There was no way I’d make it through an evening in a closed space with gods knew how many of my peers.
“Jenna, I need a private moment with Mrs. Quill.”
“Sure. I’ll wait by the front door.” She hurried from the room.
“Is everything all right?” Mrs. Quill asked.
“Far from it. I’m hungry and don’t want that to wreck tonight. Will you help me?”
“Of course. Do you want to go to the—”
I shook my head.
“We both know there’s no need.”
She crossed the room and held out her hand. I didn’t need to touch her to feed, but the simple contact made feeding feel less like taking and more like accepting. I forced myself to sense her desire and love for her husband then coaxed it higher.
The gentle scent of blueberries perfumed the air. It wasn’t what I craved, and my mind drifted to the lava cakes of my dreams. My stomach growled. While Mrs. Quill’s energy wasn’t what I hungered for, it was what I needed if I had any hope of making it through tonight.
Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to feed and realized it wasn’t only her energy that was the problem. She wasn’t who I wanted.
Involuntarily, Fenris’s image popped into my head. I yearned for him as much as I rejected the possibility. His safety and happiness were the reasons I needed to go to the club tonight and the reasons behind my misery. I recalled his expression just before he left me in the woods, and my heart broke all over again.
But not all my memories of him were painful.
I remembered the way Fenris felt behind me that brief second before he tried to move me. To save me when I hadn’t wanted saving. Nothing had ever felt so deliciously right.
And I let my yearning for Fenris free for just a few moments.
Words tumbled softly from my lips.
“Picture his face. His eyes. His smile. Remember his touch. How he feels when he’s next to you.”
The scent of Mrs. Quill’s attraction and affection for Mr. Quill exploded in the air around us, snapping me out of the memory.
My hunger unfurled, bringing my vision along with my other senses into sharp focus. Mrs. Quill’s pulse leapt at what I was making her feel. What I’d made us both feel.
I hungered. And to my shame, it wasn’t for what was being offered freely. I hungered for Fenris. Willing or not.
With an inhale, I fed. I didn’t stop at three pulls. I took until my revulsion at myself was stronger than the clawing hunger. Until I was sure I wouldn’t be tempted by Fenris tonight.
Mrs. Quill smiled and gave my hand a gentle squeeze when I finished.
“I’m so proud of you, Eliana. That’s the most you’ve fed at one time. I think it might be more than you’ve fed collectively from me in months.”
“You would think that, after all these years, I would be getting used to feeding. Maybe even start to like it like a normal succubus. But I don’t. Each time, I hate myself just a little more.”
I released her hand.
“Feel free to tell Adira how I feel. She’ll make tonight interesting regardless, I’m sure.”
Hurt crossed Mrs. Quill’s expression before she caught me in a hug.
“Don’t hate yourself. You’ve done nothing to deserve that level of self-loathing.”
I snorted before I could stop myself. If only she knew I’d tried to banish my own mother and ended up making one of my friends disappear instead.
“We’re going to be late,” I said.
Mrs. Quill released me.
“Of course.”
Neither of us spoke as we made our way downstairs. Jenna watched us descend, a hint of worry in her gaze.
“Are you still up for going to the club?” she asked.
“Absolutely.”
She smiled in relief and took the hand that Mrs. Quill offered.
As soon as we touched her, I felt a tug in my stomach. As had happened when she’d portaled us to New York, there was no nausea or disorientation when we appeared at the top of the stairs at Club Blayz a moment later.
The dance floor was already filled with my peers, and music blasted from the stage. Behind the duel bars, three large men served drinks. Another man at the base of the stairs glanced back at us briefly, then went back to watching the dance floor.
“I thought portaling wasn’t allowed inside the club,” I said over the music.
“You are correct. But exceptions were made for Council members.”
“Ah.”
“Call me when you’re ready to go home.”
I nodded and started down the stairs. The regal walk, shifting slightly to the side so I could descend without tripping on my skirt, came naturally. Jenna moved with equal ease. The light hit the sequins of her dress like I’d hoped and her entrance definitely caught the attention of more than a few males.
My gaze swept the crowd, searching for Fenris.
“He’s not here,” Jenna whispered.
“You told Willow and Laurel that you were getting ready with me. He’ll be here.”
I spotted my mom near the back entrance.
“Go mingle. We’ll meet up later,” I said to Jenna before heading Mom’s way.
This was part of our plan. We make an entrance together, then I’d go find a quiet place to hide while she worked the room. I had no doubt that she’d find Fenris and kiss the sticks out of him.
Mom saw my approach and waved me forward before turning to face a surly group of mermaids.
“I want names,” Mom said.
One of the mermaids saw me and rolled her eyes.
“Will you please tell your mom we weren’t the ones to scratch you?”
River stared at me from the back of the group. Jannette was standing right next to her.
I turned to Mom, my lips curving in a sultry smile.
“Fish are food, not fiends, Mom. Who cares what they did or didn’t do?”
Mom’s angry scowl melted into amusement.
“Witty girl.” Her gaze shifted to the mermaids. “Adira made me promise I wouldn’t feed on Uttira’s young tonight. But I never promised not to play with them. Go have fun, my little minnows.”
I could feel the wave of coercion Mom released.
“Spread love, not hate,” I said, giving an extra push that evolved into a rather forceful shove.
Lannie moaned, grabbed Dash by his short green hair, and kissed the heck out of him in front of us while the rest stumbled away. The lust and need coming off of River was enough to stir my hunger, and I regretted not feeding more.
“Adira made me promise not to feed, but she said nothing about you,” Mom said.
“I’m fine. I ate before I arrived.”
“Mrs. Quill already let me know. She said it was the most she’d ever seen you eat at once. She was quite proud.”
Given the stream of people passing us, I sent Mom a pleading look.
“Can we please not talk about this now? Do you need help with anything?”
She hooked her arm through mine. “Not at all. Tuff only called me here because I’d asked to be notified about any mermaids.” We started walking toward the bar. “I gather from your comment the offender was in their midst?”
“Yes. But, honestly, she doesn’t matter. Megan will be home soon. I’d rather let her deal with the injustices here than have you risk upsetting her by handing out justice yourself.”