after discovering what a big asshat he is.
For the life of me, I just didn't understand why he called me after the last time we spoke. I made it clear he needed to lose my number. It’s pretty pathetic when a man makes a point of telling everyone who’s listening that he doesn’t want anything to do with his child, but then makes no bones about the fact that he would try to use me as his own private bank when his funds become low. No, I knew the real Jack, the despicable, evil man who hid in the shell of a well-groomed, very handsome man. The Jack who wished I was never born and the Jack I wished would wither away and die like the piece of trash I knew him to be.