Page 107 of Bone Year

Ellavee is leaning into Corrin, laughing at something he said, her usual guard completely dissolved by alcohol. Lux is flushed and giggly, her pink hair falling out of its pins as she gestures wildly telling some story about a prank she and Ellavee pulled when they were younger.

I’m really drunk. Everything feels soft around the edges and nothing seems to matter as much as it did an hour ago.

Finn’s hand is on my thigh under the table. His thumb traces circles through the fabric of my leggings. I don’t want to stop him.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” he says close to my ear, his breath warm and whiskey sweet. I turn my head and his lips find mine.

The kiss is sloppy and tastes like alcohol. His hand slides higher on my thigh, fingers pressing into my skin, and I let it happen. Let him deepen the kiss, let his other hand come up to cup the back of my neck, let him pull me closer until I’m practically in his lap.

Someone whistles, probably Ellavee.

I don’t care about anything right now except the warmth of his mouth and the buzz in my blood and the blessed silence in my head.

His hand moves higher still, fingertips brushing the hem of my sweater, slipping underneath to touch bare skin. I should stop him. We’re in public. People are watching.

I kiss him harder instead.

“Maelis.”

Lux’s voice cuts through the haze. There’s something askew with her tone. Something sharp and scared that doesn’t match the giggly girl from five minutes ago.

I pull back from Finn, blinking. “What?”

Lux is pale. Standing next to her is a man I don’t recognize, middle-aged with a stern face and the dark-navy uniform of someone official. He glances at me briefly then back at Lux before walking away toward the bar, toward Draven and Malric.

“What’s going on?” Ellavee straightens up, the playfulness gone from her face.

“That man works for my father.” Lux’s voice is barely above a whisper. “The school is on lockdown. We have to go back. Now.”

“Lockdown?” Ellavee wrinkles her nose. “That seems dramatic. Maybe we should stay the night out here with the guys, wait until morning when⁠—”

“Ellavee.” Lux grabs her arm. “A student has been found dead, completely drained of blood.”

“What the fuck?” The alcohol fog clears slightly. “Did he tell you who it is?”

“Senna,” Lux whispers.

“Oh shit, your blood lead.” Ellavee’s voice is grim as she stands, pulling on her jacket.

We gather ourselves quickly, the flirtatious warmth of the evening evaporating in an instant. Finn catches my hand as I stand, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Are you going to be okay?”

I look at him, his kind eyes and easy smile and complete ignorance of the world I come from. “I don’t know.” It’s the most honest thing I’ve said to him all night.

He pulls me close and kisses me again, softer this time. When he pulls back, his thumb brushes my cheek.

“I want to see you again.”

I almost laugh. He’s sweet and completely wrong for me in every way that matters.

“That was fun, Finn.” I squeeze his hand once before letting go. “Let’s leave it at that.”

His face falls slightly, but he nods, understanding settling into his features. He knows a dismissal when he hears one and takes it like a champ.

We push through the tavern toward the door. The cold air hits me when we step outside, sharp enough to make my eyes water.

Draven and Malric are already there, waiting in the snow. The girls they were with are nowhere to be seen, probably sent home when the news arrived. The two of them stand like sentinels in the darkness, breath fogging in the frozen air.