My guess is not much.

“Lenore,” Elle says after she has a sip. “Cut the shit. What’s happening?”

I shake my head, wishing I could tell her everything. She’d never believe me.

“I had a fight with my parents,” I tell her, which isn’t a lie.

“Oh,” she says, making a face. “I’m sorry. On your birthday? That sucks. And you were stuck out in the desert with them.”

Just then the waiter approaches our table, an old reed-thin man with a thick mustache. He eyes the two of us with quiet disdain. Probably isn’t used to girls like us as his normal clientele.

“Hello,” I tell the waiter.

“Can I see some ID?” he asks me in a clipped voice.

I glance over at Elle, brows raised.

“Well, it’s your lucky day, sir,” she says to him. “Because she just turned twenty-one.”

He gives me a bland look, expecting me to get my ID out.

“I forgot my ID at home,” I tell him. Not my home, but Solon’s home.

“Well, then I’m afraid you’re not allowed to drink,” he says to me as I push the sunglasses up on my head. The light is still bright but I ignore it, keeping my eyes locked with the waiter’s.

“How about you just believe me when I say I’m twenty-one,” I say to him, continuing to stare at him with the most intense gaze I can muster. Believe me, believe me.

He hesitates.

Or I’ll kill you, I add for good measure.

The waiter flinches. Blinks. “Okay. Forgive me for asking.”

Then he turns and walks away, shooting me a frightened glance over his shoulder.

Elle barks out a laugh. “What the hell was that?”

“I’m not sure,” I say, slipping my sunglasses back on. I shrug and take an elegant sip of my champagne. I’m not lying either. I don’t know if I just compelled him like a vampire, or persuaded him with magic. All I know is that it worked.

I have to admit, it felt kind of good.

“You know, you’ve always had that way about you,” Elle muses, picking up the menu. “Men and women always fall for it.”

I hesitate before asking. “What way?”

She glances up at me and wiggles her fingertips around, making circles. “You. Just being you.”

I take another sip of my drink, swallowing the bubbles down. “And you? Do you fall for it?”

Elle snorts. “You wish.” Her eyes go back to the menu. “Man, I want to order everything on this menu, but this shit is expensive.”

“I told you, it’s my treat.”

“And this is your birthday.”

“Get me drinks at the bar later,” I tell her. “Another, cheaper bar.”

My necklace starts to feel hot against my skin, so I absently curl my fingers around it, feeling it warm between my fingers.

“New necklace?”

I glance at her as she’s eyeing my necklace.

“Yeah, birthday present,” I tell her warily.

“Well, let me see, move your hand.”

I let my hand fall away and she gasps. I took my earrings out last night—the holes already closed over by morning—but I kept the necklace on.

“Holy shit. That looks hella expensive. Is that a ruby? And diamonds?”

I nod. “Probably fake.”

“Who gave it to you?”

I have to lie. “My parents.”

Her forehead creases. “Your parents? Gave you a ruby necklace? That does not look like something parents would give their daughter, that looks like something a high-rolling sugar daddy would give his lover.” I nearly snort over her description of Solon. “And your parents would never give you anything so classy. You? In diamonds?”

She then frowns at my neck, at my hands. “Where are all your other necklaces and rings?”

“I took them off,” I say, hiding my hands beneath the table for some reason, while the ruby continues to burn against my skin. “Wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate for this place.”

“Oh and you covered up all your tattoos, too,” she notes. “Makes me look like the unkept wild child here. That’s okay. I am who I am.”

Never change, I think. I give her a quick smile. So far she hasn’t noticed that my canine teeth are pointier than normal. It’s actually not that noticeable, I feel like they must grow when needed.

I pick up the menu, hoping she drops the subject about my jewelry. If she asks to see my tattoos for some reason, I’m doomed.

We lapse into silence while I decide on what to eat. I’m not hungry at all, not for food or blood, but it will look weird if I don’t order anything. I think the lobster bisque seems like a good bet. I take my sunglasses off and put them on the table, my eyes finally adjusting to the light.

“Oh, my god,” Elle says in a hush, while the back of my necklace suddenly flares up, hot against my chest.

“What?” I ask, peering down at the ruby as I hold it away from my skin.

“I just saw the most gorgeous man in the whole world walk in here. He’s by the bar.”

Tags: Karina Halle Fantasy
Source: readsnovelonline.net