She’d spent the next few hours deciding on a restaurant to book and inviting Alyson’s family members. Hanley seemed relieved that she’d offer to do all the work, but how could she not make sure her best friend in the whole wide world had the most amazing engagement ever? It also had a little to do with her needing a distraction, but he didn’t need to know that.

After sitting through a five-minute rant from Morgana about her making zero sales today and being no better than the last assistant she turned to stone, Viri grabbed her purse from her office, which had successfully landed on her desk chair that morning, and breezed out of the shop.

By the time she made it back to the apartment, Alyson was already getting dressed while blasting music. She kissed Viri on the cheek as she passed by her to turn the speakers down some. “So, Hanley finally agreed to try that new pasta place that I’ve been dying to try tonight. He said he already texted you the invite, so I didn’t bother texting you. You’re coming right?”

“Of course. Who could say no to pasta? By the way, you are doing your nails right?” Viri looked at the few specks of yellow nail polish that remained on Alyson’s nails as she was turning the volume knob on the speakers.

Alyson frowned at Viri and then at her nails. “It’s just pasta. I don’t see why I need to be all fancy. Plus, I still have to do my hair. I don’t feel like waiting for my nails to dry beforehand.”

Viri was walking towards her room as she yelled back, “It’s fancy pasta, and I don’t want to be seen with someone who looks like she drags her nails across concrete daily. I’ll be dressed nice, and I'd like my company to be worthy of sitting next to me.”

She came back up the hall to make sure Alyson obliged just in time to see Alyson flick her off. “Fine, oh gorgeous one. I will paint my fucking nails.” Viri blew her a kiss. “That’s a good horsey.” She heard Alyson’s laugh trail her as she walked back into her room to start getting dressed.

They both came into the living room forty-five minutes after the time they were supposed to be ready, which was usual for them, so they ignored Hanley’s annoyed text messages asking where they were.

Viri knew she probably should’ve made sure they were ready on time, but he should be used to this by now so it’s honestly his fault for expecting a different outcome.

Viri whistled as Alyson bent to turn off the music in her skintight crocodile print midi dress. Her hair was straightened into a sleek bob. She winked at Viri. “You clean up pretty nice yourself there.” She had on a black crop-tie top with mid-length flared sleeves and black leather high-waisted pants that hugged her tighter than anyone had in months. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek low bun. She chuckled at Alyson’s compliments.

“Come on, let’s get to the restaurant before your boyfriend sends a firing squad after us.” Alyson rolled her eyes. “Walking or driving?” They both looked at their stiletto heels at the same time and said “driving.” Viri grabbed her keys, and they were out the door.

Alyson called Hanley once they were in the car and a small, angry hologram of him popped up above the phone. Viri held in her laugh. It would only make him angrier, which would make her laugh even harder and the cycle would never end.

Alyson let him know they were on the way and Viri promised to buy his first drink which made him smile slightly. That was good enough for her. Alyson hung up the call and said she needed to respond to some emails before they got too drunk.

That’d mean a quiet ride which would’ve been nice on a day she wasn’t avoiding thinking about a certain witch, so she turned the music up louder than normal and sang along to drown out her thoughts.

Alyson didn’t seem to think anything of it, and Viri didn’t want to discuss it, so she played the latest song that’d been on repeat for the past three days by her favorite vampire rap duo and prayed she didn’t get any speeding or excessive noise citations.

They pulled up to the restaurant and she threw her keys to the valet. They walked in, spotted everyone at the table, and Alyson immediately whipped around to glare at Viri. “What’s going on? Why the fuck is my family here??”

Viri only smiled and looped her arm through Alyson’s to walk her towards the table. Hanley stood as they neared the table and got down on one knee. Viri released Alyson to sit in one of the two empty seats left at the table.

“Alyson, from the moment I met you, I’ve been under your spell. You showed me love that I didn’t even know existed. You never made me feel less than and I have a comfort with you that I didn’t know possible. You even brought me an annoying but somehow loveable sister.”

Viri raised her water glass at the jab and laughter was heard around the table. “I’m at the point now where I can’t even imagine my life without you. So, I decided that I wouldn’t ever have a life without you again. Alyson Hannock, will you marry me?”

Viri watched Alyson pull herself together to stop the ugly crying that began the moment Hanley’s knee touched the floor. “Yes, yes. A million times yes!”

Hanley jumped up and hugged and spun Alyson and Viri stuck out her tongue, pretending to be fake annoyed by the overwhelming cheesiness. She was overjoyed for her friend who found love in a world that made it damn near impossible. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry.

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Especially not when Alyson’s cousin Dexter was sitting across from her making googly eyes at her. It was enough to make her gag despite the beautiful moment she just witnessed. He’d been after her since they were kids.

He was demi fae, seemingly getting nothing from his karkadann-shifting mother aside from her blonde hair and blue eyes. Besides being fae, which was issue enough for Viri, he was vain and boring as hell. She only invited him because Alyson loved the guy for reasons she couldn’t understand.

She didn’t have any family besides her mother. Her mother’s parents died when she was young and there were no aunts, uncles, or cousins, so the closest she got to extended family was Alyson, and dealing with Alyson’s family was enough to make her more than grateful for the lack of her own.

