Page 41 of House of Mages and Raven

“Tell Barbie to fucking come get it herself instead of sending an errand girl,” he called.

An errand girl?

“She doesn’t want to be near the likes of you, Snowflake,” I growled, not caring that no one ever dared to call him Snowflake. He’d hurt Barbie, and he deserved to be humiliated.

“Then she won’t get her treasure,” the chaos heir said, dangling a handful of jewelry at me before he examined a pink diamond between his thumb and finger.

“Prince Rowan gave Barbie that pink diamond,” Cami said.

“For what?” the chaos heir asked harshly, jealousy in his dark expression.

“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?” I whispered, my voice barely audible, but I knew the powerful heir could catch my words. “You don’t deserve her. You used her then discarded her like she was trash, but you have no idea what kind of gem she is. Barbie is one of a kind, like me. We’re the two baddest bitches, superior to any other, including your queen and your new squeeze. But you can’t see us, as you’re fucking blind. She’s the wind, and you won’t break her. Not even a god can. And a pretty face isn’t everything.”

I rose to my feet and dashed away from the House of Chaos.

Zoooom!The wind tousled my hair. The moonlight caressed my face.

I didn’t get Barbie’s jewel tonight, but I could try again. There was always tomorrow, and our fight wasn’t over.

I would work harder to earn more diamonds.

I headed toward Underhill, my gait confident and brisk, while I whistled a tune that I’d once heard from the vampire prince.

Hurry up, Sy,I told myself gleefully.You have someplace to go and a hot prince to fuck.

18

Sy

Istrolled into the dark forest, my heart fluttering in thrilled anticipation, as I’d scented Rowan a mile away. He was waiting inside Underhill. It was like comfort food to have a man waiting for you.

Two shadow beasts trotted on either side of me, escorting me to work.

Barbie had gone silent for five long minutes after my departure from the House of Chaos, and now she couldn’t help but perk up and voice her opinions as if she were my boss.

You’re a sex worker now,she said.I want you to take your job seriously. Act like a pro, even if you don’t feel like it.

But I feel like it,I countered.

Whatever. Just remember our principle—you don’t work, you don’t eat,she said.

That’s what the shifter prince said, isn’t it?I questioned her, not liking her taking a tone of authority with me. Didn’t we always have issues with authority? So why did she pull that stuntwith me?And you’re quoting him now? We aren’t even shifters. Plus, I don’t eat, you don’t get to eat either. I’m not trying to avoid work, but while I work hard, you need to find a job as well. It’s unfair for me to be the sole bread earner and do all the hard work. Also, we should come up with a schedule, like working five days a week and resting during the weekends.

I was bluffing. I enjoyed working seven days a week plus overtime. I wanted to see Rowan every second of the day, but I was dealing with Barbie, who always walked all over everyone if you let her.

Right, you should also have paid vacations,she said sarcastically.Anyway, I want you to be smart. Get the prince hooked, but don’t get yourself more hooked than he is. Men are fickle. And the princes are all ruthless to the bone. Don’t focus on pleasure, since we need more diamonds. Things don’t seem too hot for us in Shades Academy now, so we might have to leave at very short notice if shit becomes too much.

We can deal with any shit,I said. I didn’t want to leave this place where I felt at home.

She rolled her eyes, which annoyed me.

I gotta go to work,I said irritably, my long legs striding toward the cabin.You should not distract me. If I deliver a piss-poor service, Rowan will complain about the quality, and then we might not see a single diamond from him again. These days when quality is dropping everywhere, we must keep our standards high.

That made her quiet.

I smirked, bursting with giddiness and continuing on my path toward my man, a song ringing my head?—

’Cause I am your lady…

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