Page 19 of The Eleventh Hour

He lets out a shrill whistle and hangs further down, holding out one hand. Jax explodes out of the bush and runs at the wall, clasping his hand. He grunts and pulls her up until she sits on the balustrade again.

They pant for a few seconds, then start to laugh.

“Fuck, it’s been a long time since I’ve done that.”

“So out of shape.” River pants and sits down. “Damn, that used to be so easy.”

“Not my fault you let your muscles melt. Bet Mason could haul me up.”

“Oh, man, the way he was staring at you, I bet he’d haul you up all the way.” River wiggles his eyebrows. “He wants to touch you, he wants to taste you. I bet he even wants to fuck you.” River sings.

I don’t know who this guy or Mason is, but the writhing jealousy that is eating me up is new and strange.

She shoves his shoulder. “Ew, don’t even go there.”

“But you love him,” River sings and gets punched for his crime.

“Don’t be gross. The man is married to this family. Blegh. I’d never subject myself to that.”

“That is true. Maybe I should send him to Medusa.”

She slaps his arm. “Don’t be mean. Poor Mason wouldn’t survive.”

“Medusa?” I can’t help but intrude. I want her to look at me again. I don’t like that she’s forgotten I exist. That in itself is alarming because I almost never want to be anyone’s centre of attention.

She smiles easily at me, and it eases that heated feeling inside that’s pulsing with anger. Who is Mason?

“The redhead is Medusa. The older blonde is her Highness, The Queen of Hell or as she’s better known in these circles, the Devil, and the bride, well…she was the Siren.”

“Still is, but she is looking to take a seat at the high table of hell,” River mutters.

“Aren’t they your family and friends?” I ask the guy in confusion.

River and Jax look at each other and burst into laughter. I wait, but they don’t seem to want to stop.

“It’s complicated,” River explains with a shrug.

“Son!”

River stands up and glowers at the garden. “I’ll see you soon.”

“You better.”

He turns to me and smiles, the most open and friendly smile I’ve had since I came to this city. “Nice to meet you…”

“Rafael.”

“Rafe, cool. I’m River.” He takes my hand and pumps it.

I take his spot on the balustrade and look over at the woman I’ve come here to find. Her face is a mask of misery, a sorrow so deep I can’t fathom. I reach out but before I come into contact with her, she smiles and turns to me.

It's dazzling.

“I have to go, but if you're serious, I’ll see you at the Cinders Park tomorrow.”

I stand up and walk with her as she threads her way through the guests. People all around are paying attention to her. The three women note her exit and watch with hard eyes. Two more men stop talking to watch. On one, his face is heartbroken and, for a moment, I wonder if she was a lover. The other watches impassively, but there’s something predatory about his gaze. River pauses in what he’s doing, and his face drops. It’s clear he doesn’t want to see her go. Are they a thing?

All around her, people pause, and I don’t know what it means, and it drives me wild. I feel like I’m missing something important. She doesn’t seem to notice all the attention she’s getting.

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