The Girl Who Cried War

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “Okay, now we party?” Justice asks impatiently.

  “Now, we party,” Lynch confirms.

  With a hoot, Justice heads for the dance floor. Levi is right beside him. Anna and Beau head for the bar, and I start to follow, laughing to myself at the sight of Travis–the same bartender I posted on my channel with the werewolf hashtag the night I met Kash. I hesitate, wondering if I should tell Kash the story before Travis recognizes me. I don’t want a repeat of what happened with James.

  “Romy Cartelli?”

  At the sound of my name, I turn around, half-wondering if it’s another celebrity come to woo me for production rights to my story. But the man before me is definitely not an actor. Not unless you count pretending his muscled arms aren’t the product of very heavy steroids.

  “Can I help you?”

  Kash is beside me in an instant, teeth bared, which even for a human is pretty intimidating.

  “There’s someone outside who needs to see you and your friends.”

  “Who is it?” I ask, but the guy just turns and walks out.

  Kash and I share a look.

  Talia appears beside me, face flushed and pinched in irritation.

  “Do you know that guy?” I ask.

  “That’s Mo.”

  “Who’s Mo?” I ask, but Talia just sighs.

  She eyes Lynch. “Come on.” Then to Kash, she says, “It’s safe. Well, safe enough.”

  We follow her outside and stop at the sight of the black limo parked at the curb. Fading sunlight glints off the chrome trim, but even with that and my werewolf sight, I can’t make out who’s sitting on the other side of the tinted windows.

  Muscle-man is nowhere to be seen, but the back window of the limo lowers just enough to reveal part of a man’s face. He’s wearing sunglasses, but even so, I recognize him.

  Recognition only makes me relax so much.

  “Mr. DuPont,” I say, surprised and a little wary.

  Kash stills beside me. I can feel him tensing, trying to decide if this guy is an enemy. I mean, sure he’s Talia’s dad. But that doesn’t necessarily make him safe.

  “Hello, Romy. Good to see you again. Congratulations on your graduation,” he says, his voice a deep rumble.

  “Thank you, Sir. Um, this is Kash Montgomery. My fiancé.”

  “Nice to meet you.”

  Mr. DuPont nods at Kash, a curt gesture, which only makes the air between us more tense. What the hell is he doing here? I square my shoulders. If he’s here to drag Talia home to run the family business, he’s going to have a fight on his hands.

  Talia makes a noise of impatience. “Father. What are you doing here?”

  “I want to personally congratulate you on your accomplishment. Happy graduation,” he says, but there’s nothing happy about his tone. It’s clipped and flat. Like he could order a hit on someone or order dinner without changing inflection.

  “You could have just texted,” Talia says.

  Mr. DuPont frowns. “Can we speak privately for a moment?”

  He doesn’t wait for an answer before rolling the window up.

  Talia mutters a curse. “Be right back,” she says and climbs in the car.

  I glance at Lynch who looks like he’s just seen a ghost. A very fatherly, maybe murders people for money kind of ghost. I can’t blame him.

  After a minute, the window lowers again.

  Talia leans forward and looks at Lynch. “Get in.”

  “Uh, you sure? I can just wait—”

  “Get in, Scruffs.”

  He blows out a breath and sends Kash a desperate look. “If I’m not back in five minutes, give my party supply shed to Anna.”

  Kash nods soberly. “Done.”

  The car door opens from the inside, and Lynch climbs in.

  Anna and Beau come outside with Justice and Levi close behind. Justice looks worried. “What’s happening? Do we need to kick someone’s ass?”

  “Uh, no.” I point to the limo, which isn’t necessary since they’re already gaping at it. “Talia’s dad is here.”

  “Oh.” Justice’s eyes widen.

  Anna inches closer to me. “Did he bring his henchmen with him to take Talia home?”

  Before I can answer, the doors open, and Talia and Lynch climb out. The moment the door shuts, the car drives off. I look at Talia, who looks a lot calmer than she did a few minutes ago.

  Lynch looks stunned.

  “What happened?” I ask.

