"Thanks for the poetic delivery," Asher says dryly, though I catch the twitch of a smile on his lips.
Winston raises a brow. "As long as you're managing to share."
Kayden grins. "Some things are worth sharing. Sage happens to be one of them."
"Thanks for totally not objectifying me," I mutter, lifting my glass.
"Happy for the three of you," Donna chimes in. "The whole will-they-won't-they tension was exhausting. Nice to see it resolved."
"For the romance or other reasons?" Jace asks, eyes narrowing.
Donna grins, unrepentant. "For the romance and the bet. You two thought it'd be one or the other. I said both."
"What bet?" I ask, warily.
"Tomas voted Asher. Jace voted Kayden. I bet both. So, they owe me fifty bucks each." She holds out her hand like a smug little gremlin.
Tomas sighs and passes the bill over. Jace groans, pulling out his wallet like it physically pains him.
I shake my head, somewhere between mortified and entertained, which, apparently, is the theme of the night.
"Thanks for the confidence, Jacey," Kayden says, raising his beer.
Jace levels him with a flat look. "Wasn't confidence. I just thought you were equally unhinged. Crazy meets chaos." Then he turns to me and adds, sheepish, "No offense."
"Almost none taken," I reply, grinning into my glass. "Did everyone bet on this?" I ask.
"I do not engage in gambling," Eira says primly.
"And I don't care," Astrid adds, reaching for another drink.
The laughter rolls on, sharp and soft and full of color. And somehow, despite the absurdity, I feel it again—that thrum in my chest like something is slotting into place.
"Then let's drink to the throuple," Donna declares, raising her glass like a queen anointing her court.
Everyone lifts theirs in response, the room echoing with cheers and clinks.
"A nymph and two vampires," Eira murmurs with a faint, amused smile. "And I thought I'd seen it all in this life."
Astrid, lounging with her arms crossed, gives Kayden a pointed look. "Since I assumeyou'restaying now too," she says, her voice all icicles and judgment, "are you enrolling in Asher's vampire reform program?"
Kayden snorts. "Got the girl without it, so… no thanks."
Astrid doesn't blink. "Have you considered the possibility that she likes you despite the whole unstable, bloodlust-driven killer thing, and not because of it?"
Kayden's jaw tightens like he's about to throw his drink. Before the tension snaps like a cable, I step in.
"I've come to realize that what I was taught about vampires is incomplete. It's not just instinct and hunger. Sure, many are dangerous, but I think some of them, maybe more than I expected, have a choice."
Tomas nods, slow and thoughtful. "Many cultures have cautionary tales about nightwalkers. They speak of the turning as a loss of soul, or essence—whatever the culture calls the core of being human. I believed that too, once. But… the truth is rarely simple."
"There's a theory," Asher says, glancing at Donna, "that Donna's been refining for years. I think it's worth hearing."
Donna raises both palms in mock surrender. "I don't know… do we really want to get into my thesis right now? It's supposed to be a party, not a symposium."
"It'smyparty," I say with a smile and a shrug. "And I vote for the thesis. So, go on. I'm all ears."
Donna chuckles softly. "All right," she says, then her posture shifts, shoulders back, expression more focused. The partyatmosphere dulls for a moment as something weightier enters the room.
