Page 96 of Scattered Glitter

“Fine. I need a couple of minutes to get ready.”

Levi nods, giving me a reassuring smile. “Take yourtime.” He walks over to the couch and sits down as if he’s at home, making Annabelle squeal.

“Levi Laneis sitting on our couch!” she whisper-shouts at me, then turns to Levi again. “Where is Pebble?”

“At home. I don’t take her everywhere. It’s too dangerous for her.”

“Right, God, you’re real!” Annabelle squeals again.

I roll my eyes once more, catching the hint of a smile on Koen’s face as I turn and head to my room, where I quickly change into a pair of sweats, figuring I’ll have to get out of them anyway to try on dresses. I take my hair out of my ponytail, grab some dry shampoo, and give it a good spray, then spritz on my vanilla-candy perfume. I add a little bit of makeup and glitter lip gloss, hoping it’s enough to appear put together.

When I’m done, I grab my bag and head back out. Koen is waiting outside my bedroom, his gaze flicking over me as I step out. “Let’s go,” he murmurs and places a hand on my elbow, guiding me toward the door.

Annabelle is talking Levi’s ear off, her eyes wide with excitement as she gestures animatedly, sitting beside him on the couch. Levi listens, nodding along, clearly amused, but when he sees us, he jumps up from the couch, giving Annabelle a smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, and I can’t wait to see you and your boyfriend at one of our shows.”

“Bye!” Annabelle chuckles, waving at them. “And I’ll hold you to that!”

Koen nudges me out the door, and I glance back at Annabelle, who’s practically glowing while she pulls out her phone.

Good thing I know she can keep shit to herself.

“You know you have to follow through with that, or I’mgoing to castrate you for disappointing her,” I mutter to Levi as we walk out.

Levi laughs, his eyes twinkling. “Don’t worry, Little Bird. If we ever step up on that stage again, she’ll be sitting front row.”

Right. They stopped doing shows after their uncle died.

Ugh… I’m a horrible person.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out to see a text from Annabelle.

You and Koen Lane???

I sigh and feel eyes on me, so I glance at Koen while slipping my phone back into my pocket. His gaze is forward, but amusement dances in his expression.

Not wanting to entertain that conversation, I ask, “So, why do I need a dress?”

“Because you proved yourself,” Koen says matter-of-factly. “And what we need your help with is going down tomorrow evening.”

“I didn’t steal the car,” I point out, frowning.

“You don’t have to,” Koen replies. “Even Alaric sees that now.”

Alaric? Is that Captain Bossy’s name?

“You need me that bad, huh?” I huff.

“We do,” Levi joins in, tapping my nose. “But you’re also fucking good at what you’re doing.”

“Yeah, you’re impressive.” Koen nods along.

Okaaay?

We exit the building, and there’s a classic golden Ford Bronco parked in front of it. It’s beautiful, gleaming in the sunlight.

Right. We have to drive there.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

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