The van ride proved awkward thanks to me and my total lack of chill. I’m not the subtlest person, and Linus caught me sneaking peeks at him. He didn’t ask if he had spinach in his teeth, probably because he didn’t really eat, and I didn’t offer him a mirror or an explanation. But I couldn’t rein in the impulse to look at him. Really look. Peer through all the layers, past all the masks, to the man I glimpsed when we were alone.

“You’re not the only one allowed to carry a torch for the unobtainable ideal.”

Just how long had that torch burned? How hot? How true? And was he tired of carrying it yet?

“We’re here,” he said with a patience that made me think he sensed my nerves.

Pulse thumping, I snapped to attention. “I’m ready.” I clutched my bag. “Let’s go.”

Hood met my gaze in the mirror, a smile tugging his lips, and I flushed for no good reason.

“Are you feeling up to this?” Linus helped me out of the van, concern tightening his face.

“Yes.” I squared my shoulders. “I’m only auditing.” Just standing and watching. “I can handle it.”

“Park,” Linus told Hood. “Patrol on foot. Grier will be safe in the Lyceum.”

We took the stairs together and entered the echoing lobby of a sleeping city hall.

The ride down to the Lyceum made me fidgety. The next several hours would be spent in a sealed room with vampires. Granted, Linus would be with me, but I had serious trust issues where the undead were concerned. Not the healthiest outlook for a necromancer, but they did keep trying to kidnap and/or murder me.

We stopped outside the room earmarked for the ceremony, and Linus unlocked the door then propped it open so early arrivals could make themselves comfortable. “Do you know your way to the baths?”

“It’s been a while, but yeah.” I glanced in their general direction. “I can find my way.”

“I’ll follow in a minute.” Red splashed across his cheeks. “I didn’t mean—”

“I know what you meant.” I patted his shoulder. “I’ll meet you back here in an hour.”

“You don’t have to face them alone.” His cool fingers brushed mine. “You could wait for me down the hall. We could walk in together.”

“What kind of necromancer am I if I can’t stomach being alone with vampires?”

“A cautious one.” He traced a path across my knuckles. “You have a target pinned on your back. It’s not cowardice to show it to as few people who are likely to take aim as possible.”

“Okay.” I pulled away from him. “You convinced me. I’ll wait for you.”

Hiking my bag up on my shoulder, I set out for the women’s facilities while he ducked inside to light a tray of palo santo wood burning in each corner of the room.

Steam mobbed me when I shoved into the simple room tiled in more blood-red marble. Only these squares were unpolished for safety reasons. A sunk-in tub the size of a lap swimming pool filled the center space. Small changing rooms lined two walls while oils, soaps, and perfumes sat on shelves inset into the far wall.

I had used this bath exactly once. A long, long time ago. Forever it seemed. At thirteen I had to purify myself before the adoption proceedings, the necromantic ones, were performed in the Lyceum.

Maud and I had entered the Grande Dame’s chambers for the private ceremony as guardian and ward, and we left as a family.

Determined not to let the past bog me down, I pushed those thoughts out of my head and entered a stall. I tossed my bag on the bench and stripped, peeked out to make sure I was still alone, then pumped my arms in my haste to reach the shelves. I wasn’t a fan of public nudity, but rules were rules.

I selected soap for my body and hair, oils to rub on both, and chose a silken robe from the rack as well as a couple of plush towels smelling of herbs. I dumped my supplies at the edge of the pool, allowing me to cover up quick if someone joined me, then eased into the water with a sigh as the heat got to work on the knots left in my back from my sleeping arrangements.

As I washed, I cleared my head of all negative thoughts and replaced them with positive affirmations. A calm spilled through me that I hadn’t felt since my release. As I massaged the oils into my hair and skin, I wondered if I would get reprimanded if I started taking weekly dips in the ritual waters just to relax after a long week. Probably. The Society tended to frown on the misuse of ceremonial spaces and equipment.