Alyson slammed into her, hugging her so hard that she nearly fell out of her chair. Viri chuckled and wiped away Alyson’s tears. “You KNEW! This whole time you knew! I thought we agreed to tell each other if we ever found out the other was about to get engaged!”

Viri laughed harder. “I’m sorry Aly. This was just too good to ruin. Plus, Hanley was so excited about it. I couldn’t ruin the surprise for him.”

Alyson scowled and sat down in the empty chair next to her. Hanley stood to give a toast that Viri knew would be long and dramatic because that’s just how he was, so she was fully prepared to zone out completely. Alyson leaned over, obviously prepared to do the same. “Look at this ring Vivi. It must’ve cost him a fortune.”

Indeed, the pink, emerald cut diamond placed in a gold band with silver flowers encircling it seemed like it cost more than Viri made in a year. Viri held Alyson’s hand up to her face, appraising the ring as Morgana had taught her. Yep. It was more than she made in a year.

Hell, maybe even two. “I can’t wait until I get to return the favor and help plan your engagement party for you.” Viri looked up to see Alyson smiling mischievously at her. Her eyes twinkled in the pixie lights hovering above them. Viri snorted. “There’d have to be someone willing to propose to me first, Aly.”

“There will be. I mean you’re the most amazing person I know. How could a guy not fall madly in love with you? Just look at Dex over there practically drooling.”

Viri grimaced. She was trying ridiculously hard to continue ignoring Dexter. She shoved Alyson away right as Hanley was finishing his toast and as Alyson’s family members began to come around the table to get a closer look at the ring and congratulate her.

Of course, a hug for Alyson also meant a hug for Viri from her family members along with several shouts of “We miss you” and “You and Aly need to come by to visit more often.” The years of friendship had made her the human child they didn’t fully understand but loved anyway.

They couldn’t comprehend why she’d vote for Governors that wished equal opportunity amongst species or why she didn’t feel like Eratia was the most magical city in Lunsfold.

“The mighty never understand those perceived as weak.” That’s what her mother would tell her when she’d come home frustrated by the moral failures of higher-level magical beings. As she’d gotten older, she learned to ignore the sneers and insults thrown at her.

She didn’t mind those much, but she’d always fight to defend anyone she witnessed being belittled. She couldn’t let that slide or she’d be no better than the magic wielders. Someone had to help the needy. The Asai damn sure didn’t.

“Ehem.” Viri jumped at the distraction from her thoughts. She looked up to see Dexter standing over her chair. She looked around quickly to see Alyson, who’d walked to the other side of the table, give an apologetic wince and mouth “Sorry.” Viri gave her a death stare and turned her attention back to Dexter who was now sitting in the chair beside her.

“Don’t marriage proposals just get you in the mood for romance?” Viri tried not to physically gag as he leaned back and put his arm around her shoulders. “You know Dex, it actually overflows my romance meter so there’s no need for me to look any further for it.” She picked his arm up and sat back in his lap and patted his hand while giving him a tight smile. She went to stand, and he grabbed her thigh firmly.

“You know Viri,” Dexter whispered, “any female would jump at the chance to marry me. Especially a human one. You should be honored that I'm even sitting here now. I’ll play along for now, but I'll soon grow tired of your little ‘hard to get’ façade.” Viri grabbed his hand.

She was so pissed that it felt like her entire body was heating. She replied, in an equally low voice, “You know Dexter, I've already grown tired of your pompous, arrogant ass and if you keep trying me, I'll show you just how tired I am. You should be honored that I've held back for this long.”

She moved his hand off her thigh and he waved it around like she’d burned him, confusion and anger blossoming across his face. She glared at him as she stood up to leave. She found Alyson who took one look at her face and was instantly on her feet walking towards her.

“What’s wrong? Is it Dexter? I’ll kick his ass.” Viri grabbed her arm to stop her from running off to defend her honor. “It’s nothing, Aly. Don’t worry about it. I’m just tired and I have to be at the shop early tomorrow to stock, so I'm gonna head home. Enjoy your night.” Viri gave her a peck on the cheek and turned towards the door before Alyson could argue.

She rubbed the building tension from her neck as she waited for the valet to drive her car up.

“If I had the chance, I could relieve some of that stress of yours.”

Viri rolled her eyes. Was every fucking guy in this city a creep? She turned to see a handsome young boy with auburn hair and fair skin. Human, by the smell of him, and only fifteen by the looks of him.

Her anger faded and she laughed softly. “Come find me in ten years and maybe we’ll talk.” She winked at him, and he blushed bright red as a huge grin came across his face. She smiled back and turned away in time to catch the keys that the valet had thrown at her.

She tried to blast the music loud enough to drown out her thoughts but that just felt like chaos, so she mostly drove in silence. Dexter was right, as much as she hated to admit it. The proposal did make her question when or even if that would happen for her, but then he immediately reminded her of exactly why she was single. She’s had her share of lovers in the past.

The human men were usually intimidated by her. They were terrified by the battlefield legends of her mother, and she was stronger than all of them thanks to her mother’s training. Shifters were just as arrogant as the fae, and they had a strong tendency to smell like their animal forms after it rained. Mer-males were either extremely self-centered or overly sensitive. There was only so much crying at sunset a girl could witness before she lost it.

Everyone either felt themselves too beneath her or too above her and the hunt for an equal just seemed like a dead end.