“This town is the epitome of dull,” she says. “Truly. I don’t know how you guys stand it.”
“It’s really not that boring.” A smile plays at the corners of Xotichl’s lips as she tilts her head toward mine. “It just seems that way at first.”
Lita quirks her brow, not at all in agreement. But then, she doesn’t know about the hotbed of supernatural activity brewing just under the surface. And with any luck, it’ll stay that way.
“Up until now, I’ve never had a place to call home. And while it may not be the kind of place I dreamed about, still, it’s not all bad,” I say, my mood turning serious again as the full truth of my words descends upon me. As bleak as this town undoubtedly is, there’s no denying the fact that some of my most treasured moments have taken place here. I’ll do whatever I can to defend it. I just hope I’m successful. I pull a pillow onto my lap and hug it tightly to my chest.
“You say that because you’re in love.” Lita glances between me and Xotichl. “Everything looks better when you’ve fallen hard for someone. It’s only when the magic wears off—and trust me, it always does—when you can finally look back and say: What the heck was I thinking?” She picks at a loose string on the hem of her tight V-neck sweater. “Or maybe that’s just me.” She sighs, allowing her hands to fall to her lap. “Maybe I’m just jaded after wasting my entire youth on Cade Richter.”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve got a whole lot of youth left in you.” Xotichl laughs. “You’re not officially old until you’re twenty-five, right?” She leans toward me, seeking confirmation.
“Actually, I hear that forty is the new twenty-five. So, if that’s the case, Lita’s got loads of youthful years to look forward to.”
“Great.” Lita groans. “Decades of bad dates unfolding before me—oh, joy.” She fills her palm with a chunk of her hair and hunts for split ends. “It’s easy for you guys to laugh since obviously you’ll never have to worry about that. Have you seen the way Auden looks at Xotichl?” She releases the strands, slumps low in her seat. “It’s pretty much the epitome of what every girl dreams of. And clearly there must be more to Dace than meets the eye.” She shoots me a guilty look and quickly corrects herself. “Well, obviously there is. Objectively speaking, if I’d never met his creep of a twin, I might be willing to admit that he’s cute. Maybe even hot. Heck, everyone else seems to think so, so there must be something to it. Still, the evil specter of Cade trumps everything. So, in the end, I’ll just have to take your word for it.”
“Anyway—” Xotichl prods, wisely steering the topic away from all things Cade. “What was the second question?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Lita shrugs, still mired in deep disappointment over the lack of cute boys in this town. “I was going to ask what other famous people Daire might’ve kissed, but after hearing about Will Harner, I think it can wait…” Her gaze veers toward my dresser, and a moment later, she’s jumping to her feet, retrieving the picture of Django in the silver frame. “Who’s this hottie?” she asks.
“That’s my dad,” I say, breaking into laughter when I see the appalled look on her face.
“Clearly I’m in need of a boyfriend.” She replaces the photo, shuddering with shame over her mistake. “Or at the very least, a date. Lusting after people’s dads is really a bad sign, isn’t it?”
“He was sixteen in the picture. So it’s entirely age appropriate,” I tell her. “Besides, I think he’d be flattered.”
She makes a
gagging face, reluctant to even contemplate such a thing. Then she grabs hold of my sleeve and drags me off the bed. “C’mon,” she says. “Get dressed, we’re going out.”
“Where?”
“The Rabbit Hole.” Xotichl grins. “Where else?”
“That’s why we’re here.” Lita leads me to stand before my closet. “It’s an Enchantment tradition to go there on Christmas Eve and stay until just after midnight.”
“Does every holiday revolve around the Rabbit Hole?” My gaze shifts between them, failing to share what I really think: That this is all working out perfectly, as though it’s meant to be. First I’ll go to the Rabbit Hole, then I’ll find a way to slip free from my friends and get to the vortex, and finally I’ll deal with Cade once and for all.
“Pretty much.” Xotichl shrugs, as Lita starts riffling through my clothes. Choosing one of the new tops Jennika gave me that I haven’t yet worn.
“Wear this.” She tosses it to me. “And do your hair curly like you did at my party. You looked really pretty that night.”
“I can never replicate that look. My mom’s the one with mad makeover skills, not me.”
“Maybe so,” Lita says. “But what you forget is that your mom taught me a few tricks. And after a lot of practice, I’m getting pretty good. So go on, get changed, and then meet me in your bathroom. You have an appointment with a curling iron and some serious eyeliner.”
thirty-nine
Dace
After stopping by my apartment and changing into jeans and a sweater, I head for the Rabbit Hole. Intending to collect the paycheck they owe me before I head into the Lowerworld for a final round with Cade.
Or at least that’s the lie I tell myself.
Truth is, I’m also hoping to see Daire.
Hoping Lita and Xotichl will invite her to take part in the Enchantment Christmas Eve tradition.
The brief time we spent together via the raven left me longing for more. And while I tell myself I’ll be satisfied with a glimpse, just a quick look before I go on my way—the second I see her heading for the entrance with her hair shiny and curled, her eyes bright and happy as she walks alongside Lita and Xotichl, it’s clear a mere glance will never suffice.