Unless you paid a fee for the privilege, of course.

Maybe I could sweet-talk Woolly into some bathroom renovations once we began her overhaul.

Cool air swirled around me, raising chills down my warm skin, and my eyes popped open.

The doorway stood empty, but the sliver of light cutting down the right side proved I hadn’t been imagining things.

I checked the stalls for hints another occupant had joined me but saw none.

The tingle of preternatural energy in the room stung my necromantic senses into awareness.

“Hello?” I moved to the edge of the bath and wiped my face on the towel. “I’m just finishing up.” I forced cheer in my tone to hide my unease. “The room’s all yours.”

Taking the steps slowly, I rose from the bath, towel in hand, wrapping myself up before I cleared the water.

A splash behind me sent my pulse through the roof, and I twisted to identify the source. I didn’t get my head cranked all the way around before a hard yank on my scalp hauled me into the bath. I hit on my back and went under, a scream bubbling in my throat.

Through the clear sheet of water above me, I saw the vampire lift a familiar golden athame in his fist.

Twisting aside, I avoided a direct hit, but I still got cut from side boob to spine, and I lost my towel in the process. The scent of blood hit the vampire, I could tell by the slackening of his fingers in my hair, and I flattened my soles, bracing my feet on the tiles before sinking my elbow sluggishly in his gut. He wasn’t hurt, but he hunched over, anticipating another hit, and he put the ceremonial dagger within my reach.

Lungs blazing, I thrust my hand through the water and fought him for the knife. I didn’t need to take it from him. I just needed him worried enough he let me go. And he did, after I dug my nails into his hand.

The second he released my hair, I fell back in the water, kicked off the bottom, and swam for all I was worth to the other side. That put roughly six feet between us, giving me just enough time for my feet to hit the dry tile. The vampire, climbing out as I glanced back, was between me and the door. That left me one option. I hit the shelves, raking all the towels onto the floor, using the last one to towel my arm dry.

There was no time to draw a circle. The tiles were wet now, and the towels would absorb too much blood. But I was out of the water, and its grounding effect had no power over me.

Dipping my fingers in the crimson dribbling down my side, I reached into that primal headspace where foreign sigils floated like lilies on a pond, and I scooped one out to draw on my arm. The effect was instantaneous. A circle snapped closed around me, the barrier tinged with red instead of its usual transparency.

With a snarl on his lips, the vampire hurled the athame at me. It struck the barrier then clattered to the floor. He stalked closer, leering at me, trying to make me self-conscious. Fine. That part worked. No one wants to square off with a vampire naked. It’s just not done. But I wasn’t taking my eyes off him long enough to preserve my modesty.

Figuring bravado was the next best thing, I challenged him with my direct stare. “Who sent you?”

“There’s a price on your head, love.” He dripped a slow circle around me. “I had only to send myself.”

I searched him head to toe, but the athame appeared to be his only weapon. “What, no arrows?”

A frown puckered his brow, and he cocked his head at me before he resumed his stalking.

“You’re lovely.” He raked his gaze over me. “Cooperate, and I’ll show you pleasure before I drink you down. You won’t even feel the end coming, I promise.”

“Too bad I can’t say the same.” I wiped my fingers through the blood on my side and wrote a sigil on the outer wall of the circle. “You’re going to feel this.”

His retort died on his tongue as I slapped my palm against the sigil, and energy burst in a wave that rippled the water. The vampire grunted, the impact hurling him against the wall. A crack sounded, but I didn’t wait to see if the tile or his skull had shattered.

Yanking a fresh robe off its hanger, I shrugged into it and tied it closed as I ran for the exit.

Linus straightened from his lean when I exploded into the hall. “What’s wrong?”

“Vampire.” I slid into his arms before he got a chance to open them and fisted the bilious material of his black dress robes at his sides. “I got him, though.”

