𝔸𝕧𝕒

"Heeyyyyy! Where have you been?!" Jen's voice says on the other end of the phone.

"Hey," I say, trying not to sound like I've been crying. "Sorry, I left my phone in Mike's car."

"What's wrong?" she says, her tone suddenly serious.

"Mike and I broke up."

"Oh," she says. "I'm so sorry, honey. What did he do?"

"It... he just... he didn't love me the way I think he should have."

"Damn right," she replies, matter of factly. "I'm sorry, hon. I don't mean to be insensitive. It's just... I tried so hard to like him. I really did. But from day one I just thought he did not deserve you."

"Thanks," I say. I don't know whether or not she'd still feel that way if she knew everything that happened last night with Zane. On the shitty girlfriend scale, I'm pretty sure making out with a handsome British stranger after denying flirting with him is kind of top-of-the-charts.

"What?" Jen asks. I guess she's now progressed to just straight mind reading.

"I don't think he's entirely at fault here. Or a least, I'm not blameless."

"What do you mean?"

"I uh... I kind of made a mistake. You remember that British guy, Zane, from last night?"

"Yeeahhh...?"

"Well he ended up driving me back to my place and we sort of... kissed."

"Woohooo! Yessss!" she cheers. "Wait, I swear you said Mike was taking you home."

"Yeah, it's a long story, but... woohoo? You're not disappointed in me? I'm not a giant whore-y whoreball from whoreville?"

"Okay," Jen says with a giggle. "First of all, I'm totally going to use that in the future. Whore-y whoreball from whoreville? That's amazing. Couldn't have done it better myself. Secondly, that guy was ridiculously good looking and honestly I've been 'Team Anyone-But-Mike' for quite a while now."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, but you can't tell your friend that you hate who they're dating. It's a one-way ticket to your friend never talking to you again."

"I wouldn't do that," I say.

"Come on, I wasn't about to open that can of worms. People always shoot the messenger on those kinds of things."

"Fair enough..."

"So, how was it? Macking on the man candy?"

"'Man candy'?"

"I mean he's got that accent, and he's pretty great-looking..." she says. "For a dangler, that is."

"Okay new subject!" I say. "If we're talking details... how was your make-out sesh with Miss Bartender?"

"Ohmygod Ava, sooooo good!"

I feel like I'm about to regret having asked...

ℤ𝕒𝕟𝕖

I approach Kami's crisp white, Spanish-style estate. The entrance is flanked by elaborate topiaries. The rounded double doors are made of thick, dark wood and are almost twice as tall as most. A wrought iron chandelier hangs above. As I press the doorbell, a regal chime echoes on the other side of the doors. After a moment, they swing open.

"Well look what the cat dragged in!" Kami says, pulling me in for a hug. Her eyes catch Kieran standing behind me and her expression changes immediately. "Oh. You brought him."

"Aww, Kams," Kieran says with a grin. "If ya missed me you could've just called!"

She glares at him and I can tell she's debating whether or not to sock him in the face for calling her Kams. She seems to decide against it and guides us both inside. The estate is massive, with lofted ceilings, marble floors, and antique furniture.

"This is your place?" Kieran asks.

"Sort of," she says. "It was given to me to use as long as I want it."

"Given to you?" he asks.

"If you haven't noticed, people tend to give me what I want," she says.

"Damn, Zane, why don't you have a mansion?" he asks.

"Not everybody wants a mansion, Kieran. Besides..." I say, giving Kami a bit of a glare. "Some of us like to be discreet."

She looks like she's considering snapping at me but again decides against it. It seems we've caught her in a good mood.

"So, you weren't very specific in your text. You had something you wanted to discuss?" she asks.

"Yeah, uh..." I pause for a minute.

Where do I even start?

"Zane's in loooove!" Kieran teases.

"Oh piss off, mate."

Kami looks at me, gobsmacked. "What??" she asks.

"I'm not in love," I grumble. "I just... what do you know about Sirens being susceptible to venom?"

"We aren't," she says matter-of-factly. "Why are you asking?"

"He's in luuurrrhhhvvv!" Kieran says. He's being a right git today.

"Seriously, I will end you."

He waves his hands in the air in surrender.

"You're in love with another Siren?" she asks. "Who??"

"I'm not in love," I huff. "But uh... I'm just wondering, is it possible? Could I be affected by my own venom?"

