Bitter Revenge

Chapter 40

(Stella King's POV)

Having to leave behind the Winteress Estate after having spent such a long time, it tugged at my heart strings a little not going to lie. I would have teleported back, but that's across the country and I most definitely do not specialize in teleportation. After I landed in Florida though, teleportation was fair game. I'd stormed into Harley's house like a headless chicken, before getting jumped by my friend and having the air squeezed out of my lungs. Harley just giggled at my pain, before she pulled back and shook me by the shoulders.

"You will not believe what just happened to me!" I tried to gain my senses back from having my brain sloshed around and racked my brain for things she'd be this excited over. "Uh... you found a decent person to spend the rest of your life with?" She grinned wider despite her next words, "No. Yes? Not about love, you're in the wrong neighborhood." I stared intensely at her and noticed a necklace around her neck that I'd never seen before. "Are you sure you didn't get a partner? You're sporting a necklace." She squealed loudly, which I couldn't help but giggle at her. "Still no. This is a gift from Judge Carter, the male witch from the Highest Court. He declared me High Priestess of the Royal Coven!" Suddenly, I understood the squealing- hell, I joined in. "I can't believe this! Harley this is awesome! You could finally take the backward ideals from the Coven and overwrite them!"

She took a second to calm down before looking at me seriously. "That's going to take some time. Most of the witches in this Coven are still pretty brainwashed from centuries of following the same ideals. The problem with the Royal Coven is that we're exclusive, everyone here was either born into this Coven or one of their parents is from here. Like you. Your Dad wasn't from this Coven, but your Mom and Aunt were, which allowed you to be a part of this place. That means that the ideals and beliefs here haven't just been passed down politically, but also generationally from families. There'll be time to unravel all of it, but you might get some hate for your vampire girlfriend." She joked towards the end, shooting me a wink and a nudge.

I couldn't help the grin that crossed my lips, or the rolling of my eyes. "Still not my girlfriend, but sure, whatever you say." She just crossed her arm over my shoulders and spoke a bit quieter, "No need to be shy, I'm going down that path myself." My eyebrows rose and I backed up a bit to look at her face. "Really? Wait, which path? Vampire or woman?" Harley had the audacity to snicker before walking away to her kitchen. "You're not escaping this Harley Marie Morgan! You bugged me about Fiona, who's this mystery person that has caught your attention?"

She opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water, before climbing onto the counter. "Well, she is a woman. I've known her for a pretty long time actually, but I had to keep it secret because it would get me in trouble with the Royal Coven." I sat on the stool in front of the counter and looked up at her, intrigued. "She's a good friend of mine, not a friend with benefits or a lover or anything, just a friend. But I'd love to be more. She is so fun, and cool, and so gorgeous. She seriously makes time slow down whenever I see her. But when I moved to New York, we talked less but we both made the effort. Maybe I'll introduce you to her." Harley isn't one to become head over heels over people, so this person must have seriously been awesome. "Likewise, I need you to properly meet Fiona."

How a life can be so quick to change. A couple months ago, we were both in this same kitchen complaining about how single we were; now we both want to introduce the other to our interests. My phone started buzzing, and when I pulled it out of my pocket, I saw Fiona's name flash across my screen. "You better pick up, or your girlfriend might think your relationship with me is a little more than friendly." I rolled my eyes and answered. "Fiona? What's up?" "Hey Strawberry, I just wanted to let you know that I'm currently in the airport with my idiots to get to Miami." I heard both Cristina and Grayson in the background respond with a hurt hey! "Really? Scarlet is coming back without Emma?" "No, she's staying. She said she's going to keep trying to seduce Emma into moving to Miami with her. For now, it's just the trio. Could you be true to your nickname and pick us up, Sweetness"? A harsh blush covered my cheeks at her not-so-subtly trying to butter me up to pick them up. "Sure thing Freckles, you didn't need to pull out the charm. The flight will take about 3 and a half hours right?" "Three hours too many with these idiots. Thank you Strawberry, see you soon." "See you soon, Freckles."

After putting my phone down, I looked at Harley who had a massive smirk on her face. "You are sooo whipped, girl. And anyone who can turn you red as a lobster deserves a firm handshake from your best friend." I pushed her shoulder but couldn't wipe the goofy grin from my face. I never imagined turning out like this, and so quickly too. A little over 2 months ago, I would've tensed at the idea of even being in the same vicinity as Fiona. Now? I'm going to pick her up from the airport and likely drive her to Devil's Corner. "You wanna come with me Lee?" Her wide grin and sparkling eyes gave me my answer. Giddy up Freckles, you're about to get the best-friend test.