“I’m not sure what terrifies me more. That a vampire attacked you in the Lyceum, in a sacred chamber, or that you took him out single-handedly.”

“The word you’re looking for is proud.” I pulled back enough I saw the moment black spilled across his eyes. “I saved myself.” I reached up, touched the back of my scalp, and winced. “I only lost a little blood and a few hairs in the process.”

“Goddess.” He tightened his arms around me and brushed his lips against my temple.

Pretty sure he was invoking Hecate and not me, but I still glowed in the aftermath of having survived.

“I didn’t hear a commotion.” He twisted us, gaze scanning the doorframe. “There’s a sound proofing sigil on the casing.”

Following his line of sight, I grimaced. “Whoever hired him, he had inside help.”

Only a necromancer could have drawn those sigils, but I doubt they would have been stupid enough to use their own ink. Tracing blood was too easy thanks to modern technology. Since all members in good standing had access to the Lyceum, this revelation wasn’t all that helpful.

“You’re shivering.”

I laughed against his chest. “It’s cold out here without pants.”

His muscles locked, and he reared back, glancing down like he hadn’t noticed what I was—or wasn’t—wearing.

“Here.” He released me to shrug out of his robes and slid them over my head to pool at my feet. “I must secure the vampire.”

When he lingered, I gave him a nudge. “I’ll be okay.”

“You can take care of yourself,” he said, but I wasn’t sure which of us he was reassuring.

“I won’t budge.” I leaned against the wall opposite the door, glad for the support. This way, I would be the first thing he saw when he reemerged. “See? All good.”

Black mist curtained from his shoulders as he crossed the threshold, and I was grateful for the door swinging closed behind him that would shield me from what came next.

What came next turned out to be three men dressed in black fatigues who stormed the hall and shoved into the women’s bath. All but the last one, who made a beeline for me.

“Are you hurt?” Boaz reached for me, but I sidestepped him. “What happened?”

“I’m good.” I wanted to avoid him at all costs. “A vampire attacked me, and I attacked back.”

“You shouldn’t be here.” The blood drained from his face. “You should be at home, where it’s safe.”

“It will never be safe.” The words rang with truth. “This is my life now, and I have to learn how to live it.”

“At least let me—” His lips compressed. “Please, let me take you home.”

“I have a ride, but thanks.” I jerked my chin toward the bath. “You better get in there.”

After wiping a trembling hand down his face, Boaz nodded and ducked in to join his fellow Elite.

Faster than I would have thought possible, they emerged dragging the vampire between them.

Boaz didn’t look my way again, and for that I was grateful.

In a swirl of darkness, Linus followed, gesturing them on while he stopped three feet away from me.

“He still had his head.” I closed the distance and ran my fingers over the insubstantial fabric of his cloak. “You showed restraint.”

“I would be banned from the Lyceum for killing except in self-defense.” He watched the curls play across my fingertips. “That would be inconvenient, so he will get his trial when Mother returns.”

“We’ve kept your clients waiting.” I leaned my head against his shoulder. “I hope you don’t get penalized.”

“I don’t care about the money.” His fingers threaded through the ropy ends of my dripping hair. “They can keep the commission.”

“Scion Lawson.” Hand fluttering over my heart, I sucked in a shocked breath and rounded my eyes. “You better hope your mother never hears those words fall from your lips.”

He almost cracked a real smile at my teasing, but he sobered instead. “I saw the athame.”

“I recognized it too.” I slumped, making an even bigger puddle of fabric. “Maud donated it for a charity auction when I was fifteen.” I pleated the creases. “It was the last major social event I attended with her.”

“The use of a knife,” he said, thinking it through, “Maud’s knife, doesn’t fit the archers’ MO.”

“He acted confused when I asked him about his lack of arrows.”

Linus stared in the direction the sentinels had gone. The direction Boaz had gone. “We’re dealing with two separate entities here.”

