Badlands: The Lion’s Den(27)

She wasn’t sure why it had surprised her so much. For years she’d been told how useless she was. She wasn’t skinny, she wasn’t pretty, she was nothing but a burden… It was just that for a short time there, Finn had made her feel different. When he’d looked at her with that burning hunger in his gaze, when he’d told her what a good person she was, she’d no longer felt like the dumpy, discarded loser. She felt pretty, and wanted, and worthwhile.

“Where were you?” he asked, worry in his gaze.

She looked away. His concerned look made her feel as if he cared about her, and she didn’t want to fall for that lie again. “Out and about.”

“Look, I’m sorry about last night,” he said, falling into step with her as she headed back to the Lion’s Den.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. It’s not like I’ll be here that much longer anyway,” she said, struggling to keep the hurt from her voice.

“You won’t?”

She gave him a look. “Is that really so surprising? You’ve made your positon clear. When I leave, you can just tell everyone that you un-claimed me.”

“Flora, it’s not safe out there. Don’t do anything hasty. Listen, can we please talk about this?” Finn followed her into the Lion’s Den, which looked especially tawdry in the hard light of day.

“Nothing to discuss,” she said shortly.

As she walked through the door, she heard shouting and swearing, and then she saw a wolf shifter fly through the air and land on a table.

Then she saw the female lynx shifter who’d just thrown him, and a wave of relief rolled over her.

“Krystle!” she cried out.

Krystle hurried over to her as the wolf shifter rolled off the table, scrambled to his feet, and ran for the door. She was wearing a black mini-dress with zippers, fishnets, and combat boots. Same old Krystle.

“You know, I was going to ask if you’re still having anger management problems, but never mind,” Flora said, shaking her head as the wolf disappeared.

“Are you kidding me? He grabbed my ass, and I only knocked out two of his teeth. I’ve calmed way the fuck down,” Krystle snorted.

Jose walked up just then, holding two beers. He held one out to Krystle, but she shook her head. “Massive hangover, man. Thanks anyway. I could use a soda water.”

“Sure thing, hot stuff.” He went back to the bar to fetch it for her.

“Are you going to finally tell me how you two know each other?” Finn asked.

“Oh, she didn’t tell you?” Krystle said cheerfully. “We’re cousins.”

“Cousins?” Finn echoed, looking from one to the other in disbelief.

“Let me look at you,” Krystle said to Flora. “Wow. Fuckin’ A. Has it really been six years? You’ve still got the best boobs in town.”

“And you’ve still got the filthiest mouth in town.”

“Cousins?” Finn said again.

“Once removed,” Flora said. “Nice dress, Krystle. Where’s the rest of it?”

“Hey, runt of the litter, are your legs still locked at the knees?”

“Skank,” Flora scoffed.

“Prude.”

“Potty-mouthed psycho.”

Krystle threw her arms around Flora. “I missed you so much! I thought I’d never see you again.”

Then she looked up at the bartenders and bouncers who’d quickly gathered around in a semi-circle. “Sorry, guys, no catfight today,” she called out. “You know me – this is how I talk to all my friends. If I was mad at her, I’d just punch her.” They wandered off, muttering in disappointment.

Jose came back and gave Krystle the water. “Hey, babe, I gotta go collect some dues, but I’m working tonight. My place afterwards?”

“If you’re lucky,” Krystle said with a wink, and he blew her a kiss and walked off.

Flora glanced over at Finn. “Me and my cousin need to do some catching up. Girls only,” she said.

Finn nodded, his face somber. “We still need to talk. And be careful – Ruben’s on the warpath these days. Don’t go anywhere without telling me,” he said, before walking off.





Chapter Thirteen




The two of them settled in at a table at the back of the room.

“So, I just got back in town and I hear you snagged the Hudson family’s most eligible bachelor. Are the rumors true?” Krystle demanded. “Are you two actually mated? Making the beast with two backs?”

“Mated, yes. Doing the thing you just said, no,” Flora said.

“Wait, what? Mated but not mating?” Krystle looked appalled. “What’s the point, then? Explain this to me.”