Killian drives the SUV, grumbling the whole way through Gold Class, something about his time being wasted and never being able to relax for one night.
Despite it, I’m able to see Gold Class for what it is—bright, shiny, and classy. The people dress very nice, not a wrinkle in sight or a hair out of place. They ride in chariots, their white horses leading the way. There’s an air of optimism and elegance, and it doesn’t fit the Blackwater people. If we hung out there, we’d stand out like sore thumbs. Juniper mentioned Gold Class doesn’t like to be around people from other territories, just their own, and that they’re very strict about guns and dress code. It’s no place for people like Juniper and Killian, or even me.
“You know you could’ve stayed at the palace,” Juniper says to Killian, finally breaking the ice. “No one made you come.”
“Caz wanted me to come,” Killian returns.
“You and I both know I can handle myself. He just wants someone keeping an eye on Willow because he’s scared of what this Tether does to him.”
Why is she bringing me into this?
“Whatever it is, I don’t care. I could be back at the palace, eating, sleeping, or fucking.”
Juniper snorts, gazing out the window. “Fucking what? Your hand?”
Killian grumbles something else and speeds up, purposely making Juniper slump back against her seat.
Shortly after, we’re in Iron Class. Nothing says it, but it’s assumed by the way it looks. It’s a bleak contrast to Gold Class. Iron Class has slightly smaller buildings, gold lights, and the people appear younger. Their clothes are casual—not upscale and classy like Gold Class. There are people standing outside of buildings and bars, smoking long black sticks. Fancy cars zip by with neon lights beneath them, not a horse in sight. This is where the people of Blackwater would fit in.
Killian parks the SUV in front of a tall white building with tinted windows, and Juniper hurries to climb out.
“If you try to run, I’ll shoot you in your leg, Jun,” Killian warns, stepping out the car.
Oh my goodness. Would he really shoot his own sister?
“I’d like to see you try,” Juniper claps back.
“Don’t test me. I’m not in the mood.”
She rolls her eyes and looks at me. “Come on.” Leading the way toward the building, Juniper opens the door and walks inside. It’s dark in the building, strobe lights flashing, gold lights bouncing off the walls. I realize it’s a club, humming with bodies, a wall-to-wall bar ahead. Juniper goes straight for the bar, pushing through the crowd with her arm linked through mine. When she finds a clearing, she waves for the bartender’s attention, and he approaches—a skinny, brown-skinned man dressed in a gold vest and white pants.
“How can I help you ladies?” he asks, a casual smile on his lips.
“Two gold tonics, please,” Juniper requests, taking a satchel from her pocket. She plucks out six rubies, and the bartender glances down at them before looking at her again.
“You two aren’t Vanorian, are you?”
“No, we’re Blackwaters. Will that be a problem?”
The bartender smirks, accepting the rubies. “Not at all. Drinks are coming right up.”
When he turns away, Juniper says, “One thing you must learn about all men of Vakeeli: don’t let them walk over you. Once they realize they can, they’ll use it against you. Oh—and rubies get you very far. Always have rubies on hand.” She turns her head and gasps. “Hannie! Hey!” Juniper rushes away to wrap her arms around a woman approaching us in a black dress. The woman lets out a shrill yelp as she hugs Juniper back, kisses her cheek, and then leans back, keeping her hands on Junipers shoulders. She’s beautiful, with coily black hair and umber skin.
“I’ve missed you!” Hannie squeals. “Blackwater has been keeping you busy, eh?”
“Oi, has it,” Juniper sighs. “There’s always something happening. You know how it is.”
“You ought to move here, stay with me,” Hannie suggests, shining her pearly whites as she drops her arms.
“As I always tell you, one day.” Juniper turns to me. “Hannie, this is Willow. She’s from Blackwater as well. It’s her first time in Vanora.” She winks at me.
“Oh, we’ll break you in good!” Unexpectedly, Hannie reels me in and hugs me.
“Oh…uh.” I force a smile as I hug her back. She smells like flowers and sea salt. It’s a pleasant scent.
“We don’t know each other, but we’ll become family by the end of the night,” Hannie assures me.
“That’s if we can escape that brother of mine,” Juniper says, rolling her eyes.
