Yes, you guessed it, they’d wiped my mind clean of the evening. I had no memory of the Trine, of the fact they came after me, or that I’d killed one.
Worse, I was riding a high, thanking Papa Knight for a wonderful night out and gushing to anyone listening, about how much fun Olida and I had, giving the stiff-lips in the ballroom a lesson in samba dancing.
Asked me how many courses we sat through, the conversations that had us roaring with laughter and the ones that nearly bored us to tears, and I would’ve been able to tell you, from beginning to end, what happened.

Thanks to Papa Knight.
       I was both tired and restless as I wished the family a good night, unaware of the chaos I’d left in my wake. A Trine was dead. The supernatural world was on the verge of collapse without its lawhands, and I—the harbinger of this disaster—had one thing, and one thing only, on my mind.
I wanted him like I needed my next breath, and I could only hope he got the message in the brief moment we shared as he helped me out of the limo.
He’d been extra attentive on the ride home, and I hoped it meant he’d come to see me later.
Alana was waiting for me when I entered my suite, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed happy as ever at two in the dang morning.
“How was it?” she asked, following me into the closet.

“I had a blast,” I told her. “Do we host the families, here?” I asked.
“Oh yes, all the time,” Alana answered, helping me undress.
“Great,” I stepped out of my gown and slipped on the short silk robe she held open. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Tayo Hale again. That man is grade A, fine. And his brothers too.”
“I’ve heard. So, what happened? Tell me everything.”

She all but bounced on her feet as I indulged her, recapping the evening as I made my way to the adjoined vanity room sitting between my closet and bathroom. I dropped into the padded armchair before the mirror and began working the pins out of my bun.
Alana giggled. “I bet you danced until your feet hurt.”
Not so. I waved the idea aside, not bothering to tell my lover, Olida was the only person I danced with. Speaking of my niece, I asked. “What’s the deal with O?”
Alana paused from gathering my face cleaning supplies. “Oh?”
“Aunty Olida.” I made clear.
“Oh.” Alana pushed the jar of face cleanser towards me and took over removing the pins. “What do you mean, did something happen?”
Reading the caution in her tone, I considered whether I should bother asking. I was still getting to know my little Cinderella and I’d hate to learn she was there to spy on me.
Loyalty meant everything to me, and I’d truly warmed to the idea of her being my companion. Some days it was lonely and having her around, made all the difference in the world.
“They were whispering behind her back,” I confided.
“Did she say something?” Alana watched me through the mirror as she reached for my brush, sectioned a part of my hair and began passing it through the length from end to crown.
“No, that’s just it. I don’t think she noticed. Maybe I misread the situation.” I waved off. “I can’t imagine why they’d single her out. I mean, if they were going to talk about anyone behind their backs, it should be horseface, Calista.”
Alana’s head fell back as she gripped her stomach and laughed. A short while later she sobered. I watched her swallowed the last of her amusement, while trying and failing miserably to keep her composure.
“Calista’s jealous,” she advised.
“Please, what for?”
“It’s true, I’m friends with her companion, Devine.”
I turned in my chair to look up at her. “The woman is my mortal enemy; you can’t be friends with her companion.”
Alana’s mouth fell open on a gasp. “I would never tell Devine what we talk about in confidence.”
“Why not?” I challenged. “She tells you idiot-face’s business.”
“Yes, well idiot-face is a spoiled brat who is always mean to her. This is why I know she’s jealous of you. She complains master hasn’t been paying her any attention since you arrived.”
“Boo-hoo.” I mocked, quickly clamping my mouth shut as a knock came at the door.
Both Alana and I looked at each other in the silence that followed.
“Who is it?” she mouthed.
My heart skipped a beat. I jumped to my feet and raced to the door, praying it was who I thought it was. Completely, forgetting I was wearing nothing but by underwear and the small robe that barely covered my ass, I grabbed the ornate handles of the doors and swung them open.
Yes! My pussy and I celebrated.
Bash stood before us, wearing a black shirt with the buttons undone, baring his broad chest and chiselled abs. His brown skin cool and moisturized, like he’d just stepped out of the shower. And in a rush dragged on the black slacks ridding low on his hips, giving my greedy eyes a glimpse of his Apollo’s belt, and shoved his feet into the pair of slip-on house slippers.
My mouth watered at the thought of licking each of the inguinal creases framing his lower abdomen.
He cleared his throat, and my eyes snapped up to meet his burning gaze.
I must have been staring pretty hard. A smile tugged at one corner of my mouth. So not to let it spread I bit down on my bottom lip.
