Page 109 of A Dusk Of Stars

I barely register the look she throws me and the smile she gives me. I just start walking for the bar, my mind buzzing.

So he’s definitely not here.

Distracted, I order a drink and remain standing there until my phone starts buzzing. This time, it’s a call.

I choose not to answer it. People who are busy having fun don’t check their phones a lot, do they?

So I turn on my heel and start looking for familiar faces.

Ah, my former colleague. I walk up to Carrel, throwing a smile on as I ask, “Carrel, long time. What's up?”

“In the name of Lycan, Anna,” he starts with a smile, turning away from the group he’s chatting with. “Where’dyoudisappear to?”

I sense him even before I see Carrel’s eyes dart to a spot behind my back, his eyebrows shooting up.

I throw a look over my shoulder to see him standing there, looking pissed. “You lost your phone, Novak?” he demands as he throws a scowl at Carrel.

I turn back to my former colleague, saying, “I’ll catch up with you later, alright?”

It’s funny, the look he gives me, but he smiles and nods.

“Yeah, sorry,” I say as I turn to look at Bane. “I forgot to text you. But not to say I’m up,” I rush to explain. “To say I don’t need your help with those things anymore.”

He just looks at me for a second, his eyes darting to my wrist, where there’s no demon bracelet anymore. “Really? Just like that?”

I give him a wide smile. “Yeah, isn’t it great? I don’t feel like crap anymore, I’m making progress on our little project, I’m even finding time to have fun.”

His eyes narrow in that way that makes me feel naked. “Alright, what’s going on?”

I grit my teeth at his insisting on not believing me. But I shrug it off and smile even wider, getting in his face a little to say, “I’m finally getting my shit together, Bane.”

Then, just as I spot Raven and Alaric approaching us, it occurs to me. “In fact,” I tell Bane, motioning at my friends, “the three of us are going out tonight, to celebrate.”

“What up, Jericho?” Alaric says when they come to form a circle with us.

Bane doesn’t take his eyes off me. “Yeah?” he asks, suspicion in his voice. “Where are you going?”

“Going?” Alaric echoes, sounding confused.

“To this party in the Vein,” I rush to say.

“Are we?” Raven asks.

Bane ignores her. “Why don’t I join you?” he asks with a funny little squint. Then, before I can react, he folds his arms and says, “I mean, if celebrations are in order and you’re all so into fun all of a sudden…”

I open my mouth to say thanks, but no thanks. Unfortunately, Alaric beats me to it. “That sounds bloody amazing.”

Bane turns to beam at him. Then he glances around, catching a couple of his groupies’ looks. “And why don’t we take some more people with us while we’re at it?” he says as he turns to smirk at me. “The more, the merrier, right?”

Perfect, I think with gritted teeth.

***

Why oh why did I let this happen, I wonder as I walk with the rowdy little group led by Bane, barely registering the conversation between Alaric and Raven. Was it really just so I wouldn’t have to admit Iwasn’tplanning on going to some party after all? And now that I’m thinking about it, did I really go to that mixer solely to spitefully show Bane I don’t need his help?

Gods, I think as I register Alaric talking about the history of Bloodholm.

It’s so crowded here and the people out on the streets look either incredibly posh or unambiguously sketchy. Run-down yet somehow majestic, Bloodholm is a gothic town that never sleeps and boasts more seedy streets than some places have, well, streets in general.

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