and off for about a year. Thaddeus was never faithful, and he constantly belittled my best friend. He loved to call Alistair a half-breed, as if Al had any say in his parentage.
“I know.” Al’s eyes darken for a split second. He shakes it off and gives me a goofy half-smile. “I promise I don’t want him back. I just want to make him jealous. He called me last week and said he missed me, and I lied and said I’d moved on.”
This already sounds like a terrible idea. I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh exaggeratedly. “Can’t you find a pixie to be your escort? Or like, literally anyone you’re attracted to who might convincingly make him jealous?”
“Who says I don’t find you attractive?” He smirks, his eyes roaming up and down my body in an obvious manner. When I make a gagging sound and flip him off, he chuckles. “I never totally understood why, but Thaddeus has always been super jealous of you. I think it’s just because he’s a controlling jerk who never wanted me to spend time with anyone but him.”
There’s never been anything romantic between Alistair and me. Sure, we may have fooled around when we were teenagers, but only because we were lonely and curious. He and I have known each other since we were young and were placed in the same toxic, abusive foster home. We’ve been homeless together, we’ve done shameful things to survive and protect one another, and we’ve seen each other at our darkest. Alistair is the only family I have, and I love him like he’s half of my soul. The fact that Thaddeus was jealous of our friendship makes me furious.
And suddenly, I want to go to this party more than anything. Screw the fact that my ex will be there sucking face with some trampy fox-shifter. I never liked Thaddeus, and if I can spend one evening pissing him off, I’m game.
“Alright, fine. I’ll go.”
“Yes!” Alistair exclaims gleefully and pulls me into a hug. “God, I fucking love you, and I owe you so much for this.”
We jump apart when Madame pokes her head in the door a few seconds later. Neither of us says a word as she stares at us with her dazzling, predatory gaze. Eventually, her mouth turns up into a terrifying grin and she steps fully into the room.
“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation, darlings. And I have to agree. I’ve never liked that little snake, Thaddeus. If you plan on making him jealous, Isla, you should let me dress you.”
While I may not be totally, completely sold on many of the wedding gowns I help swindle people into buying, I’m still an absolute slave to fashion. And Madame Deverell knows it.
Chapter Two
Isla
Another vacant-eyed human girl offers me a glass of faery wine, and I decline for what feels like the hundredth time. I sigh when she walks away to offer glasses to the other party guests. We’ve only been here for half an hour, and I’m already kicking myself for giving into Al’s whining and pleading.
The last time I drank faery wine, I blacked out for two days. Faery wine tastes incredible, and it takes away all of your fear and inhibitions so you feel like you can do or say anything. It’s crazy addictive for humans, which is why the Unseelie Lord throwing this party has so many human servants. It makes me feel extra prickly and uncomfortable every time I come into contact with one of them.
“Here,” Alistair says as he hands me a glass of something bubbly. When I raise my eyebrows in question, he grins. “It’s just regular champagne. You need to relax, Isla.”
I take a sip and ignore his comment, letting my eyes wander around the room at all of the supernaturals present. I’m an idiot for agreeing to come here just to make some vampire prick jealous. I really want to leave, but we haven’t even caught a glimpse of Thaddeus yet.
“Come on.” Al wraps his arm around my waist, rubbing his hand over my lower back in a way that would probably appear intimate to anyone else. He looks down at me with one of his signature mischievous smiles and says, “Let’s go and mingle. You look so fucking stunning tonight, I’m sure we’ll make more than just Thaddeus jealous.”
I do look pretty damn good, if I don’t say so myself. The dress Madame lent to me is a long, silky, blood-red