“Mercenary archers out to collect the bounty and a person with a vendetta against me, or Maud, or both of us, or all of us.”

“Let the sentinels handle the archers.” His jaw flexed over the words. “I filed a petition for aid after the incident in the swamp. Boaz, acting in his official capacity, just informed me it’s been approved. They’re going to comb the city and ramp up patrols.”

Well, that explained their mutual irritation. Boaz had spoken to Linus. No wonder they were both irked.

“Your mother will love that.” I grimaced, remembering her warning about expending Society resources to protect me, how badly that would end for both of us. “She’s going to start flipping tables when she gets back.” Or paying someone to do it for her. “I do not want to be here when that happens.”

“That’s why we’re going to spin it.” He mostly concealed his amusement at my earlier dig. “The archers might be mercenaries, but they’re still vampires, and they’re attacking necromancers in heavily populated areas. Humans could have gotten hurt, or killed, on the Cora Ann. Angel was shot in his booth, in plain sight. This spree of violence has to end before we’re all exposed.”

“You’re not wrong,” I admitted. “There’s too much collateral damage.”

“Bringing in the sentinels also frees us up to focus on the secondary crimes.” He cupped my elbow to help me straighten then pulled out his phone and fired off a text. “Those are of a more personal nature.”

“Killing me feels pretty personal.” I leaned against him as he escorted me to the elevators and then out of the Lyceum. “Practitioners often spend the first twenty-four hours of their progeny’s life sequestered with them.” Or so my required reading had informed me. “Will you come home after, or will you stay?”

“There’s no need.” He walked me to the van as Hood parked. “The client will survive resuscitation.”

The simple statement reminded me how little he thought of himself. I could count the necromancers on one hand who could make that claim, and they were all Maud’s contemporaries, all centuries old. He was a child in comparison, a prodigy, yes, but still young to be so accomplished.

“You’re back early.” Hood scowled at my attire. “What happened? Why does she look like a drowned rat?”

“Hey, rude.” I tossed ratty hair over my shoulder. “A vampire got me.”

A snarl pumped through Hood, his glare vicious on Linus. “You said she was safe in there.”

“This wasn’t his fault.” About to climb in, I found my arm in the grip of an immoveable force. “What?”

Midnight eyes swept over me as Linus scanned me top to bottom. “What do you mean, he got you?”

“I can patch myself up when I get home.” I pressed a hand to my aching side. “He grazed me, that’s all.”

After helping me onto the bench, Linus climbed in and tapped Hood’s headrest. “Get us home.”

“Hood, no.” I slammed my palm into the back of his seat. “Linus, you have to stay.”

“You’re hurt.” Thumbing in a number, he brought his cell to his ear. “Mr. Hacohen. I have clients waiting in resuscitation room three. I would like you to compensate them for their time and explain I can’t go forward with their—”

“Linus.” I snatched the phone from his hand. “Hi, Mr. Hacohen. Bye, Mr. Hacohen.”

Linus sat there, his hand frozen beside his head, waiting for an explanation.

“This will destroy your reputation.” I yanked open the drawers attached to the back door. “Tardiness, under the circumstances, will be forgiven. But absence?” I rooted around until I located a fountain pen. “Given the health of their candidate, the clan would never forgive you.”

Lowering his arm, he spread his fingers over his thigh. “I don’t care about—”

“I do.” I covered his hand with mine. “You’re not taking this hit for me. I can’t do this to you.”

The spark of understanding, that this was for me, brought about an incremental shift in his bearing. “Are you sure?”

“Lethe can sit with me. I won’t be alone.” I shot a pleading glance at Hood to back me up on this. “I’ll be in Woolly, safe behind the wards. I won’t budge an inch until you get back.”

Funny how I was ready to spit nails when Boaz suggested running home, but the sacrifice cost me nothing if it meant sparing Linus more grief on my behalf.

“Lethe speaks highly of Grier,” Hood rumbled. “She won’t mind spending a few hours with her.”

