Page 82 of The Monsters We Are

She could only cross her eyes. Being a highly vengeful creature herself, she wasn’t in a position to judge.

“There are many—and much safer—ways to test potions,” said Delilah a little snottily. “I often used my boyfriends as trial subjects.”

Wynter paused with her cup halfway to her mouth. “Did they know about it?”

Delilah hesitated. “Well, no. But they wouldn’t have minded.”

“Then why did you keep it from them?” Wynter challenged.

“I didn’t keep it from them, I just didn’t mention it. A girl doesn’t need to tell her boyfriendseverylittle thing, Wyn.”

“I hardly think your using them as guinea pigs was a little thing.”

“I hardly think that their sleeping with other women was a little thing. As Xavier says, you reap what you sow in this world.”

“Cheaters should always get what they deserve.” Eating another chip, Hattie looked off into the distance. “If only I’d met my George years ago. He would have been my one and only.”

“I have to say, you two do seem made for each other,” said Wynter . . . which was when she realized that Xavier wasstilldoodling on Anabel’s face. “An eye patch? Really?”

“She’s gotta pay for her sins.” Xavier slid his gaze back to Hattie. “So you trust George, then?”

The old woman smiled. “Oh, one hundred percent. George doesn’t have a philandering bone in his body.”

Delilah picked up her mug of tea. “Does he know you’ve been married?”

“Yes, of course,” replied Hattie with a flap of her hand.

“Does he know how many times you’ve been married?” asked Delilah.

Hattie pursed her lips. “Well . . .”

“Then I suppose he also doesn’t know that you made yourself a widow each time.”

“Why would I bore him with such a long story?”

“I would think of it as more of a cautionary tale.”

Hattiehmphed. “I already promised you all that I wouldn’t hurt him.”

Wynter snickered. “You also made pretty promises to your husbands. Look how that turned out. I think they—Seriously, Xavier, you’re giving her a mustache now? What are you, twelve?”

“She’s gotta learn her lesson.” He added a little goatee with his marker, as if for good measure. “I don’t know why you’re making a big deal out of what I’m doing.”

“Try to look at the bigger picture.” Wynter drank the last of her tea. “She’ll make you pay for that. Then you’ll retaliate again. So a cycle of vengeance will begin.”

“And what is wrong with that?”

Wynter rolled her eyes. “Someone needs to wake her up.” She set down her cup. “I need to talk to you guys about something.”

“Hmm, sounds ominous.” He put his mouth to Anabel’s ear and whistled loud.

Her head shot up. “What in the—” She blinked hard and then scrubbed a hand down her face. “God, was it really necessary to whistleright down my ear?”

“Yeah,” replied Xavier. “For three reasons. One, you’re a freakily deep sleeper. Two, it would irritate you. Three, Wynter has something to tell us.”

Anabel frowned. “Reason number two doesn’t count as ‘necessary,’ asshole.”

“Depends on your definition of necessary, I guess.”