“What the fuck?”
Aniyah’s voice cracked through the quiet before the hologram even fully stabilized. The second her image sharpened, she squinted at me suspiciously, her head slowly tilting to the side. “Why areyouearly to the meeting?”
I leaned back in my chair, lifting a brow without looking away from my tablet for long. “Interesting question coming from the woman who’s also early.”
Then realization hit me, and I dramatically slapped a hand against my chest. “Ohhh. I get it now.” I pointed at her accusingly. “You got in trouble last time, and now you’re trying to act like the responsible one. Smart move, little sister. Very manipulative.”
Her lips stretched into a sharp little smile that practically dripped violence, then she smacked her lips together while staring at me like she was mentally calculating how she could get me back.
“Cute deflection,” she drawled. “Still didn’t answer my question though.”
Another hologram flickered to life beside us.
Ezra appeared on the screen, still typing away at her computer, then froze when she realized Aniyah and I were already there.
Her eyes narrowed immediately. That woman smelled bullshit faster than a bloodhound.
“What’s going on?” she asked suspiciously, her gaze bouncing between us. “Start talking.”
Aniyah straightened in her chair like she was preparing a legal defense. She sucked in a dramatic breath, shot me the nastiest look possible, then turned to Ezra with a sugary smile that fooled absolutely nobody.
“I simply made sure all of my mates had very important things to do during the meeting time to ensure I got here on time and ready.”
I barked out a laugh loud enough to echo through the room. “Bullshit.” I pointed at her hologram. “There is no universe where that obsessive little stalker lets himself get tricked that easily.”
Ezra’s eyebrow arched higher. Slowly. Dangerously.
Aniyah’s mouth dropped open in offense. “Excuse you, yes, he did.” She crossed her arms tightly. “I told him if he wanted me to leave the cameras in the apartment and Winged Palace intact, then he had to let me attend the meeting alone and on time.”
Her chin lifted proudly. “He agreed to wait outside.”
Ezra’s stare sharpened immediately. “You mean to tell me he’s been recording these meetings while spying on you?”
Aniyah’s shoulders stiffened. One hand awkwardly slid into her lap while her eyes darted downward for half a second too long.
“No?” she answered weakly.
Ezra didn’t blink.
Aniyah sat up straighter, giving a more firm, “No,” before she followed with, “I make sure he turns them off for this meeting.”
Before Aniyah could dig herself deeper into the grave, two more holograms simultaneously flickered to life.
Nova appeared to be lounging in her chair until she saw the rest of us and straightened up. Riot was sitting up straight and ready, as always.
Ezra’s attention finally shifted away from Aniyah, and I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. While she was the tiniest bit distracted, I casually reached for my phone beneath the table.
Cal:Ooohhh you’re in trouble
Niyah:Don’t be a dick
She glaredat me before starting to spam me with pictures of dicks. Over and over and over. Dick after dick. I tried to scroll down to the bottom so I could text her back, but my eyes got caught on the last one’. Scales.It had scales.This had to be what Ternin was talking about.
Cal:Okay. I’ll admit it. That one is interesting.
Cal:What does he do when it needs to shed? Does it shed?
Niyah:*laughing emoji*
