Page 104 of The Cursed Fae

“All shifters, all the time.” Missy flashed a wicked grin. “We both enjoy a healthy set of abs.”

My expression made Morgan blush. “Ignore her. We do it every year. It’s tradition.”

“It was the only place that let us in when we were underage,” Missy explained. “Tell her to go. You and Astrid can take her one night. I’m telling you, the show is worth the cover charge.”

Lena and I had gone to a strip club for her 19th birthday for the same reason, and it had been one of the best nights I could remember. Afterwards, we’d snuck into a casino to play the penny slots—with two of the strippers happily bankrolling us.

“We can still go,” I suggested to Morgan. “Missy wants you to. She needs you to live your life,” I added, even though she hadn’t used those words.

Morgan’s lips almost managed a smile. “Okay. Maybe.”

“Tell her she shouldn’t skip the Four Moons Gala, either,” Missy continued. “Tell her I had a proposal set up. At sunset, I was going to take her to the old well. I’d already raided Professor Canterwald’s liquor stash to make Irish hot chocolates. I would’ve laid a blanket out ahead of time and swiped those butter toffee cookies she loves from the kitchen. She had been admiring earrings at a jewelry store, so I ordered them...”

I condensed her words when I relayed the message to Morgan, leaving off the last part about the gift still being at the jeweler. I would pick them up when I ran errands over the weekend. Missy seemed to understand my plan.

“Tell her I’ll always be with her. When she’s inducted into the Gemini, I will be there cheering her on. When she goes off to backpack across Europe, like we planned, I’ll be with her. At the Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, Hampton Court, the Vatican, I’ll be the orb in every single picture. And when she meets the person she’s going to spend the rest of her life with, I will feel nothing but joy for her. Tell her I love her.”

Morgan nodded along, managing a sniffly smile when I listed off all the European landmarks. She no longer tried to stifle the sobs when I relayed Missy’s last words. Her shoulders shook and her face crumpled. I wanted to throw my arms around her, hold her, do anything to ease the suffering.

Missy crouched beside Morgan and rubbed her back. She didn’t look at me when she spoke next.

“Chance Riley,” she whispered.

At first, I did not understand why she’d brought up Morgan’s twin. Then, I remembered our deal. I had played third wheel on this very emotional date night in exchange for the name of another student treated for depletion.

No wonder she'd been reticent to give it up, I thought.

“Don’t involve Morgan.” Missy glanced over her shoulder. “Chance is shy, but he’ll talk to you if you approach him the right way.”

That inspired zero confidence. What was the right way to broach the subject with Morgan’s twin? I only knew him because of his sister, and he’d probably find it weird if I asked him to go somewhere quiet to chat.

Giggling drifted down the hall and under the door. Morgan looked at me like a frightened rabbit. She shot to her feet and dashed to the bathroom to compose herself before the others arrived.

“That’s my cue.” Missy gave a little finger wave and vanished.

The door burst open as she disappeared.

“There you are.” Astrid narrowed her gaze accusingly. “I was looking for you.”

My eyes strayed to Belle and Fern, who were both making themselves comfortable on Astrid’s bed.

“Yeah, sorry. I know it’s Morgan’s birthday and all, but I really need help with calculus. This was the only time she had free.” The lie came effortlessly to my lips. Of course, I didn’t have books with me, a fact Astrid noted with a raised eyebrow. The other two failed to notice or care about my absent backpack.

Morgan emerged from the bathroom with her makeup firmly in place. She wore more concealer than normal, and her cheeks were a touch too rosy. She must’ve found some eyedrops, because her eyes were no longer red.

“We’re going over to the Omega house to celebrate Morgan’s birthday—why don’t you join us?” Astrid suggested. “It’s supposed to be sisters-only, but nobody will mind.”

“Yeah, come,” Morgan declared.

I hated to decline, but there was one more uncomfortable conversation in store for me tonight—Archer. He was the only other dimensional fae I knew, and I needed his help. If that meant I had to get down on my hands and knees and kiss his feet, so be it.

Gaia, the thought of apologizing to him made my teeth grind. I’d done nothing wrong. Still, Lena was too important.

“Sorry, guys. I have a date with my books,” I said.

Morgan threw her arms around my neck with such force that I stumbled backward. She squeezed me tightly and whispered in my ear.

“Thank you, Winter.”

---