They might not ever discuss the Unfortunate Incident, but Kaia had never forgotten it. (See? A Harpy with a long memory.) Every day she remembered how Bianka had writhed in a pool of her own blood, her eyes glassy with pain. How moans of anguish had parted mutilated lips.
Bianka sighed. Okay, lets get your problems out of the way so we can concentrate on me. Tell me why you picked Strider as your heartmate. I know youre dying to extol his virtues.
For a moment, Kaia could only blink at her sister, certain shed misheard. Are you freaking kidding me? Heartmate? Did you just say heartmate?
Bianka snickered. I did, and I almost gagged. Lysanders influence, you know. Anyway, Striders such a tool. And a challenge. Another snicker echoed. Get it? A challengehe cant lose onebut he sure as hell acts like one.
Kaia rolled her eyes. I think youve been hanging with the angels too much. Your IQ has dropped.
What? That was funny. Square-tipped nails painted bright blue drummed against the metal rack between them. And by the way, the angels arent that bad.
Whatever you need to tell yourself, my love.
Bianka blew her a kiss full of fang. Alls Im saying is that Striders gonna be a handfuland not the good kind. Hesactually, wait. I recant. Hes too big to be anything but a good handful. Or more. But hes also gonna be a bad one. Wait. That doesnt ring true, either. How should I put this? Hes going to
I get it already! Hes got a huge package, and hes irritating as hell. Whats your point?
Glad youre finally up to speed. Its sad, really, that you need so much explanation. The sparkle in her sisters eyes dimmed. Anyway, you told him how you felt about him and he rejected you. Hell be annoyed by any further contact you initiate, and an annoyed demon-possessed warrior is a global disaster waiting to happen.
I know. If she had realized his importance to her sooner, she wouldnt have slept with his friend Paris, the keeper of Promiscuity. Otherwise known as Paris the Sexorcist, a male so sensual he could make your head spin. And if she hadnt slept with the Sexorcist, Strider the Stupid wouldnt have rejected her.
Maybe.
Or maybe he would have. Because to her consternationyes, consternation, and not an all-consuming, organ-flaming ragehe kinda sorta desired another woman. Haidee, a pretty female who belonged to his friend, Amun, keeper of Secrets.
At least Haidee was off-limits, and Kaia didnt have to worry about Strider getting handsie. Honor among evil demons, and all that.
But damn it, just the thought of his gaze on another woman caused Kaias nails to elongate and sharpen, her fangs to sprout and her blood to boil. Mine, every cell in her body cried. She would kill anyone who made a play for him, as well as anyone he made a play for; she wouldnt be able to help herself. Her dark side would take over, driving her to protect what was hers.
Seriously, hes lucky to be alive, and not just because I want to chop off his man parts and feed them to zoo animals while he watches, Bianka continued. Any man who cant recognize your worth deserves a good torturing.
I know. Not because Kaia was anything specialthough she was, kind of, maybedamn it, she used to bebut because no one could reject a Harpy without suffering severe consequences.
Actually, most Harpies would have taken Strider despite his wishes. So maybe she was the stupid one for allowing him to push her away. She just wanted him willing. She needed him willing. To abscond with him was to defeat him, and to defeat him was to hurt him.
She couldnt bring herself to hurt him. Even at the expense of her sanity.
Youre too good for him, anyway, Bianka said, loyal as always.
I know, she repeated once more, lying this time. She would only ever be a disgrace to her clan. He deserved better.
Her sister sighed. But you still want him. A statement of fact, not a question.
Yeah.
So what are you going to do to win him?
Nothing, she said, fighting a wave of depression. I chased after him once. And hed found her lacking. Im not going to do it again.
Maybe
No. A few weeks ago, I challenged him to kick more Hunter ass than me. Hunters, the enemy out to destroy all things demon. The fanatics who loved to go after innocents who dared get in their way. The pre-dead humans who would meet the tips of her claws if they approached Strider again.
