“We’re here,”Catwhispered with excitement.
The instant she did, my stomach performed an odd, and profound, drop.Iblinked at the strength of the sensation but put it down to breaking the seal of going out and being in the world for the first time since my attack.Thefirst time after my beast was murdered.Thefirst time since the nightmare any shifter feared the worst happened to me.
I drew in a deep breath and let it out, much preferring the idea of simply gliding on and continuing to gab with my gals, perhaps going through a flyby to get something fried and awful for us while we did it.
ButItold myself it wasn’t going to be that bad.Afew drinks.Moregirl talk.Oncethey started flirting,Icould start people watching.
ThenIcould be at home with my cats, wearing my pajamas, with a tub of stem ginger frozen custard, a cup of tea, and maybe aDolphWindstalkerflick (he was a terrible actor, and possibly a terrible person, but he wasn’t hard on the eyes).
A couple of hours.
Maybe three.
And thenIcould be out of these uncomfortable shoes, and equally uncomfortable dress, and this would be over.
I could do it.
Cat’s dad’s pilot opened the door, and that sensation in my stomach happened again, this time deeper, almost painful, but also curiously, maybe even impossibly…pleasurable.
What in the realms was that?
Cat got out.Gaylegot out.
I sat in the craft.
They turned to look in at me.
Dang.
I guessIhad no choice.
Time to do it.
I got out too.
Chapter2
Phantom
If the stomach thing was weird, the minuteIput my stiletto-heeled sandal to the pavement was weirder.
I felt flush all over.
Right, this wasn’t good.
WasIhaving some sort of panic attack?
BeforeIcould decide,Gayleencouragingly tucked her arm through mine, pulled me fully from the craft and forward whileCatwaved something on herPalmunit at one of the doormales.
He jutted his chin to another doormale, who broke off and guided us down the pavement.
We followed, and as for my part,Idid it deep breathing and concentrating on the chill autumn-is-right-around-the-corner air to help combat that weird flush.
Thankfully, this worked.
He stopped well down the pavement, standing against the glossy black exterior of the skyscraper where thePinkandBlackClubtook most of the lower floor (save the lobby).Itwas also rumoredPrinceAlekseinot only owned the building but had a penthouse at the top of it.
“First time?” the doormale queried.
