Page 53 of Roaring Flames

Bouquet of flowers. Check.

Box of jewelry. Check.

Anticipation swells as I finally rise from the bench.

I have a few hours before Izzy returns home from work. I need to make sure everything is perfect. She deserves nothing but the best?—

Movement in my periphery captures my attention. I turn, my stomach in knots, to see a pale face and glinting red eyes.

“Grayson,” the familiar man hisses. “We’ve been looking for you.”

Before I can even think of a response, something hits me over the back of the head.

And then all I know is darkness.

Twenty

IZZY

The smell of butter assaults my senses as soon as I step into the theater.

I bypass the concession stand—where a bored-looking, college-aged woman I haven’t met yet works—and step into the employee break room.

It takes me only a few minutes to change into my employee T-shirt, throw my backpack into a locker, and then clock in.

“Hey, Silas,” I greet as I step behind the counter, pulling my hair up into a ponytail.

The rugged, scowling man glances up from the register. His dark hair is loose, cascading around his shoulders, but does very little to soften his features. Today, he wears an eyepatch, obscuring his scarred eye from view.

“You’re late,” the college-aged girl announces as soon as she sees me.

She props herself up on her elbow. Her bright-pink hair is spiky and gives her a decidedly elfin look. She has almost as many piercings as Emery—three in her right eyebrow, five in her left, one in her nose, and a hoop through her lip.

“Izzy, meet Minnie. Minnie, Izzy,” Silas introduces gruffly, still bending over the register. He doesn’t bother to look up.

“Hi.” I awkwardly wave my hand like a total dork.

Minnie exaggeratedly pops her gum and then straightens.

Ignoring me, she turns towards Silas. “I’m heading out.”

“Sweep up theater one before you leave,” he instructs.

Minnie makes a face. “But I?—”

“Now, Minnie.”

Minnie mutters something noncommittally under her breath and then shoves past me, ramming her shoulder into mine. Abruptly, she pauses, her spine straightening and nostrils flaring. Her pierced brows draw together.

“You smell weird,” she announces candidly.

“Minnie!” Silas snaps. He slams the drawer of the register shut and whirls around. His lips tighten in anger. “Now.”

Minnie continues to eye me strangely, and for a brief, crazy moment, I can’t help but wonder…is she a wolf shifter as well?

Stop being ridiculous, Izzy. Not every person you meet is a part of the supernatural world. Maybe you just have a bad case of BO today.

Ugh. This is probably the first time in my life I’ve prayed to have body odor.

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