Well, if they dared approach him with a weapon in hand. She might let them crawl toward him to apologize for the trouble theyd caused throughout the centuries. Torturing the Lordsonly she was allowed to do so. Blowing up buildingsyawn. Could they be any more B-movie? Sooo irritating. Decapitating the keeper of Distrustokay, that one was a little more than irritating, considering Strider was still messed up about it and everything.
Speaking of Distrusts murder, Haidee had helped carry it out. Yep, that Haidee. The one Strider desired.
Kaia didnt understand it. If he could want Haidee despite her crimes, why couldnt he want Kaia?
I wanted to help him kill the men who were after him. I wanted him to see how capable I was, she added. I wanted him to admire my skill. But did he? Noooo. He was pissed. He raged about all the pain I was going to cause him. So I let him win. Freaking let him. You know I never throw a fight. That smacked of weakness, and too many people viewed her as weak already. And how did he thank me? By telling me to get lost. Hu-mil-i-ating. Now, lets change the subject. Before she threw a temper tantrum and razed the mall to the ground. What look are you going for? she asked, flipping through the racks herself.
Slutty yet sophisticated, her sister said, allowing the change without comment.
Good choice. She rubbed her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she studied the colorful array of garments. Think dressing up will help your sitch?
Gods, I hope so. I plan to let Lysander rip the garment off me, make love to me in the dirtiest way possible, and then, while hes trying to catch his breath, drop the big, bad bombshell on him and run like hell.
Something Kaia would have loved to do with Striderthe dirty loving part, anywaybut he wouldnt give a shit about anything she told him. As hed already proven. What are you going to say to Lysandy, anyway? Exactly.
Bianka shrugged her seemingly delicate shoulders. ExactlyI dont know.
Try me. Pretend Im your disgustingly in love angel consort, and confess.
Okay. A sigh, a straightening of her spine, then lovely amber eyes were staring over at Kaia with trepidation. All right. Here goes. A pause. A gulp. Darling, I, uh, have something to tell you.
What is it? Kaia said in her deepest voice. She propped her elbows on the bar, the hanger hooks digging into her skin. Tell me quickly because I need to spread my happy fairy dust and wave my magic wand when
He doesnt spread happy fairy dust! Hes a killer, damn it. The indignation drained as quickly as it had formed. But as for that magic wand Bianka shivered, smirked. Its really big. Probably bigger than Striders.
Kaia just blinked at her, waiting.
Her sister inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly. Fine. Continuing. Darling, for the first time in forever, my family has been invited to participate in the Harpy Games. Why for the first time in forever, you ask. Well, funny story. You see, my twin sister did the dumbest thing and
Im sure youre exaggerating about that part, she interjected, still using that deep voice to mimic Lysander. Your twin is the strongest, most intelligent female Ive ever met. Now tell me something important.
Anyway, Bianka went on smoothly. Im not sure why weve been invited, but a gold embossed card demanding our attendance came via Harpy Express a few days ago. We cant refuse without bringing intense shame to our entire clan. We would be labeled cowards, and as you know, Im no coward. SoIm leaving in one week, and Ill be gone for four. Oh, and each of the four agreed upon events involves bloodshed, possible limb removal and definite torture. See ya. She gave a pinkie wave, stilled, then waited for Kaias response.
Kaia nodded. I like it. Firm, informative and unwavering. Hell have no choice but to let you go without a fuss.
Some of Biankas worry melted away. You really think so?
Gods, no. I dont, not at all. Hes gonna flip his lid. For real. Youve met him, right? Protective to the extreme. Lucky girl. So what about this one? She held up a barely there confection with thin silver chains connecting the sides.
I think its great. Perfect, actually. I also think youre a brat.
She flashed an unrepentant grin. You love me anyway.
Like you said, my IQ has dropped. Bianka chewed on her bottom lip. Okay, so. Heres how I think it will go after I confess. First, hell try to stop me.
You got that right.
Then, when he realizes he cant, hell insist on going with me.
Right again. Are you good with that? Everyone would make fun of her for hitching herself to a do-gooder. Even their mother. Especially their mother. Tabitha hated angels more than most, since shed always thought their youngest half sisters father was an angel and had blamed the man for Gwens supposed weaknesses.
