Stone looked at me, recognizing me instantly. "Ms. Arden. The Triad's Mate." He nodded respectfully, though his eyes remained guarded. "I hear you have an appointment with the Registry tomorrow."
"News travels fast," I said, keeping my voice cool.
"Dean Marrow is thorough," Stone said. He looked back at Ivy, his expression hardening again. "Stay out of trouble, Miss Hollow. I'd hate to have to detain you. The paperwork is extensive."
"I bet you love paperwork," Ivy teased. "I bet you have a favorite pen."
Stone didn't answer. He just held her gaze for a long, charged moment—a look that was equal parts annoyance and hunger. Then he grabbed his tea (which Jax had silently placed on the counter) and turned to leave.
"One moment, Officer!"
The window next to their booth exploded.
Not shattered. Exploded into a shower of harmless, glittery confetti.
A figure floated through the opening, landing gracefully on the back of the booth. He was wearing purple silk pajamas and a pair of oversized sunglasses. He held a baguette like a conductor's baton.
"Did someone say 'Stimulating'?" Rook chirped.
"Jesus!" Ivy jumped, clutching her chest. "Rook! Doors exist!"
"Doors are for pedestrians," the Fae professor scoffed. He peered at Stone through his sunglasses. "Officer Stone! You look particularly grumpy today. Is it the uniform? Or the crushing weight of existential dread?"
Stone glared at him. "It's the vandalism. You just broke a window."
"It's an illusion," Rook waved his baguette. "The window is fine. The confetti, however, is permanent. Good luck getting it out of your upholstery."
Jax chuckled, handing Rook a double-espresso without being asked. "Rook. Your usual. Chaos in a cup."
"Thank you, my dark and brooding friend." Rook took a sip, then looked at Ivy. "We're going to the duck pond to heckle the swans. You coming?"
Ivy looked at the three of them.
Stone: The immovable object. Stern, dangerous, forbidden.
Jax: The vampire rebel. Smooth, lethal, tempting.
Rook: The wild card. Magical, ridiculous, fun.
Her eyes bounced between them like a pinball. I saw something click in her expression. It wasn't just attraction to one of them. It was themix. The way Stone gritted his teeth at Rook. The way Jax smirked at Stone. The way Rook preened for both of them.
"This," Ivy whispered to me, "is a problem. A very hot, very chaotic problem."
"Which one?" I asked.
"The whole vibe," she admitted. "The Grump, The Rebel, and The Clown. It’s like a boy band, but with more murder potential."
"You're in trouble," I concluded.
"Big trouble," she agreed, grinning.
Jax slid a small, brown paper bag across the counter toward Ivy. "The Stabilizer ingredients. Monkshood. Crushed moonstone. And a dash of ethically sourced Siren blood. Don't ask where I got it."
Ivy grabbed the bag, her playful demeanor vanishing. "Thank you, Jax. Seriously."
"Don't thank me," Jax said, his eyes flicking to me. "Just keep your Triad safe. Things are getting... weird. The shadows in the Night District are moving on their own."
"Shadows?" I asked sharply. "Like Lucien's magic?"
