Chapter Three
Lisi had flown in from Manhattan, like a moth to a flame. He couldn’t stay away from Cricket for long, lest she forget about him. Fae like Lisi were enamored with themselves and the positions they thought they’d somehow earned. Cricket was increasingly aware of the type of fae her best friend was, but she’d chosen to ignore it in the hopes of him changing. However, it was clear she’d been wrong as he sat across from her at the table, listening to her rant about stupid fae men and her father’s dictatorship.
“You’re a Snapdragon, love. It comes with the territory.” He shrugged, already half drunk on fae wine. If Lisi had a file, it would certainly contain the alcoholism weakness, along with so many others. To cure the monotony of life, Lisa chased anything that would cause a high, even if it was a short one.
“Men aren’t expected to get married until they’re older. I don’t understand why I can’t be given the same option. I would happily marry later in life, but I’m too young right now. There’s still so much to do before I decide to settle down and be a mother.”
“Imagine the gifts you’d receive when you’re carrying a babe,” Lisi purred. “And you could decorate a nursery. I know you love that shit.”
“Are you even listening to me?” Cricket spit, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to be married or have babies, let alone decorate a nursery.”
“Pregnant Cricket would be awfully adorable,” he continued as if he didn’t hear her. “Imagine how many would pay to rub your belly.”
Furious, Cricket went to stand up. She wasn’t sure where she would go but she couldn’t sit here and listen to Lisi talk about her round with child any longer. This wasn’t why she’d agreed to go out. She certainly didn’t feel like drinking and was as sober as she’d ever been at a party, but she’d needed someone to talk to. Cricket had assumed Lisi would be a good ear.
“Wait,” Lisi called. “Cricket, come on. I was joking. Don’t leave.”
Cricket should have kept going, should have just left, but some loyalty inside her had her body turning back around to look at the flamboyant fae who had been a part of her life for years now. Lisi had been fun, had kept her entertained, but now, looking at him, she didn’t understand how. Perhaps, Lisi had only kept her drunk and mild, pliant.
She didn’t have her father, clearly. He refused for her to have Peri. And now, she realized she’d never had Lisi either. Cricket was completely and utterly alone. Still, she asked, “what am I going to do, Lisi?”
His eyes sparkled as if he’d been waiting for this very question. She could see the hunger there, could see the opportunity he saw as clear as day. Lisi was nearly incapable of lying, not because the lie wouldn’t pass his lips, but because his eyes gave him away. “You know,” he purred, watching her closely. “If you married me, I’d let you do whatever you wanted, and whoever you wanted.”
Freezing, Cricket stared at him in surprise. “What?”
Suddenly, Lisi barely seemed to be drunk on faery wine at all. He stood without stumbling and moved around the small table. Today, he was wearing bright red leather, a contrast to his wings, but all Cricket could see was the hunger in his eyes. It wasn’t hunger for her. No, it was hunger for a different life.
“It would get your father off your back,” he pointed out. “And I actually care about you. I would never put you in a cage, love.”
“I can’t marry you—”
“Why not?” he asked, tilting his head.
“For starters, you prefer males.” She waved down her body. “Clearly, I have the wrong equipment.”
Lisi rolled his eyes. “It still works, still capable of making babies. You get me drunk enough and I’ll even be romantic.”
Cricket scowled. “How lovely, a husband who can’t stomach sleeping with me without alcohol.”
Anger spread on Lisi’s face, and he wasn’t very good at schooling his features. For so long, Cricket had thought he was her friend, truly her friend, but it turned out, he was just another fae waiting for his opportunity to swoop in. Lisi didn’t even like females, and here he was, attempting to convince her to marry him for the opportunity it would provide him. After all this time, he was no different, but Cricket couldn’t stomach that thought right then. To truly be alone was a terrifying thought, and one she wasn’t prepared to face.
Desperate, she tried to ignore the realization of how alone she truly was despite being surrounded by people.
Lisi giggled and took another swig of his bottle of faery wine, wine he’d expect her to pay for. Before, she’d never cared. The Snapdragon family was beyond wealthy. But something about this day had her angry that he’d been using her for so long.
“Ugh, if you’re so worried about romance and love, perhaps, you’re looking at it the wrong way,” he said, waving his bottle around.
“What do you mean?”
He laughed, as if her question were the funniest thing he’d heard all day. “This is foolish. If you won’t marry me, then maybe you can just enter the Race Games. Maybe then someone would take you seriously.” Under his breath, she heard the words, “Fucking heiresses,” but she chose to ignore that insult, instead focusing on his previous words.
“What did you just say?”
“Cricket, I was joking.” Suddenly thinking Cricket had heard his insult, he went into panic mode, but she didn’t care about that. She’d figured out Lisi now and all he appeared was as a desperate fae trying to climb the ladder by using her. She didn’t care for fae with so little spine. Lisi was no longer her friend, not really, but perhaps, he could come in handy.
“Not the insult. About the Games,” she grunted. “What did you say?”
Lisi froze, his eyes on hers. “It would be more beneficial for you to marry me to get your father off your case,” he tried again.
“I’m not marrying you,” Cricket spit, annoyed. “But the Race Games—”
“Are deadly and pointless,” he growled, pointing the bottle at her. Faery wine sloshed out of the sides onto his hand, and he immediately began licking his fingers to avoid wasting a single drop. “You’re much too pretty for the likes of that. Pretty fae shouldn’t enter such gruesome displays.”
Her face soured as she looked at him. “I’m more than just a pretty face.”
“Sure you are. Aren’t we all?” He moved around her, bottle in his hand, flirty as he attempted to pull her closer, but she wasn’t having it. The moment his drunken fingers reached for her, Cricket stepped back.
Her eyes were hard as she looked at him, as he avoided any responsibilities just like he always did. Lisi had been running from life for so long, he no longer understood that was what he was doing. “If I race, would you be my teammate?”
She hated having to ask, but there was no other fae she could ask. None would dare go against her father, but perhaps if Lisi thought he’d get something out of it, he’d agree. “I can pay you.”
“Are you kidding me?” he asked, shaking his head. “I’m not risking this face getting scratched up. Look at it. I’m glorious!”
“Lisi, I need you to help me,” she said, desperation in her voice. If he refused, she had no idea who she could approach.