Pff, that didn’t help a damn bit. I grinned, happy to see him. “Hey.
“Hey.” He scrubbed a hand over his low fade, watching me under the hood of his brow.
Have you ever watched a man wrestled with restraining himself, put will over might, to stop from acting on impulse?
Bash stood before me, a caged beast, fighting every instinct in his body. And fool him, he should’ve gone to bed, if he thought I was going to be the one to turn him away.
Alana popped out of the bathroom. “Yes, Mistress.”
Her lips curved, a flicker of something private passing between us.
“Good night, Cin.”
“Oh…Oh. Yep, goodnight mistress. Master.” Alana breezed past us and ducked through the door, never once looking back.
Good girl.
I stepped back, shrugged my robe off and let it drop to the floor. There I stood, a scrap of lace covering my pussy and nothing else. I turned, gave Bash my ass and walked towards the bathroom where my shower waited.
For one breathless moment of doubt, I nearly stopped when I heard the click of the door closing behind me. Instead, I held my head high, put a little swing to my hips and continued on my way.
I stopped. But I didn’t look back. “Yeah.”
“Get on your fucking knees.”
Go on, watch a bitch swoon.
The Rush’s party came and went, and I was still buzzing with excitement.
On one of our lunch dates, I begged Pappa to throw a party of his own. Of which he quietly reminded me Morana’s ball was the first social on the family’s event calendar. But, seeing as though there was seemingly nothing I could ask for and he didn’t oblige, he promised to add my own event to the calendar.
“Think about it, and let me know what you have in mind,” he said.
“Any restrictions?” I edged, eyeing him under my lashes.
Grinning, Papa shook his head. “None. Whatever you want my daughter, it shall be.” He dabbed his mouth with the napkin and set it down. Again, he’d eaten very little. “I’ll be out of town for a week.”
“Business must be booming,” I quipped, cocking a brow at him.
He nodded, the smile he tried to hide flitted across his face. “Do you remember what we discussed regarding your safety?”
Papa had asked, while he travelled that I stay close to home. I’d readily agreed to his terms because where did I have to go? Of course, after the first few times, my restless soul became antsy, and the restriction began to chafe.
I hated knowing sooner rather than later I’d go against his wishes and do something stupid.
I took the last bite of my halloumi salad, set my fork down and reached for my napkin. “Maybe you should start taking me with you.” I joked, though not really. The last time I’d been on a plane I was in my mid-teens.
“Not a bad idea.”
See? When it came to me, the word ‘no’ did not exist. That night I followed Papa as far as the gate, hugged him bye. One of the guards drove me back to the mansion.
Stoked, I roped Alana into my madness, and we spent most of the night and the days to come ironing out the details of my ‘end of summer’ party. We were still working on a name.
I’d been calling Jax, an my calls were going straight to voicemail. After many failed attempts, I rang the bar and learned he had taken some personal time off for a family emergency.
Everyone I spoke to, gave the same answer. They didn’t know what the emergency was or how long he’d be gone.
Why didn’t he call me? I thought we meant more to each other.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Alana asked straightening the black baseball cap on her head.
She was wearing an all-black tracksuit to match the cap.
“What’s not to be sure about?” I said, coating my lips in my favourite gloss. I straightened, and turned my bare back to the mirror, my hands braced on the vanity table. “It’s a beach party; I’ve gone every year. I don’t see why I should miss it because of a little rule.”
“It’s a big rule,” she countered pulling the hood over her hoodie over the cap. “Master Knight said you should stay close to home.”
“And we are, It’s only an hour away.”
“Then why are we sneaking out, why not bring Nate and Reggie?”
“Because I don’t need them cramping my style.” I threw my hands up and stood, done with the conversation. “Look if you don’t want to come, it’s cool. No pressure.”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just worried about your safety.”
“That’s why you’re the best.” I turned to check myself out the mirror one last time.
The opposite of Alana, I wore and all-white crochet, beach mini dress with matching white bikini bottoms you could visibly see through the knitting. My curly dark hair was tied up into a messy pony, and a few spirals frame my face. I straightened the halter top my dress, rubbed more of my rose-gold shimmer lotion over my neck and cleavage.
“How do I look?”
“Like you should be sitting on my face.”
 Grinning, I held my hand out to her. “That’s for later.”
She blew out an exasperated breath but took my hand all the same. “You’re pure trouble.”
“Yes.” I tugged her close and kissed her. “And you love it.”
“That’s my problem, I can’t get enough of you.”
