Lanie


    | tried again to mind link with Xander, and again, nothing. The fries arrived, and | thanked the waitress, who gave me a


    sympathetic look. | must''ve looked like | was desperately waiting for someone.


    But how long was | going to keep waiting?


    Five more her if she was that long.


    as | told myself grimly. Then | was out of here, and DarkLuna better hope | never found have to wait even simply having me jump


    through hoops for her enjoyment. Turns out, | didn’t


    A figure in a dark hoodie, face obscured by the hood, slipped into the booth across from me. As the waitress approached, the


    figure simply held up a hand with two fingers raised and made a small, silent gesture. The waitress withdrew without speaking to


    us.


    “That’s a neat trick,” | said.


    The person sitting across from me tugged the hoodie off to expose a fall of long, dark hair tied at the nape of her neck. It showed


    off her slender neck and sharp jawline, as well as the crimson sh of her lipstick. That wasn’t what forced a small gasp of


    surprise out of me, though.


    “You''re |”


    She looked at me, amusement clear in her expression, but didn’t say anything. She looked...young. My age, maybe even


    younger, so eighteen or neen, tops. But how could this be DarkLuna, if she was my age? The posts I''d found on the dark web


    were at least a few years old. My body tensed as | got ready to flee if this stranger pulled something shady.


    “This has to be some kind of trick,” | said aloud but under my breath. How could this pers ny kind of super-knowledgeable


    contact? She didn’t even look old enough to be allowed inside a hum faked license, same as me.


    The young woman leaned over to grab a handful of my fries. She tucked one into her mouth slowly as she studied me. Her eyes


    shed a low, bright violet. So, not human, at least.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Look, | Know wolves age differently than humans, but...


    outa


    “| look too young? You were expecting someone older. Wizened, perhaps?” She grinned and popped another fry into her mouth.


    She chewed and swallowed, then pulled my beer across the table toward her lifted that to her lips next. “Mmm. That’s good. I''d


    have ordered something lighter, ager, maybe. Not a sto


    “| wasn’t going to drink it. | just got it because you know what, never mind” | shook my head. “You are... her. Right?”


    “Oh, I’m her, all right. At your service.” Her grin widened.


    | scowled at her. “I don’t appreciate you making light of this”


    dark.” DarkLuna shrugged and sat back against the seat. “That’s what Lunas do, isn’t it? Make light. That’s


    what you’re going to have to do.”


    I sat back, too. “That isn’t what | was talking about, and you know it. And aren’t you worried about being overheard? Talking


    about Lunas that way. We''re in a human bar.”


    My voice dipped way down low, but | kept my eyes fixed on hers. Another small re of violet shed in them. She leaned across


    the table toward me.


    “| wouldn’t have met you here if | was worried about anyone listening in. I’ve got this ce covered. Don’t you worry, little Luna.”


    “Don''t call me that. Or honey. | didn’te here for games.” | couldn’t stop the small growl from filtering through my voice, but f


    uck, if she wasn’t worried about being overheard, | guess that meant | wouldn''t be,


    either.


    She sighed and waved a hand. “Settle down. I’ve been around a lot longer than you have. | know you won''t believe it, but I’ll be


    two-hundred and fifty on my next birthday.”


    “That’s impossible.”


    “Clearly, it''s not,” she shot back. “And if | were you, sweet cheeks, I''d start being a little more respectful to your elders. Because


    one day, this could be you sitting across a table, trying to help out someone who''s young and dumb and thinks the world owes


    them a favor.”


    Stung, | crossed my arms over my chest. “The only reason | think you owe me anything at all is because I’ve done everything


    you requested. I’m here: | promised to trade you information for yours.”


    | paused to study her.


    “What do you mean, one day, this could be me?”


    | already had a sneaking suspicion, but | was here for answers, and | was going to get some.


    “| mean that you and me are the same.”


    “Hybrids,” | whispered.


    DarkLuna nodded sharply. “Yes. But you knew that already.”


    “And you think, | mean, you believe, that I''ll age...?”


    “The sarne as me? Slower than everyone you love? Getting older year by year but never really changing. while they all leave you


    behind?” Her voice hitched and caught in her throat, and her gaze burned into mine. “Yes. That''s exactly what | mean.”