Page 60 of Snow's Charming
“I promise you we aren’t all like that bitch. There’s a lot of us who are Glendas. I promise to help you with your craft so you feel more comfortable. Plus? You are related to twin vampires that practice the dark arts better than anyone, from what I’m told?”
Before I could respond, Mimi replied with a few giggles.
“Yup! I can attest to the good witches. Ara couldn’t hurt a fly unless it flung dark magic our way. Now, let’s get our drink on! To the bar, ladies! The men can fend for themselves after we introduce you. Sesi, this is my guy Ingram. And Ara dates that guy right there, Eagan. Ciro and Verena, along with Sylus, will join us at Delta Blue. Some pack stuff came up, and they needed to take care of it before they met up with us.”
“I hope everything is okay.”
Despite feeling silly about thinking I saw Jackie, I couldn’t help but think Verena and Ciro would reveal my worst fear—that it was indeed Jackie that I saw. Bile rose in my stomach, and I tried to tamp it down. This was supposed to be a fun outing to get my mind off of sex.
“What’s wrong, Sesi? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Said Ara.
“Maybe I have?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head to rid myselfof the foolishness. “Forget it. It’s too silly to even repeat. I’m just being paranoid.”
“Well, I can’t blame you for being a little skittish. What Jackie did to you is horrible.”
Ara patted my hand, and warmth spread throughout my body. I took a shaky breath and opened my mouth to voice my fears, but as I gazed past Ara’s shoulder, my fears were staring me in the face.
“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”
Jackie’s smile, along with her voice, was saccharin sweet. “Well, where are the manners? I’m Jennifer Whitfield. I used to be Sesi’s father’s secretary.”
I froze in my seat. My palms were clammy, and sweat pooled around the back of my neck. Ara physically put a barrier between me and Jennifer with her body. I was certain Ara knew it was Jackie, but then the conversation turned weird.
“Listen, Jennifer, is it? I don’t mean to be rude, but this is a bachelorette party for my girl.”
Why was she calling Jackie Jennifer? It made no sense.
“Relax, witch! I merely wanted to wish her well on her honeymoon.”
Jackie—or was it, really?
Perhaps it was Jennifer?
But why did she address Ara as a witch? And how would she know I was on my honeymoon? Was I seriously the only one left in the dark about my powers?
“That’s nice of you to say, but we’d like to get backto celebrating—alone.” Said Mimi, palming Ara’s shoulder.
“Is there something wrong here?” Said a man dressed in an expensive suit.
“Beck! So good to see you. How’s Carina? And the club on the Lofoten Islands?”
“Good on both counts, Ara, but something tells me there’s trouble here with my new acquisition.”
“You own Roomers now? Who knew?” said Mimi.
There was a slight twinge of a sarcastic undertone in her voice. Did they expect trouble?
“There’s no trouble here. I was just congratulating an old friend.”
This Jackie or Jennifer hissed out the words as she took a step closer toward me. Heat rose from my core to my neck and crept up my ears.
I wasn’t sure if I was crazy or not, but one thing was for sure: there was salt in this woman’s voice. That much I was certain about.
Jackie put me down when I was a kid, but it was something entirely different to be treated poorly by anyone now. I was a Luna, the queen of my pack. And I certainly would not tolerate this behavior while with my friends.
“Do not speak to me in that tone. You have no right.”