  Lynch’s forehead wrinkles. “I was either welcomed into the family–” He scratches his head. “Or I’m on a hit list. I’m not sure, to be honest.”

  “What are you talking about?” Talia says. “He loved you.”

  Lynch snorts. “If that’s how he shows his love, I don’t ever want to piss him off.”

  I can’t help but laugh at the stricken look on his face.

  “What did your daddy say?” Anna asks, biting her lip.

  “Did he ask you to come home?” I add.

  “Nope.” Talia grins at me. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

  “But I thought that was the deal.” I shake my head. “After college, you take over the business.”

  “We struck a new deal. I’ll take over but remotely and after a transition period. I’ll still be in charge one day, but for now, I’ll take on a more active employee role.” She eyes Lynch. “Probably lots of travel. Some illegal shenanigans. The usual.”

  “He’s willing to let you do that?” I’m impressed. And relieved. And a little worried about one of those sentences.

  She shakes her head. “Turns out, he considers being a werewolf an asset, and he wants to put us to use in the field.”

  My jaw drops.

  “You told him what you are?” Kash asks.

  Lynch answers, “Um, no. We didn’t have to. He already knew.”

  “Whoa.” I don’t know why I’m still surprised by the DuPont family.

  “So, are you allowed to tell us what you’re doing in the field?” Justice asks with air quotes around the last two words. “Or would you have to kill us.”

  “Our official title is ‘Enforcer’,” Talia says.

  “Say no more.” Justice holds up his hand. “I don’t want to die. I already did that once this year.”

  I laugh, and even Anna snorts as we all turn to head back inside. Birdie meets us just inside the door, a drink in her hand. It sloshes over the rim as she hurries up to Talia.

  “Is it time?” Birdie asks her. “Did I miss it?”

  “You didn’t miss it,” Talia assures her. “In fact, your timing is perfect.”

  “Timing for what?” I ask.

  “You’ll see.” Talia’s eyes gleam, and she turns, nodding to Birdie who in turn blows some kind of glitter in Justice’s face and mutters a short incantation.

  My eyes go wide as the magic weaves itself onto Justice’s skin. The shape is unmistakable, and when I recognize it for what it is, I burst out laughing. Right along with Anna and Lynch and Kash and everyone else. Even Levi snickers.

  “What?” Justice asks, eyes wide. “What happened?”

  Talia smirks at him. “I told you I owe you one. Now we’re even.”

  Justice’s eyes narrow, and he rubs a hand over his face, but it does nothing to erase the glittering penis that has been magically etched into his skin. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “FYI, it’s probably not going to fade for a few weeks.”

  “What?!”

  Talia blows him a kiss and then skips off to the bar.

  “Sorry, buddy.” Lynch grimaces. “But that’s my cue to go load the dishwasher,” he says, patting Justice on the shoulder before following Talia to the bar.

  I snort, but Justice isn’t deterred.

  “It’s not fair to use a witch to get revenge,” Justice calls after her. “Cheater.”

  “Hey, that’s some of my best work,” Birdie says with a pout.

  “It really is,” I agree, and Justice’s answ
ering glare only makes me laugh harder.

  “Game on,” Justice warns as I tug Anna toward the dance floor. “Next Midnight Kisses, I’m bringing a tattoo artist!”

  Chapter 20

  You guessed it...3 months later

  I stand on the balcony overlooking the wildflowers that grow in the back acreages. Despite the warm breeze of the August evening, I shiver as excitement and nerves war in my stomach. Today is the day.

  “Oh, honey.” Anna’s soft voice startles me, and I jump slightly before turning toward her. “You look beautiful,” she breathes, her voice a bit wobbly as tears pool in her eyes.

  “Don’t you dare make me cry,” I scold her before pulling her into a hug. I breathe in her honeysuckle scent and sigh. “I’ve missed you.”

  She laughs as she pulls away, wiping at a stray tear. “Oh, hush. I’ve only been gone for a month,” she says with a grin. I was worried that Anna would want to rush home right after graduation, but she stayed, helping Lynch plan the perfect double wedding. She only went home last month when she had finalized the menu and deemed Lynch’s plans suitable.

