Chapter 166 | Black Lipstick and Cherry Lollipops

Eight minutes later, I opened my door to find Aurora standing in the hallway wearing a white crop top, black jeans with strategic rips, and this satisfied smile like she’d already won whatever game we were playing.

Beside her stood the most aggressively goth girl I’d ever seen.

Black hair with vivid purple highlights pulled into a messy high bun. Heavy smoky eyeshadow and winged eyeliner sharp enough to file taxes. Black lipstick. At least eight piercings per ear. Violet eyes that studied me like she was deciding where to bury my body.

And a body that made my brain skip like a scratched CD. Thirty-eight F at minimum. Curves that belonged in a fantasy illustration, not standing in my hallway. She wore a black band tee cut to show her midriff, ripped jeans that hugged her hips, and combat boots with enough buckles to intimidate a motorcycle.

A lollipop sat between her black lips. Cherry, based on the smell drifting my way.

"Hi," I managed, trying to remember how words worked.

The goth girl pulled the lollipop out of her mouth with a wet pop. "You’re cuter than Aurora said."

"Addison." Aurora’s tone carried equal parts warning and amusement. "Behave."

"I am behaving." Addison’s violet eyes traveled down my body with the slow deliberation of someone evaluating meat at a butcher shop. "If I wasn’t behaving, I’d have already grabbed his ass."

Aurora laughed and brushed past me into the apartment like she owned the place. "Where’s your roommate?"

"Out. Probably avoiding whatever chaos I’m generating these days."

"Perfect." She dropped onto my couch and patted the cushion beside her with the authority of someone who’d already mentally rearranged my furniture. "Come here. Let me look at you properly."

I sat, hyper-aware of Addison claiming the chair across from us. She crossed her legs, her combat boot swinging lazily while she examined me with those unnerving violet eyes. The lollipop went back in her mouth, her tongue working it to one side while she waited.

Aurora’s hand went to my face, cool fingers tilting my chin left, then right. Her green eyes narrowed, cataloging every change in my features. "Fuck me. You actually did get hot."

"Told you." Addison switched her lollipop to the other cheek. "Kid’s got a glow-up."

"He does." Aurora’s fingers traced my jawline. "This is insane. What happened?"

"Training. Essence boosts. Limit Breaker doing its thing."

"In less than a week?"

"It’s been three weeks."

"Three weeks ago you were soft. Now you look like this." Her hand pressed flat against my chest. "Did you take something?"

"Just milk."

Addison choked on her lollipop. "Did he just say milk?"

Aurora grinned. "I told you he was weird."

"Weird doesn’t cover this." Addison leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "So you’re the guy Aurora won’t shut up about."

I looked at Aurora. "You told her?"

"Obviously. Addison knows everything about me." Aurora waved dismissively. "Besides, she’s known me for years. She already knows I’m into weird shit."

Addison pointed her lollipop at me. "So what’s the problem? Aurora said you need a wardrobe intervention."

"Nothing fits anymore."

"Show me."

I walked them to my bedroom and opened my closet. Aurora immediately started pulling out shirts, holding them against my chest, and shaking her head at each one. Addison examined a pair of pants, checked the waist, and dropped them on the floor with disgust.

"This is offensive." Addison kicked the pants. "Who let you walk around like this?"

"I’ve been busy."

"Busy getting buff." She pulled out another shirt and tossed it onto the growing reject pile. "You need a complete reset. Everything here is garbage."

Aurora nodded. "We’re going shopping. Right now."

"I only have four hundred credits."

"And I have thousands." Aurora grabbed her purse. "Come on. We’re hitting the Vault and then the mainland boutiques."

"The mainland requires a pass."

"I have a standing pass." She was already texting someone. "Perks of being ranked twenty-three."

Addison stood and stretched, her shirt riding up to show a toned stomach with a small navel piercing. "This is going to be fun. I love dress-up."

"I’m not a doll."

"You’re Aurora’s doll. That makes you my doll by proxy." She grinned, her black lipstick making her teeth look impossibly white. "Don’t worry. I have excellent taste."

Aurora grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. "We’re leaving now. Text your squad that you’re busy."

"I have training at four."

"We’ll be back by three." She stopped in the hallway and looked up at me, her green eyes serious for once. "You saved Naomi’s life Wednesday. You killed a Silver boss. You’re moving up in the world, Jace." Her hand touched my face again. "You deserve to look the part."

Addison appeared beside her. "Also, girls notice clothes. You want to keep Aurora interested, you need to step up the presentation."

"I’m plenty interesting."

"You’re interesting when naked." Aurora’s smile turned wicked. "When dressed? Currently tragic."

They flanked me on either side and marched me toward the elevator. Students in the hallway turned to watch. Two stunning women escorting the formerly fat lottery kid like bodyguards.

In the elevator, Aurora leaned against me while Addison examined her nails. Black polish, chipped at the edges.

"So." Addison’s violet eyes found mine. "Aurora says you can make girls feel things. With your touch."

"Addison." Aurora’s warning tone was back.

"What? I’m curious." She shifted the lollipop. "Does it work on anyone?"

"Anyone I touch."

"Interesting." She smiled slowly. "What’s it feel like?"

"Like..." I searched for words. "Warm. Pleasant. Increases nerve sensitivity."

"That’s it?"

"At low levels, yeah."

"What about high levels?"

I looked at Aurora, who was trying very hard not to laugh. "You want to tell her?"

"I can demonstrate instead." Aurora’s hand slid up my arm. "If you’re nice to us today."

Addison’s eyebrows rose. "Are you offering what I think you’re offering?"

"Maybe."

"Aurora Fitzgerald, you absolute menace."

The elevator dinged. Ground floor.

We walked out into the California morning, and I wondered what the hell I’d just agreed to.