Hannie swings her eyes to Juniper again. “Is it Rowan? He’s lots of fun, eh?”
“No,” Juniper grumbles. “It’s Killian tonight.”
“Two gold tonics!” The bartender slides two gold cups across the counter to Juniper and she takes them, handing one to me. I take it, thanking her with a smile.
“I don’t think I’ve met Killian yet. Well, not properly.” Just as she says that, Killian pushes his way through the crowd like a mountain, meeting up to us.
“Don’t drink a lot. We have to be alert tomorrow,” Killian grumbles, looking between me and Juniper.
“What are you, my father?” Juniper rolls her eyes again.
“Jun, stop it with the smart-ass comments. I don’t want to be here anymore than you don’t want me to be.”
“So leave.” Juniper supplies him a shit-eating grin before taking a sip of her drink.
“You’re a big guy, aren’t ya?” Hannie looks Killian up and down. “A bit wound up too, eh?”
Killian steps back, glaring down at Hannie. “Who the hell are you, and why are you talking to me?”
“I’m Hannie Keery. Eldest daughter of the Keery family, and I’d shake your hand, but it seems you’ve been struggling to dig the arrogance out of your ass for a while, so verbal greetings will do.”
Killian squares his shoulders and grimaces. “You should watch your mouth.”
“And you should watch your temper.” Hannie’s eyes that were once brown, light up and flash gold. I gasp at the sight of them.
Killian bellows a laugh, which is hardly a reaction to me. “You think your fiery little eyes are gonna intimidate me? I’ll pop them out your head before you even have a chance to use ‘em on me.”
“Is that a challenge?” Hannie stands taller, raising her chin.
“Only if you want it to be, love.”
Hannie’s gold eyes turn brown again, and she narrows them, then huffs a laugh. “It’d be a waste of my time and energy.”
Killian shakes his head. “Whatever. Off to take a piss.” He points a finger at Juniper. “Stay put.”
We watch him go, and when he’s out of earshot, Hannie turns to us and says, “There’s a guy named Tomán having a party at his house. Booze, wine, gold dust, tonic—it’s all there. What do you say?”
“Oh, hell yeah! What are we waiting for?” Juniper gulps down the remainder of her drink, and Hannie lets out a belly-deep laugh. I finish mine off, and Hannie grabs us both by the wrists, leading the way out of the club. When we’re outside, I draw in a cool breath and follow Hannie and Juniper’s lead down the block.
“What do you think Killian’ll say when he finds you gone?” Hannie asks, laughing.
“Oh, he’s going to lose his shit. I just know it,” says Juniper.
“Do you have your transmitter with you?”
“No. Left it at Alora’s palace.”
Hannie stops in her tracks. “Okay, before we get any further, promise me you will not repeat those words.”
Juniper blinks at her. “What words?”
I look between them, confused.
“That you’re staying in the queen’s palace. If these loads of shit find out you’re staying there, they’ll manipulate the hell out of you and Willow. Not to mention, Tomán is gifted, so…”
“Will he blow off my head with his eyes like some of the other Gilded can?”
“Nah,” Hannie responds, turning to walk again. “What Tomán can do is much worse, so don’t test him.”
Hannie’s words don’t sit well with my gut, and I’m tempted to tell Juniper that I’m ready to go back to the palace. I love having fun, but knowing these people have powers and can blow people’s heads off…well, I believe that changes my description of fun.
“Oi!” A deep voice booms behind us, and Juniper gasps and then shouts, “Ah, shit! Run, Willow!” before taking off in a full sprint herself. I look back, and Killian is pushing past people, charging toward us.
Hannie has already started running, and seeing them kicks me into high gear.
“Get your asses back here!” Killian shouts, but Juniper runs faster, laughing. She’s light on her feet, unlike me. I hate running. Hate it with every fiber of my body. I consider stopping and getting caught. Killian can’t hurt me, he’ll just take me back to the palace, and honestly, the palace seems like the safer place to be right now.
Just as the thought rides through me, my lungs working overtime and my breaths short, a hand catches my arm and yanks me to the side. I scream as I’m swallowed in darkness, and a hand claps around my mouth.
