Page 53 of Ghost Ribbon

The first bag had a stack of warm, fluffy strawberry pancakes, golden and drizzled with fresh strawberry syrup and powdered sugar. The second had a big container of strawberry yogurt parfait layered with granola and sliced strawberries. There were fresh strawberries in little clear containers, still dewy and perfect. A carton of strawberry milk. Strawberry muffins. Even a small box of chocolate-covered strawberries and a thermos that smelled like strawberry tea when I opened it. Everything was strawberry-themed. Bright red and pink and sweet. My eyes went wide as I took it all in.

Joy hit me so fast and so hard I nearly squealed out loud, clapping a hand over my mouth to muffle the sound. It was too much. Way too much. But it was also perfect. I loved strawberries more than almost anything, and someone had clearly known that.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

I picked it up and saw the notification.

A: I can’t pick you up today, but I will send someone over to do it. I will come to school a bit late. Make sure you eat.

Of course. Of course it was him.

Marco: You don’t have to do this. I can cook myself breakfast.

A: And risk cutting yourself? No.

I bit my lip, staring at the message. He remembered what I told him about being clumsy in the kitchen.

Marco: It’s too much. There is enough here for three people. And I’m not that hungry this early.

A: Then save some for later. Or give it to your brother when he gets home.

I couldn’t help the tiny smile that tugged at my mouth even as my face flushed. He was so bossy but somehow it didn’t feel as terrifying as it used to. Not right now, at least.

Marco: Okay… but you really didn’t have to. Thank you. The strawberries are perfect.

A: Good. Now stop arguing and eat. The driver will be there in forty minutes. Be ready.

I set the phone down and looked back at the spread on the counter. The smell of warm pancakes and fresh strawberries filled the kitchen. My stomach actually growled. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until now.

I grabbed a plate and started piling on a little bit of everything - two pancakes, a scoop of the yogurt parfait, a handful of fresh strawberries, and one of the muffins. As I sat down at the kitchen table and took the first bite, the sweetness of the strawberries burst across my tongue. It was perfect. Way better than anything I could have thrown together in a rush.

My phone buzzed again while I was eating.

A: Oh and Marco?

Marco: Yes?

A: Sei bellissimo

My cheeks turned redder than a strawberry.

I stepped out of the house at exactly the time the text said the driver would arrive, my backpack slung over one shoulder and a small container of leftover strawberry pancakes tucked inside for later.

A sleek black car was already parked at the curb. I assumed it was the driver Alexei had mentioned. I walked toward it, adjusting the strap of my bag, when the back door suddenly swung open.

A blonde guy stepped out.

I froze mid-step.

I had never spoken to him before, but I knew exactly who he was. Ilya. One of the three Void Kings. The shortest of them, with that wild energy that always seemed one second away from exploding into something chaotic. Out of the three, he intimidated me the least, which wasn’t saying much, because the other two were Alexei and Dimitri. Still, he was dangerous. Everyone knew that. I had seen the way people scattered when he walked down the hallways at school.

“Mario!!!” he called out, loud and cheerful, like we were old friends.

Mario???????

I blinked, completely thrown off. My name wasn’t even close.

“Umm… my name is Marco,” I said quickly, trying to sound polite. I didn’t want to be rude. He might not have been as terrifying as the others on the surface, but he was still a Void King. Offending one of them felt like a very bad idea.