I moved to get in the shower, but my reflection caught my attention first. My normally light azure eyes had a darker ring of black around them, and if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a wrinkle forming near the corner of my right eye.
Earth was literally sucking the life out of me.
As much as I didn’t want to ever step back onto Fae Islands, I was beginning to wonder if I wouldn’t have a choice at some point.
Pushing the worry aside, I moved my long iridescent-indigo hair to the side and ran a brush through the thick strands as I searched for more changes. My lips were still full and nose straight. My skin held its unnatural glow that the humans rarely noticed. After being around them only a short time, I’d learned their weak minds were good at ignoring what they couldn’t handle.
Lastly, I drew on my magic and focused on my favorite part of the day. Calling forth my power, I made sure my hair was out of the way and let my hold go. My signature teal magic trickled from my fingertips and worked its way up my arms, wrapping around my shoulders.
My wings emerged with hardly any effort, and I sighed with relief as my true self came to life.
Some fae had gossamer wings, and others had leathery ones, but feathered ones were rare. Mine were made from the strongest feathers known to any supernatural and sharp as the finest blades in existence when I wanted them to be.
I’d only known a handful of other fae like me, but never actually met any of them in person. So, for me, my wings were one-of-a-kind. They began between my shoulder blades, pitch black in color, and as they extended out just beyond my outstretched fingertips, they changed to a charcoal hue, giving my wingspan an ombre effect.
My teal magic reflected off the hard edges of my pointed tips, and I let my undamaged robe fall to the ground. The feathers were magically capable of sliding through whatever material might be in their way to freedom.
Pulling my wings closer, they wrapped around my torso, holding me tight and providing me with a sense of security I couldn’t get from anywhere else.
I closed my eyes, soaking in the power for several minutes before drawing it back in. When I was done, I gave myself one more cursory glance and noticed the wrinkle I’d seen before was gone. My lips lifted and I turned for the shower, forgetting about my earlier worries.
It was time to hunt a vampire.
Chapter 2
After I was dried off from my shower, I dressed in a leather corset, dark blue jeans, and my favorite black heeled boots before taking a peek in the mirror one last time. My plan included making the vampire think I was searching for a good time, so I could entice him with little fuss.
Vampires might be weak to their needs, but unfortunately, they weren’t stupid. Everything about me needed to be perfect.
Using my hands, I adjusted my cleavage then puffed up my hair and headed to the door. Neva was waiting for me, also dressed to the nines, which surprised me. “Are you coming with me?”
Normally, she only organized my outings and didn’t participate in them, but if she wanted to expand her usefulness, I was more than happy to let her watch a master at work.
“Something about tonight doesn’t feel right. I know you’re capable of handling yourself, but I’d like to be close by in case you need me.” Neva’s thick ebony curls bounced around her cherub face.
“Just don’t get yourself bitten by a bloodsucker.” I tossed a wink her way before walking through the front door. Instead of having her give more info at the house, she could do it on the way.
While I enjoyed pushing Neva past her comfort zone, I had a lot of respect for her as another supernatural and hoped one day she’d be able to thank me for being the person in her life that didn’t let her lay down and be bullied by the monsters of our world. She might have been decades older than me, but I’d been through hell and grown up much faster than any other supernatural I knew.
When we reached the elevator, I entered my code for the garage and turned toward the glass windows of the enclosure to take in the city. The moon was high in the sky, but with the light pollution, there wasn’t a single star visible. My apartment sat on top of one of the most prestigious buildings in LA on Wilshire Boulevard, and nearly everyone here valued their privacy.
Neva stayed quiet, even as we exited the elevator and walked the few spaces until Black Widow came into view. My fingers traced over her sleek lines until Neva tossed me the keys. The car was my pride and joy. I loved her even more than my high-rise apartment.
She was a Ferrari 488 Spider and worth every moment I spent torturing the sleazy car dealership owner. I’d witnessed him treat his teen son like shit because he wanted to try out for the school musical instead of the football team. When I was done with him, I’d not only gotten a new car, but the kid was enrolled in acting classes.
I slid into the plush leather seat that hugged my body perfectly and waited for Neva to do the same before starting the car. I pressed my thumb against the ignition, then enjoyed the vibrations as over six hundred horsepower roared to life. Gods, I loved this car.
“It’s like a wet dream, isn’t it?” I grinned at Neva.
She grimaced but indulged me with a nod anyway.
“Where did the witches say we’d find this vampire, and what do I need to know about him?” I asked over the purr of the motor as I drove out of my parking space.
The elf took her phone out and read the screen. “Beatrix said he usually hangs out at Warlock and his name is Dante. Here’s a picture of him.”
I soaked in every detail of the image. His brunet hair and golden skin were a stark contrast to his dark, ominous eyes set just above a pointed, yet slightly crooked, nose. Probably from putting it where it didn’t belong. There was even a faint scar above his right eye. This guy was definitely scrappy. Even better for me.
While I couldn’t deny he was alluring even just from a picture—probably the bad boy vibe calling to me—I wouldn’t have thought he was worth the trouble of capturing alive. Then again, I didn’t like to ask too many questions. As long as the request didn’t check one of my hard-no boxes, I rarely ever second-guessed my assignments. The pay days were usually worth it, too, ranging from money to extravagant items, like my high-rise apartment, all the way to magical favors owed.
“We haven’t been to Warlock for fun in a while. Maybe we can have a drink while we’re there,” I said to Neva once I was done taking in the bloodsucker. She hadn’t been to the club on business with me, but I’d taken her several times just to loosen her up.
“Just don’t mess with the celebrities until after we’re done with the vampire.” Neva replied with a sigh, likely remembering the last time we were at the ritzy club that was merely nicknamed Warlock by supernaturals and was where the magically enhanced celebrities liked to let loose.
It wasn’t a coincidence that Chris Hemsworth was perfect for the role of Thor. Everything about him was supernaturally superior, and I meant everything.
“You have a little drool on your chin, Ms. Lucinda.” Neva smirked as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Surprisingly, traffic was light, and we arrived at Warlock in record time. The valet took my keys, his eyes unable to stray from my chest, and I tapped him on the nose with a shock of magic. “Enjoy them all you want.”