Japri, Chile
“Hello, beautiful,” I purred. The pads of my fingers ran over the black paint of my brand new Lamborghini. My attention snapped to my friend. “Adelie, you have outdone yourself this time.”
Her lips twitched. “Your money paid for it.”
“I don’t even care,” I whispered. Then I leaned down and kissed the top of the roof with a gentle caress for my newest baby. “She is flawless.”
“The last time I remember you being this excited after a Rest was when I bought you that gorgeous colt.” She opened the passenger side door, snickering quietly. “Remember that?”
I nodded. “This is just as excellent as that time.”
Adelie lifted a finger into the air, pointing out, “But this one doesn’t poop.”
My laughter could be heard over the jet engines roaring behind us.
The overlords had, indeed, provided us with a private jet—which included private airports. Our flight had been long to South America and mainly boring after I got over the thrill of a plane taking off. Memories were one thing, experiencing it myself was another. It was more fleshed out and vivid compared to stolen experiences from humans.
Adelie slid into the magnificent car wearing an arrogant smile.
I chucked my luggage in the trunk next to hers and closed it.
When I sat in the driver’s seat, I groaned. “Oh, the leather hugs my ass just right.”
My friend snorted. “You need to get laid.”
“Yes, I do.” I sighed in agreement. “But we have plans first.”
Her red brows lifted. “Should I even guess?”
“Clothes and weapons.” I wiggled my shoulders as I started up the engine. And, boy, did my new toy purr for me. Another pleased sigh escaped. “Tell me where to go. I have money burning a hole in my pocket.”
“It’s actually a credit card,” Adelie explained.
Using the heel of my palm, I thumped her on her forehead. “I know. It was a metaphor.”
She stared, and then scowled. My friend grumbled, “I need to drink a human who is younger. It’s been a while since I stole a younger one’s memories.”
I chuckled and peeled out of the small parking lot. “Where am I going?”
Adelie quickly strapped on her seatbelt, then gripped the door as I took a sharp left out of the exit. “Head west…and try not to kill us.”
“When all my dreams are coming true? I wouldn’t dare harm us.”
But a little speed never hurt either.
I opened my new toy up on the highway.
And thoroughly enjoyed Adelie’s frightened screams.
* * *
Adelie grunted as I tossed another shirt on the pile she was holding for me. Only her eyes and nose could be seen over the garments. Her gaze was narrowed, but she hadn’t commented—it would come.
I lifted a pair of black leather pants and held them against my waist. “How do you think these would look?”
She only continued to glare.
Still not commenting. Yet.
My lips twitched.
I tossed the pants on top of my ever-growing pile.
Adelie jerked, bending one leg when the garments tilted to the side. My redheaded friend kept them from toppling all over the floor. Barely.
“Hmm.” I hummed and pointed at the racks at the very back of the store. “Do you think there’s anything good back there? We haven’t seen those yet…”
“Oh my God, no! Just no!” Adelie wailed in misery. It was a bit muffled behind the pile, but I could hear her just fine with my vampire hearing. She shuffled to stand directly in front of me, cutting off my access to the racks in the back. She growled, “Those are on sale. You wouldn’t want them anyway.”
I lifted my arm over the top of the clothes pile and bopped her nose lightly with one finger. “I’m just teasing.” I winked. “It appears you still hate shopping as much as you always have.”
Which truly didn’t make a lot of sense. Adelie loved fine clothing.
One would think she would want to pick it out herself.
But no, she enjoyed others doing the shopping for her.
My friend grumbled, “Yes, I still hate it. Can we go now?”
I eyed the yellow and blue bags slung over her forearms. “I guess so. I think I bought enough shoes earlier. But maybe I still need—”
A soft vampire growl emitted from behind the clothes pile.
I quickly bit my bottom lip to keep from laughing. “Okay. Okay. We can go.”
“Thank goodness.” She shuffled back around me, her attention squarely on the checkout area. Adelie moved pretty darn well with a bulky tipping load in her arms. “I mean, really? How many black shirts and black pants do you need?”
I trailed behind her, twirling one of my fingers through her red curls. My hair was jet black and straight, down to my shoulder blades—freshly cut an hour ago. I’d always been envious of her beautiful locks, and that hadn’t changed. I mumbled, “Some are sweaters and such.”
I quickly stopped playing with her hair as she leaned forward, lest I yank her head back.
My clothes tumbled onto the cashier’s table.
Adelie sighed in relief, adjusting my shoe bags down to her gripping fists by her sides. As the cashier worked to ring me up, my friend asked candidly, “With this amount of shopping—aka procrastination—how nervous are you for your meeting with the overlords?”
I ground my teeth together and peered to the side.
No comment from me. The tables had turned.
“Ah.” Her head bobbed in understanding. “So, you’re so nervous you feel like wetting your pants or puking. Got it.”
I rubbed my stomach. The closer we traveled to the castle, the worse the compulsion became. But I was fighting it as hard as I could.
Because my friend was right.
My brows puckered and my honest eyes met hers. “This is everything.”
Adelie held my gaze without flinching. “And you will be fine. You will prosper. You’ve trained for this your whole life.” She repeated her words, her voice soothing my nerves. “You will be fine, Gwen. I have faith you will do whatever it takes to make your dream come true.”
I snorted. “Dammit, I better.”
“Damn right, you better. I’m counting on you to do just that.” A sudden sigh deflated her chest, her brows bunching in irritation. She stared off into nothing as if she were being tortured and interrogated. “Fuck. We still have to go weapon shopping.”
A smile curled my lips. “Hell yes, we do.”