Sneaking out was much easier to do with Alana on my side. We took her VW Beetle, a classic mint-green convertible, to throw off suspicions. I hid in the back under a blanket and shopping bags. Because Alana could go and come as she pleased, the guards didn’t bat an eye at her and simply waved her through.
Once we were well out of sight I popped up and climbed over the console into the front seat. Alana dropped the top as I synced my playlist to the car.
GloRilla’s TGIF, blasted from the speakers. “Hey!” I stuck my tongue out and started bouncing in my seat. “Hey!”
Alana shook her head at my antics, but it was Friday and we were headed to the Banks for the first bonfire to kick of the summer holidays, even though summer didn’t officially begin for another three weeks.
A little over an hour after we snuck out, we arrived. It took another ten minutes to find parking. The sun was hanging low in the sky, painted bright orange and dusky carmine red.
Once she parked, Alana climbed into the backseat and stripped out of her clothes, changing into her leopard rose board shorts and a red bikini top. I helped combed her hair out until is hung in soft wavy curls down her back.
“I think I’m just going to keep it simple,” she said as I held the mirror up and she applied primer to her face, a little blush, eyeliner and mascara and lastly a juicy berry tint, that plumped and defined her small lips.
We hastily packed everything up, grabbed our beach bag and locked the car. Giddy with excitement I laced my fingers with Alana and pulled her along as we followed a small group of new arrivals down to the beach.
The beach was alive with activity. People I half recognized were hauling driftwood from the shores, shouting like it was some kind of competition. I tossed our bag into the sand and followed, motioning for Alana to keep up. She looked uncertain, watching after a male as he ran past with an old plank balanced on his shoulder.
“Come on,” I called, grinning. “Shake off the mama bear, and let’s have some fun.”
Alana’s head fell back on her shoulder; her eyes turned to the sky. She blew out a breath. The second her gaze dropped to me, I knew I had her. Her face split into a smile as she ran toward me.
We joined the hunt. Our first catch was a washed-up branch we dragged back to the pit. A group of guys, every last one in football jerseys, freed us of our burden and broke it down.
Every new piece thrown into the pit earned a new cheer. Music blared from a speaker from the back of someone’s truck—loud, distorted, perfect. The air tasted of bear and the smoke from the BBQ stand, where a single guy roasted sausages and burgers.
I scanned our surroundings, searching for the perfect spot to sit with my girl, once excitement of lighting the fire died down. This end of the lakeshore was walled by high stone banking, which lent its name to the beach. Already lovers had claimed their love nests in the sandy grassy cast in shadows on the fringes. Some hugged up under thick blankets wildly making out, others stared out at the water while enjoying a beer or eating the hot food coming off the grill.
I spotted a few people I planned on hailing later, some from work, others I knew from the old neighbourhood. My thoughts drifted to Jax, and I debated whether or not I should stop in at the bar. I brushed the urge off.
What would be the point, he’d left without a word to me of where he was going or when he’d be back.
Maybe I was so desperate to see him that my mind decided to play tricks on me, because I could have sworn, the man himself was standing on the other side of the pit.
“Jax.” I stepped forward, the crowd shifted and then he was gone.
Forgetting Alana I walked fast cutting through the gyrating bodies, trying to get to the other side of the pit.
A dog, a wiener of all breeds, tore past me as fast as it’s little legs could carry it. I reared up, startled by the damn thing.
“Hollis!” I spun around.
For a second I was shocked to see Alana. I blinked, coming back to my senses. “Hey.”
“Where are you going?”
“I,” I glanced over my shoulder and of course, Jax was not there. “I,” stumbled to form words. “I thought I saw someone.”
“Oh my god, Nate?”
“What?” I shook my head. “No, not Nate. A friend.”
“Oh.” She quieted.
“Zeus.” The idiot owner of the dog called after it.
 “Jesus,” I mumbled under breath at the sight of the female chasing Zeus, who was determined to have the time of his life.
You know that saying, people always ended up looking like their dogs? Imagine a wiener in human form, a long torso with short limbs.
“Twins,” I snarked.
Alana barked a laugh, the sound getting lost in all the noise. She slapped a hand over her mouth and turned from the comical chase.
I nudged her forward in search of our bag. The Sky had gone the colour of bruised fruit, and the waves kept dragging the light away.
“We’ve got enough!” the big guy with blonde dreadlocks at the center of the circle shouted.
Alana spotted our bag first. She grabbed it and I led her back, pushing my way through the crowd to join the ring of bodies caging the pit.
