Maddy
MADDY
I t’s been a month since that day with Mihai by the creek. A whole bloody month, and he’s barely spoken to me since. I replay everything in my mind, trying to figure out if I said something wrong, if I somehow ruined it.
He was so different with me that day—gentle, open in a way I haven’t seen from him before. But then, almost out of nowhere, he went quiet, and now Connor’s the one playing bodyguard, sticking close by my side every day.
Connor’s easygoing, friendly, but it’s not the same. I can’t shake the feeling that Mihai’s avoiding me, and it’s making this silence feel even louder.
I try to push the thoughts away, flipping through the book I’ve been pretending to read, letting the words blur together. But then, my door flies open, and the girls come barreling in like a hurricane, snapping me out of my thoughts instantly.
“You’re coming with us tonight!” Marina says, practically bouncing on her feet as she grabs my hand and pulls me up. “It’s Bonfire Night, and this time it’s at the Drakos Suite. You have no choice.”
I blink, still processing her words as Chiara and Cat follow behind her. Chiara shoots me an encouraging smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I notice it when she visibly shivers, like a sudden chill just hit her. Cat must notice too because she steps up beside Chiara and wraps her arms around her in a gentle hug.
“No thinking about the Volkov Bonfire,” Cat whispers, her voice soft but firm. “This time is going to be better. Fun.”
I look between them, curiosity gnawing at me, but no one elaborates. There’s a moment of silence before Marina breaks it with a dramatic sigh.
“Speaking of fun, Konstantin Drakos is going to be there, and I’m going to make him mine.”
Chiara snorts, shaking her head. “Good luck with that. Drakos doesn’t exactly do girlfriends.”
Marina waves her hand dismissively. “Details, details. I’ll wear him down.”
I can’t help but smile at the way they banter. Cat, meanwhile, remains more reserved, watching the two of them with a quiet smile. I’ve noticed she’s always the calm one, the grounding force between Chiara’s sass and Marina’s fire.
Before I can say anything, Marina is already digging through my closet. “What are you wearing? You need something that says ‘I’m here to have a good time, but also don’t mess with me.’ ”
I roll my eyes, but I get up and go along with it. After some negotiation, I end up in a pair of ripped jeans, my Dr. Martens, and a black corset that hugs my curves a little too tightly for comfort. My blonde hair is pulled up into a high ponytail, and when I look in the mirror, my eyes widen.
This is the who used to have fun, who used to sing and dance and feel free.
“Damn, girl,” Chiara says, whistling low. “You look like a badass. Your tattoos are amazing!”
I smile, nodding in thanks, and then I notice the faint outline of something peeking from under the strap of her top. Chiara notices me looking and turns slightly, revealing the intricate dragon tattoo that takes up most of her back.
It’s stunning. The dragon’s scales are inked with such precision, it looks like it’s ready to leap off her skin. The wings stretch across her shoulder blades, and its tail winds around her waist. I stare, unable to help my admiration for the art and how it seems to fit her so perfectly—wild and untamed, just like Chiara herself.
“Pretty cool, right?” she grins, catching my reaction. “Got it a few years ago. Hurt like hell, but totally worth it.”
I nod, smiling at the thought of how much pain that must’ve been. Chiara just shrugs it off like it’s nothing.
“Alright, alright, enough admiring each other’s ink,” Marina says, rolling her eyes dramatically. “We’ve got a bonfire to get to!”
I grab my notebook and stuff it in my bag before we make our way downstairs; the energy between the girls is electric. Marina’s practically bouncing with excitement, already talking about how she’s going to corner Konstantin by the fire.
Chiara’s matching her enthusiasm, though there’s a guardedness behind her eyes. Cat stays close to Chiara’s side, her arm looped around hers like she’s silently promising to be there for her no matter what.
When we reach the foyer, Connor’s waiting by the door, leaning against the wall with that easy grin of his. The second he spots us, his gaze lands on me, and his eyes widen a little in surprise.
“Well, look at you, ,” he says, pushing off the wall and giving me a once-over, his green eyes twinkling. “You clean up nice. Love the boots, by the way.”
I feel my cheeks heat up a little, unused to compliments, especially from someone like Connor. But the way he says it, there’s no edge, no agenda—just a genuine, friendly admiration.
Marina rolls her eyes dramatically. “ always looks good. You just don’t notice because she hides it.”