Yeah. Bianka smiled dreamily. Im good with that. I dont like to be without him, and really, I will slaughter anyone who speaks ill of him, so thatll add spice to my days.
Not to mention weed out the competition because I will help you with those slaughterings. How she wished she could take Strider with her.
Actually, no, she thought next. Thank the gods he wasnt going with her. She was reviled among the Harpy clans. She would die of mortification if he saw her own kind turn their backs on her, and she would fall into that shame spiral if he ever heard her despised nickname.
A soldier like Strider prized strength. She knew because she was a soldier like Strider.
Of course, her next thought struck hard and cut deep Haidee was strong. The bitch. Though (mostly) human, the girl had managed to defeat death time and time again, coming back to life to fight the Lords. Until shed fallen in love with Amun.
If I didnt adore Amun so much, Id send that female back to the gravefor the last damn time! No one caught Striders notice without suffering unbearably.
Maybe before Kaia left for the games shed ensure the girl acquired a raging case of head lice or something. No one would be hurt, Strider would be repulsed and Kaia would feel like shed accomplished some sort of revenge. Win-win.
Are you listening to me or have I lost you to the thought train again? Bianka asked, exasperated.
She pulled herself out of her head. Yes, Im listening. You were talking about somethingof great consequence.
You were listening, her sister said, hand fluttering over her heart. Anyway, thank you for offering to help punish everyone who insults Lysander. Youre my favorite enabler in the world, Kye.
You, too, Bee. Things would work out for Bianka. Lysander would support her no matter what, and the Harpies would see how intractable he could be and back down. Kaia, though No, things would not be working out for her.
Mother Dearest is gonna be there, Bianka said, trying for a casualness neither of them felt for this particular topic, and shes gonna hate him, isnt she?
For sure. But then, she has lousy taste in men. Take our father, for instance. A Phoenix shifter, aka the worst of the worst in terms of immortal races. Theyre always pillaging and burning stuff to the ground. Seriously, you have to be a real nutbag to hook up with one of them. Which means, what? Mother is a real nutbag. Id be worried if she liked Lysander.
What would Tabitha think of Strider, though?
Bianka gave a low, warm chuckle. Youre right. She does, and she is.
And you know what else? She can suck it, for all I care. Brave words, yet, on the inside Kaia was still a little girl, desperate for her mothers approval. But, maybe, I dont know, maybe shell finally bury the hatchet with me. Gods, was that needy tone really hers?
Bianka leaned across the rack and patted her shoulder. Hate to break it to you, sister mine, but the only way shell bury a hatchet is if she gets to bury it in your back.
She tried not to sag with regret. So true. And she wouldnt care. She wouldnt. Really. But why, why, why did no one but her sisters consider her good enough?
One mistake, just onewhen shed been a child, no lessand her mother had written her off. One mistake, just one, and Strider wouldnt commit to her. Wasnt like shed cheated on him. Theyd both been single for years, and hadnt even been on a date together. They hadnt kissed. Hadnt really even talked. And the night she slept with Paris? She hadnt known she would one day want Strider sexually. Or at all.
He should have recognized her appeal from the very beginning and tried to seduce her. So, really, when you thought about it, the blame could totally be laid at his door. Or maybe at his demons. Defeat had yet to realize that losing her was far worse than losing a challenge. Otherwise, Strider would suffer without her.
She wanted him to suffer without her.
The demon was bonded to Strider and essential to his survival, somaybe she could do something to win the evil fiend over. If she decided to make another play for Strider. Which she wouldnt. As shed told her sister, hed lost his chance. Besides, approaching him now would make her seem desperate. Which she was.
Gods, this was depressing. And infuriating! Opposition was to be crushed, always, but how was she to fight a man she also wanted to protect?
What are you thinking about now? Bianka asked. Your eyes are almost completely black, so I know your Harpy is close to taking over and
Hey. Hey, you! What are you doing in here? someone shouted.
Forcing herself to breathe deep and calm down, she threw a quick look over her shoulder. Great. Mall security had arrived. Im fine, swear. Meet you back at the house? she said, tossing the chosen dress at her sister.