Star Blessed

Truth and Lies

MERIBELLA

Meribella searched for her well rehearsed lines, but they fled in the presence of the living, breathing god before her. She'd been singing at Joe's Pub for the last week, hoping the rumor mill would begin to churn and stories would make their way back to the Orion Pack's compound. Whether or not rumors drew him here tonight, she'd known the moment he'd entered the room.

A thrill ran through her as her fingers tumbled over the keys, and she forced herself to keep her head down, afraid that if she saw him while singing, she'd be unable to finish the song. She had to appear unaffected when she found him in the crowd, but all she wanted to do was drink him in. He was no good for her. No good for any woman according to Mac, but as crystal blue eyes filled with pain and hope devoured her, she had to stop herself from reaching for him.

"Hello," she said. Hello? Hello, that's all you've got?

"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Is this some sort of Fae glamour. I'd advise you to get your sorry, sick ass out of here before I take you out."

Meribella tensed as Raff's companion stepped between them. Normally she'd say he was handsome. Surfer boy blond hair and a strong jawline, but every line in his face was contorted in fury. His protective streak towards Raff warmed something inside of her, and she added this detail to the list of things in Mac's story that didn't make sense. The cruel man the Starless pack Alpha described wouldn't be the type to have such a good friend. And that's what this man was being: a friend.

"Lincoln, enough."

When she wasn't dreaming about wolves and selkies, she dreamt of that voice. The raspy edges scoured away her defenses, heating her skin and making her breath uneven. For so long she'd fought against human emotions like desire, love, and friendship, but the universe kept shoving them in her way. And maybe now that she knew the truth, knew that she would only ever be human, she could act on them. But what about what Morgan LeFay is offering?

"Do you think I'm going to let her fuck with your mind again? After I just managed to get you to pull your head out of your ass? I don't think I can save you again."

Save him again? Indeed, Raff blanched at Lincoln's words, shame and guilt projecting from him, so at odds with the cocky bastard who'd saved her from drowning on the side of the road.

"B," Thorne called from where she was sitting at the bar. The witch had refused to stay behind, and Meribella couldn't pretend she wasn't relieved to have a companion along. Joe and Vivian, though happy to have her back, had been less than enthused about her decision to reveal her true fate to Raff. Joe in particular had raged and ranted, finally leaving to shift into his bear form for a moment alone in the woods. She really needed to get the rest of his story.

"Who is that?" Raff asked, jerking his head in Thorne's direction. "I didn't take you for having many friends."

"A lot can change in seven months," she responded, wincing at the ice in her words.

"Yeah, but last I heard people didn't rise from the dead regardless of the amount of time that passed."

"Lincoln, you need to step outside. Now." The last word vibrated with power, and Lincoln spun on his heel and walked outside, his movements stiff and robotic.

"Is there somewhere we can speak that isn't so loud?"

Meribella pretended to hesitate. "Thorne is waiting for me."

"Please." The single word was coated in anguish.

She nodded, grasped him by the hand, ignoring the thrill that zinged through her as his rough fingers curled around hers. The grip was far tighter than necessary, as if he was afraid she might vanish. "Thorne, I'm going to step outside for a minute."