“See?” I squeezed Linus’s fingers as I shoved up his sleeve. “I’m set.” After swiping on the sigil I designed for him, since the last one had washed off in his bath, I capped the pen. “Now—go do your thing.”

“All right.” He exhaled slowly. “I’ll do this.” He reclaimed his phone. “I won’t burden your conscience.”

“Thank you.” Impulsively, I brought our hands to my mouth and kissed the back of his. “This is the right thing to do.”

Wearing a dazed expression, he slipped from the vehicle and drifted back through the doors.

“Remind me never to let you kiss me.” Hood frowned at Linus’s back. “You broke him.”

A tiny thrill zinged through me. “I’m sure he’s fine.”

Hood grunted once, pulled into traffic, and let the real interrogation begin. “Walk me through what happened with the vampire.”

Smart enough not to argue while Hood was being reasonable, I did as he asked, in great detail, including the part where Maud’s athame almost ended my life.

“How certain are you the sentinels can maintain the kind of net Linus is talking about on paranormals moving in and out of the city?” Doubt laced his expression. “I can pull in reinforcements if necessary.”

“Savannah isn’t a gwyllgi problem.” Though I appreciated the sentiment. “This is an ongoing issue. Until we know who set the bounty on my head, I’m going to remain a hot item.”

And that didn’t take into consideration this newest, more personal threat.

Proving our thoughts aligned, he asked, “Any word on who might be orchestrating the vandalisms?”

“Linus hasn’t mentioned any leads, so I assume there are none.” I leaned back to get more comfortable. “You were at all the scenes. Did you pick up scents besides the archers?”

“From other vampires? No.” He sounded thoughtful. “There were traces of other necromancers in the marsh, but I wasn’t focused on those. They were too old to be a threat.”

“But fresh enough they lingered, even amid all that water?”

“The grass,” he explained. “The last person through cut their hand and either swatted aside the grass on their way past or they might have tripped and thrown out a hand to stop their fall.”

“Do you think you could go back to the marsh? Try to catalog that scent to compare against the docks and the market?”

“I can do that.” He grinned, and it was beastly. “Text Linus before he mutes his phone. Tell him to check the security feeds. That vampire got in somehow.”

“Goddess.” Eyes on the door latch, I drew myself up straighter. “He might have hitched a ride with the clan representatives. We have to go back.”

“Sit down,” he growled. “You’re not springing from a moving vehicle to go tell him what he already knows.”

“Hey,” I snapped. “I wasn’t thinking of springing. I was going to wait until you caught a red light then make a run for it.”

“Try it.” His smile returned, and it was all teeth. “Linus engaged the child safety locks.”

“Traitor,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Your would-be assassin would have required the clan’s consent to ride down with them. That makes them accessories. Now, I’m not saying they aren’t ambitious enough to concoct a story about a candidate with a ticking clock, I’m not even saying they wouldn’t recruit one to cover their asses, but the problem with that plan is it would carry immediate repercussions.”

“They’re trapped in the Lyceum with Linus, who knows a vampire tried to kill me.”

“The lower level would be a bloodbath,” he confirmed. “They aren’t dumb enough to make a connection as obvious as escorting their assassin in, assuming they paid for the hit in the first place.”

“And if they can afford Linus, they’re not hurting for cash. That renders the bounty moot.”

“Millions of dollars are never moot, but yeah. It’s doubtful financial gain would be their motivation.”

“That puts us back to square one.” Confident Linus was safe, I forced myself to relax again. “The archers are after the bounty and someone else is after me.” There was no hoping I wasn’t the target after this. “The scheduled resuscitation must have been the catalyst. Linus thinks it’s a warning to me not to practice.”

Hood pulled into the driveway. “Who would have access to those details?”