I shake my head, giving Marina a half-smile. I know she means well, but I still feel a little uncomfortable in my own skin. Still, there’s something about letting myself be pulled along with the girls, letting their energy carry me.
Marina smirks, shooting me a knowing look before turning to Connor. “You ready to take us to the hottest bonfire of the year?”
Connor chuckles, holding the door open for all of us. “Aye, ready as I’ll ever be. Just promise me you won’t drag me into any drama tonight, alright?”
“No promises,” Chiara says, winking at him as she steps through the door. Marina and Cat follow, and I fall in behind them, feeling a little more at ease with each step.
Chiara hooks her arm through mine as we head to the car. “Tonight’s going to be fun,” she says with a grin. “No bullshit. Just us, the fire, and a lot of booze.”
I nod, though the mention of booze makes me a little uneasy. I haven’t had a drink since... well, since everything. But I’ll manage. Or I’ll just stick to water or something.
Connor opens the SUV door for us, ushering us inside with a playful, “Ladies first.”
Marina slides in with a grin, followed by Cat and Chiara. I’m last, and as I step into the car, Connor leans in slightly, his voice low. “Seriously, you look great tonight. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
I give him a small, grateful smile and climb into the backseat. The ride to the Drakos Suite is filled with chatter, mostly from Marina and Chiara. Marina can’t stop going on about Konstantin—how hot he is, how mysterious, how she’s going to make it her mission to be his girlfriend.
“You’ve never seen him up close, ,” she says, turning to me with wide eyes. “He’s, like, god-tier hot.”
Cat rolls her eyes but doesn’t say anything. Chiara, on the other hand, is matching Marina’s energy, throwing in her own teasing comments about Konstantin and his notorious reputation.
“Good luck taming that one,” Chiara says with a smirk. “But hey, if anyone can, it’s you.”
Marina beams, clearly enjoying the attention. “Oh, I will. Just wait.”
I stay quiet, listening to their banter as we pull up to the Drakos Suite. The place is massive, even more so than I expected, with a sprawling garden out front and lights glowing from the windows.
As we step out of the car, I feel a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a crowd like this, and I’m not sure how I’ll handle it. But as we walk toward the bonfire, with the girls chatting and laughing around me, I feel a little less alone. A little less like the girl who’s been hiding in her room for weeks.
Chiara nudges me with her elbow, her eyes flicking to my tattoos again. “You’ve got to show them off more,” she says, gesturing to my arms. “They’re badass.”
Marina immediately locks eyes with someone across the lawn and grins. “There he is,” she whispers excitedly. “Konstantin Drakos, in all his brooding glory.”
I follow her gaze and spot him—tall, tanned, dark-hair slicked back, and wearing a leather jacket that somehow makes him look even more untouchable. He’s surrounded by a group of people, but there’s an air about him that screams I don’t care.
He’s standing next to Mihai and the air leaves my lungs. Damn it, why does he have to look so hot just standing there and talking? No, I’m still mad at him for avoiding me. I can’t be thinking about him like that.
Marina squares her shoulders. “Wish me luck, ladies. Operation ‘Make Him Beg’ is officially underway.”
Chiara snorts, giving her a playful shove. “Go get him, tiger.”
Marina winks at us before sauntering off toward her target, leaving the rest of us behind. Chiara watches her go, shaking her head. “She’s going to need more than luck for that one.”
Cat smiles softly but stays quiet, her arm still linked with Chiara’s as they watch the fire. I stand next to them, my gaze drifting around the scene, taking it all in. It’s… nice. The warmth of the fire, the sound of laughter, the distant hum of music. It feels almost normal, something I haven’t felt in a long time.
“Hey,” Connor’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I turn to find him standing beside me, his hands tucked into his pockets. “You doing okay?”
I nod, smiling a little.
He grins, nudging me lightly with his elbow. “Good. You deserve to have some fun, . Tonight’s a good night for it.”
I nod again, but my mind drifts to what Chiara and Cat mentioned earlier—about the last bonfire. I want to ask about it, but I don’t know how. There’s a heaviness in Chiara’s expression that makes me hesitate, like whatever happened that night is best left in the past.
Instead, I let the moment wash over me—the warmth of the fire, the easy banter between the girls, the way Connor stands close, always making sure I’m okay without being overbearing.
I’m starting to feel like perhaps I can belong here.