Page 1 of Burning Skies
PROLOGUE
SEVEN YEARS AGO
HONEY
“Areyou gonna go all the way?” the naughty nurse in the driver’s seat asks as a devilish smile tilts her lips. Cynthia, my new college roommate, takes a turn too quickly, and I brace my hand on the passenger door of her Lexus so I don’t get concussed.
“Take it easy. I don’t want to die.” I tug at the seatbelt that chokes me until it loosens up. “And honestly, I don’t think so.”
Do I really want to lose my virginity at a costume party? Seems kind of sketch.
Then again, I’m a freshman in college. Now is the time to cut loose.
And I desperately want to cut loose.
I flip down the visor and a stranger stares back. Gone is my blonde hair and modest makeup. Instead, the long, black wig and smokey kohl liner make my blue eyes pop. “Am I supposed to look like a vampire? I was going for Belle since I love books, but I don’t think I pulled it off.”
“You look like a hot princess.” She wiggles in her seat. “Almost as hot as me.”
I chuckle and reapply my lip gloss. “Where are we going again?” When we left Lone Star State tonight, I wasn’t expecting to head so close to my hometown.
She hands me the invitation. “Here.”
I hold the rich card stock up to the streetlights zooming past us on the highway and squint to make out the vintage lettering. “What’s the Devil’s Den?” Underneath the name of the club, there’s a sexy female silhouette with bat wings, horns, and a spear-tipped tail. There’s not a lot of info on it. Other than the address, it has today’s date and the words “masked costumes only.”
“Not sure. My stepbrother is really secretive about it, so it has to be good.”
“I don’t recognize the address. Where is this place?” I probably should’ve asked this question before I got in her car.
Cyn shrugs. “Some big mansion out in bumfuck. All I know is there will be free booze. Just don’t forget to wear your mask because I don’t want my brother’s friends to recognize us, since I stole the invite.”
I worry my bottom lip. “Should we be driving tonight if we plan to drink?”
“We can sleep it off in my car and head home in the morning.”
In the back of my head, I hear my father shouting that this is a terrible idea. “Cool.”
When we get to the mansion, the lot is full of cars, and we drive around until we find a spot. I pull out my new fake ID and shove it in my bustier. Then I tie the silver mask across my eyes as Cyn does the same.
I reach out and grab her hand. “Remember, we shouldn’t get separated.”
She nods. “I won’t leave you behind. Promise.”
Someone bangs on our window, making us both jump. “Girls, you’re late.” The parking attendant taps on his watch.
How the hell are we late for a party we weren’t invited to?
Cyn slips out of the car, and the guy’s eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees her getup. “Damn. I’m sad you’re wasting all this hotness on those assholes in there.”
My friend smiles at him as I join her. She motions toward the house. “What’s the vibe like in there?”
“Like that Tom Cruise flickEyes Wide Shutminus the murders.”
“Awesome.” Cyn laughs as she hooks her arm through mine, and we start walking toward the house.
“I’ve never seen that movie,” I whisper to her.
“Me neither.”