She takes a moment and gives me a once over and looks deep into my eyes.

"No dilated pupils," she says. "No sweating. Heart rate sounds normal. Even if it was possible, and honestly it's not, you don't have any of the classic signs. Why did you think you might be?"

Kami has always had lovers, some more long-lasting than others, but I've spent most of our lives hearing about her relationships. Now that the circumstances are reversed, it feels foreign.

If I told her it was a human I was feeling these things about, she would surely tell me what I already know: it's impossible. Humans are too fragile. Every time I kiss her she could be inching closer to insanity. Even if that weren't true, she's mortal and she will age and die.

"I just felt kind of... out of control for a moment," I answer.

"He's obsessed," Kieran adds. "He lost control and he kissed her. Then he showed up to my house with his heart racing, breathing heavy—he was a mess."

Kieran chuckles at my expense.

"Wow," Kami says, her jaw slack with shock. "You lost control? Holy crap. Wha-... who is she?"

"She's human," Kieran answers.

Thanks, mate.

"Human?" she asks, her eyes growing wider still. "Wow."

"I know," I say. "It's a bad idea. I get it."

"No," she says. "I'm just surprised. Your past affairs were always immortals. And everything with them was so intentional, careful. Ever since, well... you know. I'm just surprised it's a human who's having this effect on you."

"It's impossible anyway," I say.

"It's not impossible. It's... difficult. I've done it once or twice, that is, had a relationship with a human."

"You have?" I ask.

I knew she had relationships that I didn't know about. It never occurred to me they might be with humans.

"Yeah," she says. "But uh... it's tough. You can't kiss them without triggering that lust instinct. It's hard to tell what's real, if any of it. And you have to be careful with what you say when you touch them. Our touch can make them suggestible even when we don't mean to."

"What about the whole madness thing? Is it real?" I ask, unsure if I want to know the answer.

"I don't think so," she says. "I mean those relationships only lasted about six months or so each. Maybe with more time it could have. But I don't think it's real. I've never heard of it happening to anyone in real life."

"That's good news then!" says Kieran. "You can stop losing your shit and just ask her out. Or just get it out of your system and have sex with her already."

"Mate," I say. "I already told you, I'm not interested. It was one mistake, alright?"

"Oh please!" he says. "You're obsessed. You're going crazy. You're jealous as hell."

"I'm not jealous."

"Oh yeah?" he says. "Then you won't mind if I take a shot at her?"

I feel an instant tension in my chest and my jaw clenches. He's trying to get himself killed, I swear.

"Go for it," I say through my gritted teeth. He wouldn't dare.

"She a good kisser?" he asks, taunting me.

"Get fucked!" I say. The words launch out of me with a fury.

"Maybe I will," he quips, with a cheeky smile.

Before I can think, my fist connects with his jaw and he's launched across the floor. The look on his face is one of disbelief. Kieran and I have fought before, but he's always been the one to start it. I turn to Kami, whose face is equally stunned. Kieran bursts into laughter.

"Daaayyummnn!" he says. "That wasn't a bad punch, Zane! Have I finally found a button to push in you?"

I do my best to recover my cool demeanor and force my fists to loosen.

"Sorry," I say, offering him a hand up. "I uh... I don't know why I... sorry."

Why did I hit him? Am I jealous? Why do I care?

I've known this girl for one day, and she has a boyfriend anyway.

Kieran stands, readjusting his clothing and brushing the hair from his face.

I look over to Kami, who seems curious. I notice a bandage on her arm that I hadn't seen when we came in. Was that from yesterday's incident?

"What happened there?" I ask. Anything to change the subject at this point.

"Oh, yeah," she shrugs. "I got sliced by a Harpy last night."

"How did you even run into a Harpy?"

"I was asked by a rather powerful immortal to track down a fugitive who was rumored to be in Port Charlotte. I asked a few of my contacts for information and they led me to that Seer and a Harpy who might have been helping this guy. As you might have guessed—the Harpy wasn't super interested in talking either. These immortal jobs are the worst because I can't use my powers, so I have to bargain whatever I can or hope I can hold my own in a fight."

"You should have asked me for venom," I say.

"I had just asked you earlier that day," she says. "Besides, I need to be able to handle myself every now and then."

"If you're going to keep ending up in these situations, why don't I give you some extra venom for emergencies?" I suggest.

