“Are you—”
“There you are!”Mira’s voice cut through the air, and I’d never been more grateful for an interruption in my life.She approached our table with three thick books balanced in her slender arms.A strand of hair had escaped her careful arrangement, hanging between her eyes until she puffed out a breath to dislodge it.
She set the books down with a satisfied thump.I couldn’t help myself—I craned my neck to read the titles.
The first one nearly sent me into hysterics.
“Spells, Sweat, and Satin Sheets.”I fought back laughter, my voice rising with each word.Even Belshin’s composure cracked, his lips twitching while Mira’s foot tapped out an irritated rhythm against the floor.
“Are you quite finished?”she demanded, her cheeks blooming pink.
She tried to snatch the books away from my prying eyes, but I leaned farther, catching a glimpse of the title she tried desperately to hide behind her fingers.
“Once Upon a Midnight Groan.”
That did it.I clutched my stomach as laughter poured out of me, loud enough to disturb every person around us.Belshin joined in, his rich, booming chuckle so infectious that even Mira couldn’t maintain her indignation.Her shoulders began to shake as she fought and lost the battle against her own amusement.
“You’re absolutely the worst,” she managed between giggles, clutching her books against her chest like treasure.“I’m never telling you anything ever again.”
Still grinning, I pushed back from the table and offered Belshin a grateful nod.
“Thank you for the company.”
“Anytime,” he replied, his smile warm.
I caught up to Mira easily, bumping her shoulder with mine.
“You know I love you, right?”
“I hate you,” she replied, bumping me back with a smile that said the opposite.
“I hate me too.”I winked.“But at least your book choices are entertaining as hell.”
Her mortified groan echoed through the library.
I made it all of two steps into my room when Theo and Tavrik’s voices clashed down the hallway.I backed right out, curious as to what their day had been like.
My jaw hit the floor.
Theo looked absolutely destroyed.His hair jutted out in wild strands, the drape of fabric over his shoulder hanging at some weird, twisted angle.A horrible scrape ran down his ribs, painting angry red, weeping lines across his skin.
But it was the way he was walking that really got me—limping hard, his face scrunched up in pain with every step he took.
Tavrik was right next to him, looking damn pleased with himself.The second he spotted me, his mouth twitched, and he shook his head like he was trying not to lose it completely.
I rushed over and grabbed Theo’s arm before he could topple.“What happened!?”
Theo clicked his tongue and straightened up, trying to play it off like hewasn’tabout to pass out.
Tavrik melted against the wall, one boot crossed lazily over the other and arms folded across his chest.
“You let him fight?”
Tavrik shook slightly—a snort fighting to break free—but caught himself when Theo shot him a murderous look.
“Should I tell her or—”
“Shut.Up.”Theo’s voice was pure venom.
