Chapter 12 #3
“The angel stole the incubus’ pants? I see. Did he steal the fairies pants this week? His outfit was kind of…”
“I don’t think the fairy’s pants would fit him. He’s got strong legs from walking around in full body armor. The fairy has toothpick legs.”
“Agreed, the angel is very nicely muscular.”
“I didn’t say that! I said he’s an idiot who walks around in armor.
Anyway, as soon as you get that number I’d appreciate it.
Bye!” I hung up before I could start screaming.
I hurried to my cottage to change out of my dress before something terrible happened to it.
I took a bunch of photos and did a few fit posts.
One point two million followers? Five thousand messages? And one from SunRae.
It was a few pictures of me with Pearly White at the bottom of the stairs.
I looked very pastel princess to Pearly’s slicked-back shark.
I looked weak and vulnerable. Is that how Richard saw me, looking down on me and thinking how weak I was?
I should have ripped off his head and gone bowling with it. I never should have kissed him because…
I threw myself across my bed as dramatic as Fellicci and let myself remember the press of Richard’s lips, the warmth of his hand on my back, his chest against mine. So strong, so alive, and seeming so very hungry for me.
My cheeks heated as I ached in the weirdest way. It was only a kiss, but it burned like heavenly fire all the way to my soul. It was probably the binding messing with us. Stupid Angel.
My phone buzzed with a text. I rolled over and grabbed it, wanting it to be Richard.
It was a phone number from Sultry. Right. I needed to cut this binding out of me before I got my bestie killed. That was more important than getting all stupid about some meaningless revenge kiss.
I called the number before I could rethink.
It rang and rang and just as I was about to give up, someone answered. She was clipped, no-nonsense, and wary.
“Who is this? I don’t have your number.”
“Oh! Hi! Is this Ruby Blood? I mean Louisa. I mean, whichever you prefer. I’m wondering if I could talk to you for a minute about some things. I’m a born vampire on this reality tv show, and I have so many questions about angels.” Specifically if she could talk to the Commander for me.
“The dating show with Richard? Do you want me to help you kill him? It would take a lot of help, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few distinct possibilities.”
I gave a strangled laugh. “That’s so silly! No, I just needed to get a message to his dad. The Commander.”
She was quiet for a long time. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Right. But it’s the only idea I have, and it’s not like I’m part of his army, so I don’t have to worry about him putting me in any growth positions.”
Her voice came from a distance. “Gavriel, where is the Commander right now? Having dinner with Miracle in Singsong City? At the fancy Sushi restaurant? Well there you go,” she said, her voice coming close again.
“He’s at the sushi restaurant outside the golden wall on the river.
If you want to see him, you can crash his dinner. ”
I froze. “That seems really rude.”
“I mean, sure. But you’ve been on a dating show with his son. Rude is the least of what he deserves for letting such a vile child live past infancy.”
I gasped. That was so mean! It wasn’t Richard’s fault he was so stupid. “I think the Commander should be sainted for putting up with Richard, not condemned for not executing him. Seriously!”
“I’m pretty sure the Commander has been sainted.
If not, it’s likely in the works.” She hung up, like that conversation was done and she could go back to whatever with her angel.
How did their relationship work out, exactly?
There was probably kissing. Like Richard who had no business knowing how to kiss me like that.
No! I wasn’t thinking about that kiss ever again. My cheeks burned as I pulled on an outfit with little kittens all over the skirt and shrug and put on my pink shoes. I headed towards the car area, sure Mitt would appear.
He did, along with Hallie. Hallelujah!
“Where are you going, Princess?” Mitt growled.
“To the sushi place on the river. I’m dying for sushi.”
“You could have it delivered.”
“But then I wouldn’t be there. I need to ogle the bartender merman. I should have had a merman on the show, but it would be weird with logistics, carrying around a big tub of water everywhere.”
“Mermen have legs when they’re not in the water,” Hallie informed me, like I wasn’t aware. Sometimes she was so literal. It was so cute. Maybe Richard really would like her, I just needed to help her not mind his imperfections. And there were so many of them.
We got all got in the car. I drove, Hallie in the back, and Mitt in the passenger’s seat. He didn’t look happy about it, but that was normal for him.
I drove down the narrow drive, then turned onto a state road and started making better time. If I was going to get to the sushi place before they left, I’d have to speed. I put my foot on the gas and took off.