Page 16 of Stoney Gazes for Helpful Gorgons

"No promises."

"I like flavoured vodka. Blueberry is my favourite."

"I don't think I've ever had it," she admits.

"Aha, then I think a birthday present is in order, even if it's just a shot of vodka."

She wrinkles her nose. "Weirdly, that sounds kind of good."

I share a smile with her, realising that I'm actually really excited about going to her birthday party. I don't think I thought twice about how well we've gotten to know each other over the past few weeks, but I think I'm starting to realise it would feel wrong for me to miss it now she's invited me.

And that I'm looking forward to seeing her celebrate something.

Chapter 7

RHEA

I check myself in the mirror and smooth down my dress, rearranging my glasses. I'm a little nervous to be going out wearing them alone as my only defence against turning people into stone, but I'm out of the potion that'll do the same thing and I don't have time to get a replacement. It should be fine. My glasses have never actually fallen off while out dancing, I just prefer the potion because it's more foolproof.

Rattle appears over my shoulder, almost as if he's looking in the mirror along with me.

"What do you think?" I ask my snake.

He disappears back into my hair, causing me to roll my eyes. What good is having them attached to me if they don't give me their opinions?

A knock on my door makes me jump. "Come in."

It creaks open, and my best friend steps inside.

"Hey, Sage."

"You look amazing," she says. "Much better than I did before my birthday party."

"I made you change," I recall.

"You did, and I'm glad of that." She gets a dreamy look on her face like she does every time she thinks about Castor.

"To be fair, you didn't need to, the evening would have had the same outcome if you'd been wearing your period PJs."

"I don't have period PJs," she counters.

I raise an eyebrow. "The fluffy ones with the sheep on them?"

The witch's eyes widen. "Oh my, I do have period PJs. Does anyone else know?"

"I doubt it unless you've been complaining to them about cramps too."

"Not that I'm aware of. Well, I guess there's no need to worry about that now. We should get to the kitchen, everyone's waiting for you already."

"Is Jack here?" I ask, weirdly nervous about if he's shown up or not.

"I don't know," she responds. "I have no idea what he looks like."

"Oh, right." I forgot about that. I've been spending so much time with him that it slipped my mind that my friends haven't met him.

"I'm sure he'll be here." She gives me a curious look, but I don't say anything else.

I grab my cardigan off the back of my desk chair and slip it on so I can put my phone in the pocket. I won't wear it to the club, but for while we're still in the flat, it's the best choice. I follow Sage out of my room, already hearing the drone of chatter from the kitchen. It's louder than I expect it to be, which means a lot of people. It isn't completely unexpected, our flat is a lively bunch sometimes, and that means that parties can get a little out of hand. There'll be people here who have no idea who I am, never mind that it's my birthday.