Page 31 of Craving Venom

Yeah, no. This was abadfucking idea.

The warehouse is barely recognizable under all the Halloween decorations and moody lighting. A dark glow fills the space, coming from rows of blacklights strung along the rafters. Shadows stretch long and eerie across the concrete floor, broken only by bursts of strobe lights near the makeshift stage at theback. Some DJ is up there, already blasting bass-heavy beats that vibrate in my chest.

To the right, there’s a bar cobbled together from what looks like shipping crates and neon signs. Behind it, bartenders in skeleton makeup are pouring shots into plastic cups at an alarming speed. Pumpkins and fake cobwebs are scattered around the place, and someone had the brilliant idea to hang bloody, fake severed limbs from the ceiling.

It’s supposed to be spooky, but it just feels claustrophobic.

“This is… a lot.” I hug my arms as I glance around.

“You’re welcome,” Tria says brightly, already bouncing on her heels next to me. She looks completely in her element, rocking a devil costume with little horns and a tail, which, frankly, she’s pulling off way too well.

I, on the other hand, feel ridiculous. Tria picked out my costume, a black corset with a lace skirt that’s way too short for my taste, and she wouldn’t shut up until I agreed to wear it. I’ve been tugging at the hem since we got out of the car.

“Come on, it’s Halloween! Loosen up a little,” Tria shouts over the music, grinning ear to ear.

I glance back toward the entrance, already considering making a break for it. The walk in here was bad enough—drunk guys stumbling out into the parking lot, shouting shit like “Hey, sweetheart” and “Nice rack!” One asshole even brushed against me, his hand conveniently grazing my tits like it was some fucking accident. This is why I hate parties. Too many people, too many hands, and zero personal space.

But I glance at Tria again, and she’s glowing. Her smile is brighter than the stupid strobe lights flashing overhead. And that’s what matters, right? If she’s having fun, maybe this isn’t a total disaster.

Xaden disappears toward the bar, promising to grab us drinks, and Tria nudges me with her elbow. “See? Not so bad, right?”

I raise an eyebrow at her, crossing my arms. “It smells like ass, and I’ve already been groped. This is exactly as bad as I thought it’d be.”

“Oh, come on,” she says, rolling her eyes. “It’s a party. Shit happens. Just relax a little.”

“Iamrelaxed.”

She snorts, grabbing my arms and shaking them a little. “Faith, you’re wound tighter than my bra straps right now. Take a breath. Drink something. Hell, dance if you’re feeling crazy.”

“I don’t dance.”

Tria leans in, grinning. “You’re such a buzzkill. Maybe I should’ve made you pregame before we came.”

“Yeah, because what I need right now is to be drunk and annoyed,” I deadpan, but a small smile tugs at the corner of my lips despite myself.

Before she can fire back, some guy in a skeleton

hoodie appears out of nowhere, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the dance floor. “Tria! Come on!”

She glances back at me with an apologetic grin. “Be right back, promise!”

And just like that, she’s gone. I sigh, stepping closer to the wall and leaning against it. My phone feels heavy in my pocket, and I pull it out without thinking, unlocking it with a swipe of my thumb.

Nothing.

My thumb hovers over Zane’s name, but I don’t click it. What’s the point? It’s not like he’s going to reply. He probably read my last message, laughed, and moved on. I lock the phone again, stuffing it back in my pocket with a frustrated sigh. I press my head against the wall, trying to drown out the noise. Thisnight better get better fast, or I’m walking out of here, Holloweek party be damned.

The loud pop of a party horn right next to my ear almost makes me jump out of my skin.

“Boo!”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Maya!” I snap, clutching my chest as I open my eyes.

“You should’ve seen your face!” Maya howls, barely able to stand upright.

Lisa sidles up beside her, already laughing too, her drink sloshing precariously. “Faith, you looked like you’d just seen the Grim Reaper himself. What the hell were you even doing, zoning out in the middle of all this?”

“I wasn’t zoning out,” I mutter, though I definitely was.

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