"Debatable," Kai murmured, tracing a pattern on my stomach. "Burgers have cheese."
"We can still get burgers," I said, my voice hoarse. I felt drained, but in a good way. The static hum in my veins was gone, replaced by a warm, heavy contentment.
Lucien stood up, looking remarkably composed despite his disheveled hair. He offered me a hand.
"Up," he said. "Showers. Then food. Then... The Burger Pit."
I took his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. My legs felt like jelly.
"You guys represent a serious workplace hazard," I noted, leaning against Rhett for support.
"We try," Rhett grinned, kissing the top of my head.
We endedup at "The Burger Pit," a greasy spoon on the edge of town that Stone swore had the best fries in the state. (He was right).
We squeezed into a booth—Rhett and I on one side, Kai and Lucien on the other. It was tight, cozy, and perfect.
"So," Rhett said around a mouthful of bacon cheeseburger. "Chapter 15 of 'How to Destroy a Dean.' What's the next move?"
"The Union is forming," I said, dipping a fry in milkshake. "Amelia and Arthur are coordinating the dormant networks. The Chess Club, the Gardening Society, the frantic Nursing Students... they're all in."
"Ivy has the underground moving," Lucien added. "The vampires are restless. They don't like Marrow's 'purity' laws. Bad for business."
"And Stone?" Kai asked.
"Stone is... handling Security," I said carefully. "He's deleting footage. Misplacing files. He's walking a fine line."
"If he falls," Rhett said darkly, "we catch him."
"We catch everyone," I promised.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
I pulled it out. A text from an unknown number.
He knows about the Union. Be careful. - A Friend.
I frowned. "Who is this?"
"Show me," Lucien said, taking the phone. He studied the number. "It's encrypted. High-level spellwork."
"Arthur?" Kai guessed.
"Arthur uses carrier pigeons or encrypted emails," I said. "He's old school."
"Rook?" Rhett suggested.
"Rook would send a singing telegram," I countered.
Lucien handed the phone back. "Whoever it is, they're inside. Deep inside."
"Another ally?" I hoped.
"Or a trap," Lucien said. "With Marrow, it's always hard to tell."
I looked at the message again.Stay safe.
I looked at my mates. laughing, eating, planning a revolution over curly fries.
