I was ashamed when I looked at those around me, those from my former life, because they’d seen what a monster I’d become. It hadn’t always been that way. But what could I expect when Lachlan had twisted me into something I didn’t recognize?
“I tire of this game, K,” Renai said, arching her brow and leaning back in her seat. Her golden-brown hair was held in a tight bun at the nape of her neck, accentuating the sharpness of her shoulders. She was always wound so tight, as if she might explode at any given moment. It was strange to see her relaxed like this, and I was struck by her beauty. “You only tire of it because you’re losing, Ren. That hardly seems like my problem,” Kalen said, smirking before taking a swig from his bottle.
I gestured at him. “Why don’t you use a glass?”
Renai groaned, and Luka let his head fall back. “Please don’t get him started on this. He’s a barbarian, that’s why. Now,” Renai leaned forward, “let’s play a game of truths and dares.”
Kalen looked down at his cards, pointing his bottle in her direction. “Fuck it. Let’s play, then. You go first, since this was your idea.”
I’d never seen her like this, surrounded by friends and filled with laughter. Our time was spent picking apart my nightmares and memories, something I hated to my core. But this was a sight I’d never forget, even if I was only graced with it once.
I was an outsider here, even if this was my home.
She grabbed the bottle from Kalen, topping off her glass despite his protests. “Luka, is it true you haven’t spoken to Ciena in a week?”
My friend squirmed in his seat, uncomfortably throwing back the liquor. “Pass,” he said, filling his cup once more.
Renai tsked at him, wagging her finger back and forth. “If you pass, you take off an article of clothing. Are you sure you wish to do that, cousin?”
Luka blanched, and my heart thundered in my chest.Cousin?They were cousins?How had I never met her before? “You’re related?” I stammered, looking between the two to find similarities. They both had high cheekbones, but that was common to our kind.
“Distantly.” Renai waved her hand. “On his mother’s side. I forget the actual connection, though. You’d need a map to sort through the ties, so we keep it simple and call ourselves cousins.”
“I didn’t know any of your family lived,” I told Luka.
He shrugged, looking down at his drink. “I didn’t either. Since we reconnected, we’ve all had bigger issues at hand, and time has passed. It didn’t seem worth mentioning.”
Kalen pressed his bottle to his lips. “So, what’ll it be? Because I’m ready to keep this moving.”
Luka’s mouth formed a tight line. “No. I haven’t spoken to her.”
Renai leaned forward. “But why not? Has she been ignoring you? Are your feelings hurt? It was a onetime fuck, Luka. A good one, I assume, from your drunken ramblings.”
“Save it for your next turn, Ren. I’ve answered your question.”
She leaned back in her chair, undoubtedly perturbed. “Fine, keep your secrets. Go on then, ask your question.”
“Kalen,” Luka began, and the general across from him puffed up his chest.
“Dare,” Kalen replied with a smirk before Luka could even get the question out. “Obviously.”
“Very well. I dare you to down the remainder of that bottle.” Kalen went to pick it up before Luka added, “Without making a face.”
He had a little less than a quarter left, but it would be a difficult feat. I knew I couldn’t do it, and the thought made me want to gag as he brought the liquid to his lips. He kept eye contact with each of us as he gulped.
“Gods, man,” Luka whispered. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
Kalen tossed the bottle to the side, standing up to grab another from behind the bar. “I don’t back down from a challenge,” he said, smirking at Renai. “Do I, Ren?”
She smiled back, making my stomach drop. I’d suspected they were involved with each other, their smells confirmed as much, but it was much different to see it in person. And I had no room for suspicion or anger, not with her or anyone else. “You don’t,” she confirmed.
Kalen set the firewhiskey on the table, taking a long look at me. It was unnerving to be scrutinized so deeply, but then Kalen smiled. “How are your sessions with Ren going?”
This was the last thing I wanted to talk about, even if it was a relatively simple question. I knew he was going to report back to Eva and Matthew because Renai did the same. It was duty, and nothing more, which prompted her to spend time with me.
“Is that a part of the game?” I asked. “Or are you simply asking out of curiosity? Either way, I won’t be answering.”
“I’d never waste a question on something so boring. Just consider it a friend taking an interest in another friend,” he paused, allowing his words to sink in.Friend. Did he really consider me a friend? Or was this a trick? “What’ll it be?”
