Page 113 of Barbi and the Villain

“What should I do, PomPom?” I ask my favorite fashion buddy. She hears her name and looks up at me, but she just gives me a shrug before she continues eating.

I guess I will be wearing it after all.

Going to the bathroom, I take off my sweaty work clothes and take a quick shower before I don the pink dress. It has an empire waist and puffed sleeves, with buttons running down the middle. Reaching my ankles, it has a small opening on each leg, the cut making me seem taller.

Glancing at myself in the mirror, I brush my hair and put it up in a messy bun atop my head.

“Your loss, Nykander,” I say with a satisfied jerk of my shoulder.

I take a deep breath and charge myself with new confidence.

The festivities are about to begin once the sun sets, which will be any moment now.

The dogs have finished eating, so I take them to potty before I leave them behind at the cabin and make my way toward the village square.

Music is already playing. Someone is singing a beautiful ballad accompanied by a string instrument and what sounds like a trumpet. As I near the square, I note a big bonfire and a crowd of people gathered around it. Drinks and food are being passed around. A girl hands me a glass of ale, and I quickly down it. It’s not too strong, but it should help me get through the night—and seeing Nykander again.

More questions flood my mind, the most pervasive being where he slept. I’ve barely seen him around, which seems rather impossible considering the size of the village. Then again, maybe he is so disgusted by me that he actively avoided me. With his superior senses, that was probably piece of cake.

For a while, nothing happens.

People drink, eat, and dance.

The music is very pleasant, and I tap my foot to the beat, watching from the sidelines as men and women flirt openly, while couples kiss unabashedly. It is surprising, however, to note there are no children. The youngest people are my age. That makes me wonder about the nature of that competition to crown the King and Queen of the Moon and what it might entail.

The moon is full, shining brightly over the raucous crowd and climbing higher into the sky.

“The competition will start soon,” a voice speaks from behind.

I turn to see Jeya stop next to me, his eyes on the bonfire.

“What is it?”

“You will have to see. But to enter it, you will have to join the females on the other side.” He motions to the right where a bunch of women my age formed a line.

I frown.

“Why?”

“The titles are not dependent upon one another. There is one competition for the King and one for the Queen. At the end, however, there will be a union of the two reigning monarchs of the night.”

My eyes widen. If another female wins, she will be paired with Nykander.

“What type of union?”

The word union sounds…suggestive. And if it means what I think it means…

My features darken.

He may not like me, but that does not give him leave to like anyone else. Nor is he allowed to touch anyone else, either. Anger slowly builds inside of me as I think of him being crowned with one of those pretty girls who were whispering about him this morning.

No. He will not get that. I will win this damn competition just so I can publicly reject him and this…union.

I have already reached peak pettiness. What’s a little more?

Jeya’s lips slowly tip up.

“I have said too much.”

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