  “Besides, we were all together for y’all’s bachelorette party last week. I’ve got the permanent ink to prove it,” she says, holding up her arm. The words In the end, we’re all stories are written delicately near her wrist. Justice hadn’t been kidding about tattoos being a part of our next Midnight Kisses. And Birdie was all too happy to be the one to ink us. Anna went for it only after we swore there wouldn’t be any magic in them.

  I glance down at my matching tattoo and smile. Best. Midnight. Kisses. Ever.

  “Thank the Lord for that miracle makeup Talia found. I don’t care if I am a grown woman. As much as I love it, I fully intend to hide this from my mama until her dying day.”

  “You know your mom probably has a tattoo of a disco ball on her ass or something, right?” I ask. “She may be a perfect southern belle now, but she walks like a woman who has stories to tell if you know what I mean.”

  We both burst into a fit of giggles, plopping down into the double lounge chair, and that’s where Talia finds us.

  “You’re going to wrinkle your dresses, and then Lynch is gonna have a hissy fit,” she says before throwing herself down on Anna’s other side.

  “Your big, scary, werewolf mate is gonna have a hissy fit over wrinkles? You are aware of how odd that sounds, aren’t you?” I ask with a quirked brow.

  “Oh, I know,” Talia assures us. “But...I love him. You know?”

  “I know,” I tell her, all too aware of exactly how she’s feeling today.

  “Ah, man,” Justice’s voice sounds from the door, and I turn to wave him over.

  “Nuh-uh,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest, his hunter green suit straining against his biceps. “You ladies aren’t getting me in trouble too. Now get your gorgeous asses up before you get me busted along with you.”

  Talia rolls her eyes. “Lynch sent you to make sure we weren’t getting wrinkles. Didn’t he?”

  “Of course he did,” Justice says. “He’s a total groomzilla.”

  We laugh at his very accurate description of Lynch as he pulls us to our feet.

  Neither Talia nor I had strong opinions about what our double wedding should look like. Talia had always assumed her marriage would be nothing more than a business agreement, and the thought of walking down the aisle without my dad has always made me a little sad. Lynch, on the other hand, had big ideas.

  Somehow, he has managed to design a wedding that is a perfect blend of mine and Talia’s personalities. Everything about our individual styles compliments each other.

  I see it even now as I take in Talia’s sleek dress. Its shade of white perfectly matches my own, but where my ball gown has tulle for days, Talia’s silk, trumpet gown clings to her slender frame perfectly. We both have flowered embroidery that gives our dresses a romantic feel, but Talia’s dress has been altered to showcase a thigh-high slit. While my red hair spills down my back in gentle waves, Talia’s pale, pink hair is pinned up in a chic design–held in place by two intricately adorned throwing spikes.

  I shake my head as I watch her walk back into the suite we’ve been using to get ready. As she walks, her custom shoes peek out, revealing the daggers that decorate the back of each of her black heels.

  I’m one hundred percent certain they’re all functional, just as I’m equally certain she’s probably got a gun tucked into her garter belt or something.

  I sigh, smoothing my hands over the front of my dress. My favorite gold heels catch in the last rays of the sun, sending sparkles of light against my skin.

  “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Xan says, and a smile lights my face as I take him in.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself, old man,” I say, taking in his oatmeal-colored tux.

  He grins. “It’s showtime,” he says, holding out his arm. “Are you ready for this?”

  Butterflies–no, dragons–take flight in my stomach at his words, but I take a deep breath and cross the balcony, wrapping my arm around his own. He guides me into the suite, and I jerk to a stop.

  Inside, Talia is surrounded by a sea of black suits, barely visible against the expanse of muscles.

  “Look, Rom,” she says, peeking at me between two nearly identical heads. “My dad made it after all.”

  My eyes widen. “Oh, wow. That’s great.”

  Brown eyes, strikingly similar to Talia’s, peek at me over a muscled shoulder.

  “Romy,” he greets me. “You look gorgeous. All you girls do.”

