Page 129 of Godless Saints

“I’m just fucking with you, Lucky Charms.” He drummed his fingers on my chest.

“Kaelan…?”

“Where’s your Russian shadow?”

“I was hoping you’d know. I didn’t see him at initiation.”

“Haven’t seen him all night. You sure he’s here?”

He got off me and reached out a hand. I took it and he hauled me up.

Never thought I’d be friends with this feral little shit, but he was an unhinged bully. Turns out that’s useful.

Behind us, three or four girls were running and screaming. Sometimes I couldn’t tell if they were terrified or just excited. Tonight it sounded like the latter. They cracked up, heels clicking, tiny dresses riding up. One of them bent over right in front of us. I rolled my eyes under the mask. Little did they know I was gay and didn’t bait that easily.

Kaelan stepped forward. I shoved him back.

“We’re not supposed to trust anyone, remember?”

He shrugged.

The blonde picked up my phone. “Oh, Moonshine. How cute. I’m screaming.” She flashed the screen to her friends. “Wait. He’s preparing a speech for the ceremony? Is this Moon Hyun-seo? Omg, he’s cute.”

They started giggling.

“He was dating Vivienne, then Zara, and now there’s Cillian. So maybe he’s bi. Omg, I want to be his next girl. He could bend me over anytime,” the redhead said.

The brunette took the phone. “So whose phone is this then?” They all looked at us. “Is it sexy fox or sexy wolf?”

I didn’t trust these girls for a second.

Kaelan took a step back. I followed.

“Should we run, Paddy?”

“I need my phone back.”

“Oh, boys, you can have it back,” the blonde said, waving it. “Your accents are so sexy, by the way. I’ll give it back if one of you, or both, wants to hook up with us in the Velvet Room. It’s the hottest thing at Evermourne. And you earn tokens. Win-win.”

I looked at Kaelan. “I need my phone back.”

“I’m not hooking up with them,” Kaelan muttered. “I have a… girlfriend.”

The blonde grinned. “Oh, boo. What about you, wolf boy? Do it for Moonshine. Get your phone back.”

They started giggling again.

“What if you just give me the phone back and we call it even?”

“What if you chase me, big bad wolf?” The blonde tilted her head. Ironically, she was wearing a neon pink and white bunny mask.

Fuck. Declan was coming back.

The girls scattered screaming, but the blonde took off with my phone.

Kaelan grabbed me and shoved me into the next room before Declan could see us.

“We ambush him. Drag him in here.”