"That's a good idea, actually," she says, stepping out into the kitchen.

"Wait," Kieran interjects. "Why have you never offered me that?"

Giving my venom to an Incubus is asking for trouble, even if he is my friend. He can still be reckless and, by his nature, he's overwhelmed by his urges. Although, some would say that about Sirens too.

"Because she needs it to live. You need it to get laid."

Kieran rolls his eyes at me. "I need to get laid to live!" he says.

"You're not starving any time soon, mate."

He huffs, crosses his arms, and slumps into an armchair.

Maybe Kieran does act like my pet.

Kami returns with a small vial in her hand.

"Here," she says, tossing it to me. "If you wouldn't mind."

I press the vial under my tongue and wait until it's about half full before capping it and handing it back to her.

"Thanks," she says with a mischievous expression. "Now you can get back to defending your girlfriend's honor."

𝔸𝕧𝕒

Ever since Jen met her new girl, she has practically dropped off the face of the earth, so when she asked me to join her for drinks at Pike's I reluctantly agreed.

I don't really want to risk running into Zane after the incident last weekend, but she assured me Shayna would be bartending this weekend so there's no reason for them to be there. Then again, she was bartending the last time too. I still don't know why Zane took off that night and honestly I'd rather just pretend the whole thing never happened. He probably thinks the worst of me since he knew I was dating Mike when I kissed him.

As I walk up to Pike's, I scan my periphery constantly. This part of town has always creeped me out. The buzzing neon sign above the door triggers memories of last weekend. Meeting Mike and Jen here. Running into Zane and Kieran, before I even knew their names. The fight with Mike. Then Zane and the kiss.

Pike's is equal parts trashy dive and cozy hometown pub. The walls are plastered with a collage of framed patron photos, kitschy signs, and graffiti. The main area has a classic wood bar with red stools and scattered tables to match. The back room holds two pool tables where big burly men who look like they belong in a biker gang are playing pool.

I look around and let out a sigh of relief as Kieran and Zane are nowhere to be found. That's one awkward conversation I don't have to have tonight. Shayna is tending bar while Jen sits on a stool looking longingly in her direction.

"Hey!" I say, sitting beside Jen at the bar.

"Heyyyy! There's my little whoreball!" she says.

Oh great, so that's gonna be a thing now.

"I'm so sorry I've been so absent this week," she says. "I know you're going through a breakup and I meant to check in, but work has been the absolute worst and I had to pick up three extra shifts."

Jen is a lab tech at a local company that does forensic testing for a handful of police departments in the state.

"Hopefully that's not because there's a serial killer on the loose," I say, mostly joking.

"No!" she giggles. "We're just short-staffed! Although, there were two weirdly-similar deaths that we've done a bunch of testing on and can't figure out. Isn't that spooky?"

"I'd rather not know about that."

"Okay," she says with a laugh. "You asked!"

Jen catches me up on her and Shayna. It turns out they haven't seen each other much either. I thought I was getting blown off, but it turns out Jen's work really was taking up all her time. Shayna intermittently swings by to chat and grab us more drinks. Jen tells me about her obnoxious coworker and the latest episode of The Bachelor. I tell her that I haven't seen Mike since he dropped off my phone but have heard from friends that he's been talking about me behind my back. Jen has a few choice expletives to assign him.

"So what's the deal with Zane? You gonna call him?" she asks.

"I don't have his number," I say, hoping she doesn't feel the need to pry for details.

"You kissed, but you didn't get his number? How does that happen?"

"Well, he kind of left quickly."

"Left quickly? I don't understand. What does that mean?"

"Well," I say. "We kissed and it got kind of intense and then just... he just took off, Jen. It was so weird. I feel like I must've done something wrong."

"He didn't say anything?"

"He said 'I'm sorry, I can't.'"

"Can't what? Can't kiss you? Can't have sex?"

"I don't know... I think he meant because I have a boyfriend."

"He's probably gay," she says. "I mean, he's incredibly pretty—like weird-pretty. Sure, he doesn't seem all that gay, but he's British so that totally throws off my gaydar."

"I did not get the impression he was gay," I say. "You just think everyone's gay."

"Yeah, girl. Everyone is gay! It's not my fault the hot Brit probably polishes bats for the other team."

"What's that now, love?" a familiar voice says behind us.

The color drains from Jen's face as she realizes she's been busted.

Well, this is awkward.