something ugly and dire.
‘But not this time,’ Brand whispered.
Pale teeth scraped along Retra’s neck and a camphor scent overwhelmed her. Her lungs filled with it, struggling to find air above the sharp, pervasive odour. Fingers gripped her thighs, up under her dress, forcing her legs apart, and she felt the sharp pain of something puncturing her skin under her jaw line.
Then, without warning, the Riper’s weight was gone.
Retra lifted her head and looked up. The club had gone silent; music dead, lights brighter.
‘Brand?’ Lenoir’s unmistakable voice sounded in Retra’s ear, in her head. ‘What goes on here?’
Brand rolled onto her feet in one movement.
The booth was filled with people: Lenoir, Brand, Test and more Ripers. One of them held Kero around the neck as he made futile efforts to get free. Krista-belle and the White Wings pressed in around and behind them.
‘What are you doing with the girl, Brand?’ Lenoir again.
Brand hunched her leather-clad shoulders and curled her lips in a sneer. ‘Nothing.’
‘You know that it’s forbidden to touch the younglings.’ Lenoir’s voice was quiet but intense as it entered Retra’s mind. She couldn’t drag her eyes from him. This close he was breathtaking; tall and lean, with sleek hair falling below his shoulders. His skin was whiter than Cal’s hair, and his face was made beautiful by the perfect symmetry of his features.
‘You think you need to preach our rules to me, Lenoir?’
‘I think you forgot yourself. That wouldn’t happen again, would it?’
Lenoir’s last two words hung heavily between them.
‘The first girl was a mistake. I was needy,’ Brand allowed. ‘But this one …’ She pointed to Retra. ‘This one attempted to harm me. What would you have me do?’
‘Harm?’ Lenoir looked at Retra, the fallen stool, and Brand. ‘How truly terrifying for you.’
The Ripers around Lenoir didn’t hide their smirks.
Brand bared her teeth again and swept out of the booth, knocking aside the rest of the White Wings who crowded around the edge of the screen, trying to see in. Their cries of protest went unheeded by Lenoir.
He glided closer to Retra, his gaze scalding her. ‘You show courage, little bat, to protect a friend, and foolishness. Never attempt such a thing again. We have ways to manage such an occurrence.’
Part of Retra wanted to disappear beneath his stare, but her anger was still alive and fanning a stubbornness that would not let her submit. ‘Such an occurrence? But I thought you were our Guardians. Our safekeepers.’
‘We are. That’s why I am here and why you are still alive.’ He turned to Kero. ‘This is finished. Take your gang and leave.’
The Riper holding Kero let go and, as quickly as they’d appeared, Lenoir and his Guardians left, leaving Retra alone with the White Wings.
Krista-belle launched herself at Retra straightaway, clutching her tight. ‘Thank you,’ she sobbed.
Retra stood awkwardly in the girl’s grip until Kero pulled his girlfriend back under his arm. He looked upset, his expression caught between anger and distress.
‘Seal Retra?’
Retra nodded. The palm of her hand was so hot now that it burned, and weariness fell across her like a thick blanket.
‘Let me through!’ Another voice penetrated through the quiet group.
Suki pushed her way in to stand next to Retra. Her makeup had smeared, and one stocking had laddered. ‘What’s up? What’s going on?’ She gave Kero a furious glance. ‘What’ve you done to her?’
‘Nothin’,’ croaked out Kero.
He stepped closer to Retra so that he, Krista-belle, Suki and she were in a tight circle. ‘Seal or not, we owe you for this.’
Retra tried to think of something to say, but her palm felt as if it had caught fire and the room had started to spin. Her only coherent thought fixed on Suki’s concern. No one had shown her that since Joel. Even Mother … Mother had been too scared.
‘What’s wrong with her?’ someone asked.
Suki grabbed her hand and held it, palm up, next to her own. ‘Ret, you’ve gotta rest now. Real quick.’
‘Find me later and we’ll talk,’ said Kero.
But Suki shook her head. ‘Forget later, tough guy. You gotta help me get her back to Vank. Now.’
‘She’s fortunate. The Guardians allow some room for mistakes among the newcomers. If she does this again, though, her time here will be shortened,’ she drew a breath, ‘or snuffed out completely. Petite nuit must be observed.’
Retra recognised Charlonge’s sombre voice without having to open her eyes.
‘I’ll tell her.’ And Suki.
‘Krista-belle, you should know better than to let one of your own miss petite nuit,’ scolded Charlonge.
‘It was