The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,127

into the club like this alone. Do you need help?”

I gave her a weak smile.

“I’ll be fine. Give me a few minutes to get ready.”

I closed myself in the bathroom with a dress I knew would make Adira and Mrs. Quill happy. It was a beautiful dress. However, I wouldn’t be getting dressed up for a small dinner this time. I would be dressing for a night in a club filled with my very susceptible peers. And wearing something so provocative while there terrified me to the core.

With a sigh, I unzipped the garment bag.

Getting ready was a careful balance between looking like I’d made an effort without doing so much that I called attention away from Jenna. I’d purposely chosen the brightly colored dress for her and a muted grey one for myself, hoping that would help. Yet, despite its color, my dress was far from drab. The silken sheath hugged every curve, and the plunging neckline was positively indecent, exposing me from my neck to my navel in one long, narrow strip.

Mom had taken one look at my face when I’d tried it on and told Mrs. Quill we needed to find matching grey body paint to cover “that brownie’s” mar on my perfection. Since I knew she’d never consider any sexual mark an imperfection, her suggestion had been to make me more comfortable in a dress she knew I didn’t want to wear in public. I could have hugged her.

Piepen’s mark of shame glowed brightly until I covered it with the matching grey body paint and a healthy dusting of glitter. The exposed strip of grey skin helped me feel more covered even though my cleavage was saying hello to the world.

To humor Megan, I went with a messy updo. Instead of the stud earrings she’d suggested, I chose diamond strands that the hairstyle and neckline demanded.

It didn’t take me long to dab on some eyeshadow and lip gloss. When I emerged, Jenna was still staring at herself in the mirror. Hearing me, she turned. Her mouth dropped open into a little ‘o’ that would have made me laugh if not for the hint of lust that clouded the air.

“That dress is so hot on you,” she whispered.

My hunger stirred, and my vision sharpened. I quickly closed my eyes.

“Jenna, stop.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“Go open the window, please.”

A moment later, a cool breeze caressed my skin. I focused on my hunger as I breathed, willing it to go back to sleep. It didn’t surprise me when it refused to listen this time. Its cooperation had slowly decreased throughout the day. My bag of chocolate was already gone, and Mom had spent a fortune feeding me desserts while in the city. She hadn’t batted an eye, but I knew Mrs. Quill had been watching me closely.

“Are you okay?” Jenna asked.

I was far from okay, and we both knew it. The knock that sounded on my door would have been a convenient save from answering. However, I knew it could only be one of two people and considered neither a “save,” given my current state.

“Come in.” I opened my eyes, defiantly letting my hunger show as the door opened.

Mrs. Quill’s gaze swept over us as she entered, lingering on Jenna instead of me.

“You’re both positively stunning,” she said with a wide smile.

“Eliana did my hair and makeup,” Jenna said from near the window.

The fresh air wasn’t helping. I could still smell her. The lust was barely there and no longer for me. Likely she was thinking of her upcoming kiss with Fenris. It didn’t matter. I could smell her, and my hunger was twisting dangerously inside of me.

There was no way I’d make it through an evening in a closed space with gods knew how many of my peers.

“Jenna, I need a private moment with Mrs. Quill.”

“Sure. I’ll wait by the front door.” She hurried from the room.

“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Quill asked.

“Far from it. I’m hungry and don’t want that to wreck tonight. Will you help me?”

“Of course. Do you want to go to the—”

I shook my head.

“We both know there’s no need.”

She crossed the room and held out her hand. I didn’t need to touch her to feed, but the simple contact made feeding feel less like taking and more like accepting. I forced myself to sense her desire and love for her husband then coaxed it higher.

The gentle scent of blueberries perfumed the air. It wasn’t what I craved, and my mind drifted to the lava cakes of