Page 23 of Feeding Beauty (The Lost Girls #5)
There isn’t much hope of her cracking a smile so I can gauge what enamel she’s packing. I do remember Snow talking about Cinder’s blood magic and consorting with vampires, but she didn’t go into much more detail.
I curse myself for not asking more questions.
Giving in to my sudden bout of insecurity, I take a step closer to Talon.
As if knowing what I’m doing, he extends an arm on the bar, closer to me. Even without touching me, he calms me with his nearness.
Snow is practically bouncing off the walls at their visit, as Kai waves to Ariel behind the bar.
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s finally happening,” Snow exclaims. “I thought for sure Goldie would lose patience and elope in Vegas like you guys did.”
That’s right. Snow, Ariel, Rap and even Geanie are going to Goldie’s wedding, another former Lost Girl. This pair must be in town for the festivities.
“You kidding?” Kai jokes. “She’s going for the full fairytale wedding.”
“Goldie deserves it too,” Cinder says, still straight-faced.
Despite the nice words, I’m not sure if Cinder means them. I guess you’d have to know her to get a real read on her emotions because she certainly doesn’t wear them out in the open. I wonder whether she’s also learned to wear a mask or is just naturally like that.
Kai nudges Cinder’s arm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she released a flock of flutter buns as soon as they say I do.”
The front doors of Poison Apple explode open in a cloud of shimmering gold and sapphire glitter.
A diva enters, strutting like the stage belongs to her. Rhinestones blaze on her heels, and a frosted swirl of powder-blue curls rises high enough to kiss the rafters.
Her skin gleams, all molten bronze under the lights.
The sheer shimmer of a powder blue sequin jumpsuit wraps around her sculpted arms so tight it looks poured on.
Long acrylic nails twinkle in the light with every dramatic gesture, iridescent and lethal.
Her eyes are framed in glitter cut-crease shadow, lashes so thick they could double as brooms.
And she is smiling like the world’s been waiting for her to show up and she’s finally decided to bless it.
“Boston, my darlings!” she calls, her voice pours out smooth as butter, studded with rhinestone bite.
“Did you miss your Fairy Godmother?” The deep tones along with the heavy makeup and extra muscular frame confirms this is a woman by choice, by design, by sheer audacity, and I instantly respect the energy she exudes.
The crowd cheers instinctively, even those who clearly don’t know who the hell she is. Energy vibrates, the room’s focus skews toward her, a current she bends with ease. I can’t help being swept away with it too.
The woman struts toward the bar, the staccato crack of her heels cuts through the noise. Everyone parts for her to pass, as if they don’t want to interfere with her red-carpet moment.
“Heya, Keeks,” Rap says, pulling down a top shelf bottle of some liquor I haven’t touched since working here. “You pre-gaming already?
“I was on this side of town and all our lovelies are rolling in for the wedding, so I couldn’t stay away.” She waves to Cinder and Kai who wave back though they are still engaged talking to Snow.
“Who’s that?” I ask Ariel.
“That’s Dame Kiki Eleganza. She’s the headline drag queen at the Pumpkin Coach Club. She’s better known as the Fairy Godmother. She’s also a very powerful healing mage. But, uh…” Ariel’s aquamarine eyes search the room with wariness. “When she and Geanie are in the same room…”
She doesn’t get a chance to finish.
A swirl of blue mist erupts from the center stage.
Geanie appears. His top hat shimmers, a night sky crammed with stars. His usual affable expression is dark as he approaches Dame Kiki.
“Is that a second-rate Fairy I smell in my bar?” Geanie sniffs. “Did your Pumpkin Coach break down, or are you just here to attempt to steal the spotlight?”
Kiki turns with the slow certainty of someone who owns the stage, and his interruption is a personal offense.
“Sweetheart,” she says, hand to her chest, “if I wanted your spotlight, I’d take that tiny thing, tie a boa around it, and wear it to brunch.”
The crowd gasps in delight.
Geanie saunters closer, every movement exaggerated elegance. “You always did confuse volume with talent.”
“And you always confused charisma with shirtless desperation.” Her massive lashes sweep up and down with disdain, and I wonder if Geanie feels a gust of wind from the motion.
A ripple of tension and glee rolls through the bar. Even Rap raises an eyebrow. Geanie and Kiki face off like diva-fueled demigods ready to rumble.
“They both have very big personalities,” Ariel says to me and Talon, diplomatic as ever. “When they get in the same room, things tend to get...explosive.”
“That shade deserves an apology for what you’ve done to it,” Geanie snaps, “which is why you should stay away from my signature color.”
“Honey, I am crushing this look.” Kiki’s pitch is scandalized. “You're just mad I wear it like royalty, and you wear it like a cheap cocktail napkin.”
“It’s always about the blue,” Ariel adds in a murmur.
“Every single time,” Rap mutters behind the bar. “You’d think the color wheel owed them royalties. Alright,” Rap calls, louder this time, slicing through the tension with a tone that could crack glass. “This is my bar. No fighting unless it involves shots and generous tips.”
Both Kiki and Geanie turn in unison and say, “Fine,” with the same exact tone.
Geanie saunters dramatically back toward his stage, leaving Kiki to take the specially made cocktail from Rap. With a thank you and a flourish, Kiki turns to go mingle, but stops dead in front of me and Talon.
Her eyes, lined in glitter so sharp it should be classified as a weapon, flick from my face to his. She tilts her head, studying us both with an unnerving intensity as Ariel slides away with a tray of drinks.
And then Kiki smiles, slow and knowing.
“Well, well, well,” she purrs, volume dropping to a level only the three of us can hear. “A Succubus...and a Dragon. Now isn’t this a treat?”
My breath catches. Talon stiffens beside me. But Kiki holds up one long, manicured finger and presses it to her lips.
“Don’t worry, darlings. Your secret is as safe as my real age.” She winks and somehow it contains both warmth and an ironclad promise. “But we need to have a chat later, hmm?”
Before I can respond, Snow interrupts.
“You guys want a drink?” Snow asks Cinder and Kai as she leads them over, volume rising as she approaches. “Oh, you need to meet our latest recruit. You are going to love her.”
Both their attention swings toward me. As soon as his gaze lands on me, Kai’s expression morphs. The warm, charming smile he sports evaporates as a cold hatred takes its place.
“ You ,” he says quietly. It’s fully loaded with accusation, and the blood freezes in my veins. I’m not sure why he’s pissed, but I feel like I’m suddenly between crosshairs.
Cinder and Snow swivel their heads back and forth between us, noting the almost violent shift in his attitude. Confusion swirls in me too. I don’t know this vampire, though a sneaking suspicion begins to form, and if proven true it would be very, very bad for me.
Before I can respond or process, he clarifies in one sentence.
“You ruined my sister.”