We gathered close, breathless and wild-eyed, waiting for the first spark.
The last bit of sun hung low, trembling on the lake’s edge. Somone started stomping their feet in rhythm. A song caught from it, rough and off-key, but it spread.
Alana stood behind me with her arms wrapped around my waist. She leaned close, voice low. “I’m glad we came.”
I grinned in answer.
Grunts of pleasure broke across the beach. A couple tangled in the sand, careless and half-hidden in the fading light rut like wild animals.
“Oh my god,” Alana gushed.
Saying nothing I rested my head against her chest, a smile playing across my face, certain she was in for a greater shock as the night progressed.
 A whole lot was going on around us, but it was all in good fun. There was a wild-child at every party, and here, there were several. Amond them, a dark-haired female stripped down to nothing. Her friends doused her in beer. She shook her ass and sprinted for the water, her shout stealing everyone’s attention from the couple.
The crowd roared. Alana and I joined in, cheering her on as she dove into the crashing waves.
The tall male with the blonde dreads raised his arms, in his right fist a box of matches.
The crowd quieted, the girl forgotten.
Seconds later the sun winked out.
The first match flared, then died. The second took, licking pale against the pile of wood, before the flame dragged its breath.
The fire came alive.
Heat rolled over our us, gold on our skin.
Alana bounced on her feet, clapping, eyes blazing with wonder like a kid who’d just seen her first magic trick.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her soundly. She moaned into my mouth, squeezing my ass. I broke the kiss and led her away from the fire.
“You hungry?” I asked as we passed the first BBQ stand. Three more grills had joined the ranks and now there were drumsticks and corn sizzling on the open flame.
Alana shook her head, declining my offer for food. All the same I led her over to the liquor stand, grabbed two lite beers from the cooler and a bag of freshly popped buttery popcorn. We snagged a spot out of the way, close enough to be a part of the festivities and maintain our safety, while still affording ourselves a little privacy.
We settled on a beach towel big enough to fit four people comfortably and threw another over our legs. I handed Alana the popcorn and twisted the cap off my first beer. She snaked and I sipped in comfortable silence, people watching as horny men chased equally horny women along the beach.  Not longer after, another couple joined us. The male was Asian and his chick was black.
They greeted us and introduced themselves as Teo and May.
“You don’t mind?” Teo asked, holding up his bubbler.
I shook my head no, poor Alana watched with curiosity as he sparked up while inhaling, cleared the chamber and took his first hit. He palmed May’s throat, joined his mouth to hers and passed the smoke to her.
My pussy jumped, envious of May; missing Jax, the summer nights we’d lay out on the roof, get high and stare at the sky.
Whoever was supplying the music had a DJ mix looping through EDM, Trap and electro house, stirring the headbangers into a frenzy. I bopped in time with the aggressive beat, jittery in my own skin. I shifted, desperate to do something, get up and go for a walk; something. But if I did so, Alana would want to join.
I didn’t want her to.
I didn’t want to be there with her.
It wasn’t the same without Jax.
“Hey,” Teo called over to me. He raised the bong, inviting me to share.
Hell yes. I reached across Alana for it. She stopped me, her grip on my arm alarmingly strong.
“Maybe, you shouldn’t.”
“Or maybe you should stop trying to be my mother.”
She dropped her arm. Hurt flitted across her features, she quickly hid behind a tight smile.
I was being mean. Fuck, I might even regret come morning. Right then, I didn’t care.
The first hit slapped hard. Light bloomed behind my eyes, the world sharpening to a pleasant hum. I nodded, recognizing the candy-like flavour profile.
The second, dragged me under.
“Damn this is just what I need.” I said, grinning at nothing as it passed the bong back to Teo.
My thoughts spun fast, loose, everything, suddenly funny. Then, just as quick, the rush melted downward, spreading warmth through my chest and limbs until even the sand shifting through my toes felt soft enough to sink into.
Minutes later I was stretched out on the towel, Alana a silent shape curled beside me. The beach had fallen silent, or maybe I had. Through half-lidded eyes bodies drifted around the pit, the firelight pulsing and stretching like it was breathing with us.
“Are you okay?” Alana asked, searching my face.
“Never better.” I chuckled.
“Maybe we should go. I don’t like you like this.”
“Stop being a worrywart. We’re not leaving. Now shut up and kiss me.”
Alana’s head snapped toward the voice of the newcomer. While it took my slow mind a bit longer to piece the single word together.
“Ah, shit.” I growled meeting Bash’s hard gaze. “What the fuck are you doing here?”