Wealthy clans boasted through rumors, so as not to appear gauche, about the elite necromancers they could afford to retain to resuscitate their candidates. Common practice, so I hadn’t questioned that part. But Hood scenting necromancer blood in the marsh, the very nature of the vandalisms, indicated a more personal vendetta.

“Each petition for resuscitation must be approved by the Grande Dame. The hearings are held in the Lyceum. Anyone can attend. That way, other clans can dispute the proceedings if they take issue with the candidate’s past, or voice concerns about what value they bring to the community.”

That was the case when the Undead Coalition governed them. They might be in for a change soon.

“Basically, anyone with access to the Lyceum has access to that information.”

“Yes.” I rubbed my forehead. “Necromancers and vampires of all castes.”

“Sit tight.” He threw the van in park. “I’m coming around to help.”

“I can—” a rumbling growl filled the van, and I had to clear my throat to find my voice, “—wait right here.”

The pain in my side flared when he helped me into the yard, but it was manageable.

Woolly flickered her porch light in question, but I reassured her through our bond I was okay.

Lethe, who had been on patrol, jogged up on all fours. Her nostrils flared, and her ears flattened.

“Grier was attacked inside the Lyceum,” Hood told her. “Can you stay with her until Lawson returns?”

Magic, red and liquid, splashed over the beast in a fountain that solidified into a very naked Lethe.

“Am I getting paid overtime for this?” Crossing her arms under her breasts plumped them, which seemed to be the point when Hood’s eyes glazed from staring. “I’m thinking three cheeseburgers—extra rare—with extra cheese, extra fries and an extra chocolatey milkshake.” At my slow blink, she shrugged. “I’m craving cow with this pregnancy.”

“While exorbitant,” I drawled, “I’ll pay your fee.”

“I’ll meet the delivery person at the gate and walk it up,” Hood offered. “I’ll patrol on foot until then.”

Leaving us in the driveway, he began his circuit of the property.

“I smell blood.” Lethe looked me over. “How bad?”

“A graze across my right side.” I took the stairs, trailing my hand along the railing, comforting Woolly as best I could until I got patched up again. “I can heal it. It won’t take but a minute.” I passed her my phone. “Call in your order.” I headed for the bathroom. “I’ll be right out.”

Lethe stuck close. “Do you want anything?”

“For you to put on clothes?”

“Don’t be a prude. Nudity is natural. Plus, with Midas gone, there’s no reason for Hood and I to wear them.”

“Thanks for the warning to never wander into the woods unannounced.”

“Wimp.” She sighed dramatically. “Food or no food? Speak up, woman.”

Never one to pass on an offer of food, my stomach growled its interest. “I’ll take a burger and fries.”

“Consider it done.” She dialed a number from memory and smiled. “Hey, Joe. I’ll take…”

Whoever Joe was, he must think he’d died and gone to heaven with the bulk orders she kept placing.

While she rattled off our order, I headed upstairs for my pen and took it in my bathroom. The ceremonial robe was meant to be pulled over my head, but I couldn’t lift my right arm high enough to make that work. I ended up unfastening the collar clasp and wriggling through the neck hole. For once, my lack of curves proved useful. Though, to be honest, it was a tight fit around the hips, which gave me hope I was filling out a little. The bathrobe came off easier, and I was able to admire my latest wound in the mirror over my sink.

The faucets squeaked on, and steam swirled up from the basin, clouding the mirror.

A squiggly question mark appeared on the glass.

“I’m okay.” I let her access my memories of what happened, careful to emphasize how I handled the problem on my own. “I regret missing the opportunity to audit Linus, but it is what it is.”

The wobbly smiley face she drew next, before refreshing her question mark, broke my heart.

“We’re good.” I placed my hand on the wall for a few seconds. “I never could stay mad at you.”

The light overhead blazed with her happiness at having been forgiven, and the scalding water cooled to a moderate temperature. I still had to prop the door open to clear the mirror, but her attention was drifting away as I twisted the knob.

