“This is Phoenix Moyo,” Sean speaks for me. “Perhaps in your travels across the Regions you’ve seen her dance?”
“I’d remember if I had,” Aries says. “Are you from the Blue as well?”
I nod.
“I hope you’ll be joining us later at the Villanova estate.” He looks at me when he says it and I shift uncomfortably. “We have a little after-party scheduled.”
This could either be the easiest way into the house or it could be a disaster. I hope Jackal is behind this, but it’s not what we agreed on.
“We’d love that. I was over there earlier and no one mentioned it,” Sean says. “Oh, maybe you didn’t mean for me—” He flushes a brighter pink.
“I’ll see you both there.” Aries pats Sean on the back.
I decide that maybe he’s not as intimidating as he seems. Either that or he’s a good actor.
The evening at the summit passes uneventfully. Sean tries to ply me with drinks, and I keep filling his when he’s not looking. When he catches me, he laughs and drinks up. I pick at the food and people-watch. Langley doesn’t come until the evening is nearly over, her gown hugging all her curves perfectly. Is she ever with the baby? She seems like someone who would take a baby just to spite someone and not even care to see the baby again.
I manage to avoid her until we go to her house a couple of hours later. I wish I had my doe mask to commemorate the occasion.
TWENTY-SIX
PHOENIX
A hangingfly has to make sure his mate has enough to eat the whole time they have sex. If she runs out before he’s done, she kicks him off.
“Langley is the one working her way through the End Men. How many have you had now, little sister?” A carbon copy of Langley leans forward to pluck an olive from a tray and pops it into her mouth.
They’re holding court and Langley is queen. There is a tittering of laughter among the women as they wait for her reply.
She mimes locking her lips and daintily tosses the key over her shoulder.
“Come on, at least tell us which of them was the best.”
She makes a show of thinking, tapping her chin with her finger.
“Jackal,” she announces.
I feel as if I’m going to be sick. Her sister makes a show of agreeing.
“It’s true,” says Langley. “He’s the best I’ve ever had...and each time was better than the last.”
I grind my teeth to keep from cursing. As if they’ve sensed an intruder in their midst, they all look up to see me standing there.
I feel the heat on my skin and step back, bumping into Sean’s chest. He puts his hands on either side of my arms. They turn back to their conversation just as suddenly as they paused.
“Folsom is a beautiful man, but he doesn’t know how to let loose. Jackal, on the other hand…” Her grin is smug as the other women laugh and inch in closer.
My hands tremble with the need to strangle her. Jackal failed to mention that he’d slept with the baby stealer—multiple times? Does he still think about her long pale legs wrapped around his back?
I shudder and shake my head, closing my eyes until the mental picture subsides.
“Are you okay?” Sean asks, moving to stand next to me.
“Fine. Just a little dizzy.”
“Too much champagne?” he asks.
I haven’t had any, but I nod. “Must be it.”