  “Um, thank you, Mister Dupont,” I manage to mutter.

  “Ready, baby girl?” he asks, turning his attention back to Talia.

  She nods, and the sea of black swells around her, closing her off from my sight before they glide from the room.

  “I’m not sure we’ll be able to top that entrance, but maybe I could add a spin or something,” Xan says, a mischievous grin tilting his lips.

  I throw my head back and laugh. “I gave up trying to top Talia’s crazy approximately five seconds after meeting her,” I tell him honestly as we descend the stairs and follow Talia’s entourage out the door. Justice and Anna close on our heels as they fuss over my dress.

  “Hold your horses, Tal,” Anna calls. “Y’all are gonna ruin your grand entrance.”

  The swarm of black suits grinds to a halt, and Anna rushes around them.

  “Now, Justice and I will walk in first,” Anna instructs. “Then, the music will change, and it will be Romy’s turn. Alpha’s orders.” She shoots me a wink before continuing, “When the music changes again, that’s your cue, Tal. Everybody got it?”

  Murmurs of agreement go up, and Anna nods, smoothing her hands down her burgundy dress before looping her arm with Justice's.

  “Knock ’em dead,” he says, shooting us a wink before leading Anna away.

  The soft music filters down to us, and I shake off my nerves about falling flat on my face in front of the whole pack plus a dozen witches and huntsmen.

  “I guess we’re up next,” I tell Xan. He grins, squeezing my hand as he moves us around Talia’s group.

  Her hand shoots out to stop me from passing, and she pushes through the bodyguards until I’m able to see her fully once again.

  “Before we go out there, I just wanted to say–” she breaks off, blinking rapidly. “Thank you for reading so many books and that you believed in magic because now I get to have a little piece of my own.”

  I pull her into a hug. “I love you too, Tal.”

  She laughs, but it wobbles. “That’s what I said,” she says, pulling back and wiping her nose with a tissue that magically appears from one of the men behind her. “Now, get out there and make that boy howl.”

  The henchman behind her clears his throat awkwardly.

  I turn, stepping down onto the gravel pathway that will lead me to where the ceremony is set up. The moment my feet touch the ground, flowers appear in my free hand. I laugh, too u
sed to Birdie’s magic to be truly shocked by anything anymore. Tears well in my eyes as I take in the beautiful bouquet of paper blossoms.

  The music changes as I round the corner of the house and the gathering tree comes into view. We’ve used it several times over the last few months for ceremonies; accepting ex-werebros into the pack and even a few baby christenings. But tonight, it has been transformed in a way I’ve never seen before.

  My breath rushes out of me. Books are suspended in mid-air, mingling with the white twinkling lights that always adorn the tree. Fragrant flowers cover every available surface, and swords line the perimeter–strings of light woven between them. The pack sits on hay bales covered with lace on either side of a burlap aisle, but all the guests rise the moment they catch sight of Xan and me.

  I don’t look to where I can sense Kash will be waiting, knowing the moment I do, the beauty of the rest of the ceremony will be lost on me. Instead, I take in the smiling faces of my family. Babies are held in between the arms of more than a few new couples.

  I spot Kaitlyn and Adam trying to contain a squirming Hunter. The baby’s chubby arm flails wildly, knocking Adam in the chin, and I smile at the sight of the now unblemished skin. Birdie kept her promise and found a way to remove their tattoos.

  Across from them, Doyle has his arm wrapped around Danielle. She waves as she catches my eye, her new engagement bling twinkling in the lights. Even Deissy and Mirabelle have made it back for the ceremony, and I make a mental note to make sure that Mirabelle hasn’t spiked the punch at the reception.

  When I’m sure I’ve taken in as much of the splendor as possible, I let my eyes drift to the center where I know I’ll find Kash. The moment my eyes meet his, I can feel our connection burning brighter inside me. The pull I feel is strong, and I have to stop myself from running the rest of the way up the aisle. He takes a step toward me, blinking when Lynch reaches out a hand to stop him, and the crowd laughs.