Grimacing, I lifted my arm as high as I could stand and examined the slice. “That’s…not a slice.”

Eight inches long, it gaped in the middle. I wasn’t certain a healing sigil alone could repair it, but I wasn’t about to wait on Linus after assuring him I could manage, and Heinz was out of the question. His loyalty to Boaz meant he would report on any injury he treated, and I didn’t want my personal business getting back to him.

Cleaning it wasn’t fun. I considered a quick shower, but I was done with vulnerability for the night. Dabs from a moist washcloth would have to do.

With much less skill than Linus, I applied a healing variant pulled from my head and hoped for the best. The ancient first-aid kit under the sink donated antibiotic ointment, made by Maud, and gauze. I stuck those in place then wound vet wrap around my torso. Over that, I added a baggy tee and slid on panties and pajama shorts.

The food had arrived by the time I joined Lethe in the living room. I stretched out flat on my back on the couch while she piled food on my stomach then took her stack of containers to the chair.

“How are you doing over there?” she asked around the handful of fries sticking out of her mouth.

“I’ll live.” I accepted the chilly cup she passed me. “What’s this?”

“I ordered you a milkshake too.” She slurped loudly on hers. “I figured you would have asked for one if you hadn’t been in agonizing pain.”

“Bless you for your kindness and thoughtfulness.” I took a long draw and sighed happily. “You’re a gem.”

Eyes alight, she grinned. “So, did you find what you were looking for earlier?”

“I did.” I turned my attention to my burger, not caring when I squirted ketchup down my chest from being too lazy to sit up and eat. I must have resembled a murder victim, but Lethe didn’t blink. “I can’t share the details, though. Not until I decide what I’m going to do.”

“I understand.” She kept nursing her drink. “As long as it doesn’t put you in immediate danger, I don’t need to know specifics.” She swallowed the rest of her large fry. “Unless you want to share.”

“It’s nothing life-threatening,” I assured her. “If you grab the laptop out of the office, I could use your opinion on a different matter.”

A recent purchase, the laptop was sleek and shiny and meant for homework. But it did more online shopping than research. I hadn’t stepped foot inside a grocery store since learning delivery was a thing.

Curious as a cat, Lethe collected the computer and settled it across my hips. “Can I sit, or should I stand?”

“Sit.” I waved her away with a fry. “The screen on this thing is huge. You’ll see fine.”

As she resumed her seat, and her meal, I clicked on the first email from Neely.

“Ooh.” She scooched closer. “You’ve got a personal shopper?”

“Better.” I started scrolling through his top gown picks. “I’ve got a friend.”

“Friends with excellent taste are hard to find. Good job, you.”

“What do you think?” After angling the screen toward her, I clicked on each one individually. “We’ve got black, red, gold, and white.”

Based on Neely’s misconception about my income, he had chosen classy but off-the-rack styles.

“The cut of the second red dress but in white.” Lethe stared down at her boobs. “I would wear that in a heartbeat if I could get away with showing that much cleavage without a bra.”

The fact I could see both my food and the screen over my nonexistent breasts didn’t exactly thrill me. “I was a full cup size larger when I hit puberty than I am now.” I sighed. “Regression is depressing.”

“You’ll get there.” She bit into her third burger, though I hadn’t noticed the second one vanishing. “And if you don’t? Just throw some money at a plastic surgeon.”

“I’m not going to buy new boobs.” I frowned at the flat plain of my chest. “Don’t listen to her, girls. I believe in you.”

Chortling around her meal, Lethe helped me pick shoes and accessories to go with the dress I would have to custom order. I fired off the request to the designer Maud preferred, using Neely’s pictures as comps, then sent the man himself an email thanking him for his help.

With that done, I settled in to watch a movie with Lethe and finish my dinner.

Hanging out with her wasn’t the same as having Amelie back, but it was nice having an impartial friend I could talk to about Society drama. Even if I had to bribe her with copious amounts of food to hang out with me.