die's teeth. She had spent the entire five-hour flight staring out the window, watching

wer

Even through the climate control, she could feel the drynes

ed and rang in every corner. Tourists in flip-flops dragged massive suitcases. It was c

eat outside was still oppressive, even at nigh

ble swerved to the cur

linked.

, despite the fact that it was midnight. She

rincess! Inez shou

back seat and jumped in. The l

led her seatbelt. The car lurched forward, m

eerfully. She turned down the mu

head. No. I jus

apped the steering

merger because you need a break, hone

as Strip was a ribbon of fire in the dist

tal billboard. Elodie's br

as A

a keynote speech for the summit. Even in pixe

ie staring in th

w, Inez said. Her voic

ffened. I

meant she knew exactly h

in, Elodie said, forci

ust a soccer mom,

awling stucco beast that looked like it had been decorated by a colorblind arti

out, tires scree

pped into the driveway, mis

ggestion of fabric stepped out. She wore combat boots and had hair that loo

co. Elodie

tackled Elodie in a hug that

uila and smoke. She pulled bac

ia asked, her eyes wide. The Birki

s. Leave her alone,

her voice dropping to a

away from

ia was wild, but

e a micros

t was a wolfish,

ia said. Let