Page 44 of Godless Saints

I stared at the black smear on my thumb.

“Fine,” I said. “I met him this summer. In Saint Lucia.”

Vivienne’s fingers tightened slightly on my neck.

Sawyer whistled low, already entertained. “Oh my God. Did you actually let him fuck you?”

“I didn’t sleep with him,” I snapped. “We talked. All night. And I left the second he tried to kiss me.”

Sawyer threw his head back and laughed. “You blue-balled Cillian Ashbourne? Holy shit, that’s fucking gold. You might’ve wrecked that arrogant jerk worse than anyone else ever has.”

Vivienne’s mouth curved into a small smile. “He’s certainly not used to being denied.”

“I’m not gay,” I said. “I can’t be. I won’t be. And even if I were, my father would rather cut me out than let Cillian Ashbourne anywhere near the Moon name.”

Vivienne’s hand settled heavier on my neck, her thumb pressing firmly into the knotted muscle. “Oh, Hyun,” she murmured. “We support you. It’s okay if you have feelings for him. Just make sure they’re reciprocated… and that he’s not playing games with you. Because it won’t just cost you your heart. It’ll cost you the Patronage Seat. Be very careful.”

She paused, her fingers tightening slightly.

“I’ll look into it myself. I want to know exactly what Cillian Ashbourne wants from you… and what Thorn Court is really planning.”

Panic spiked straight through the fresh bruises.

Vivienne investigating Cillian. Digging into Thorn Court. My stomach knotted so hard it hurt.

She turned toward Sawyer, her voice shifting into something colder. “And you. Pursuing Korolev is not clever. It’s reckless. Stop it.”

Sawyer leaned back. “I know, I know.” He waved her off with a casual flick of his fingers. “I’ll behave perfectly.”

I stood, slid the notes into my bag, and left before either of them could speak again.

My phone pressed heavy against my thigh the entire way down the corridor.

It buzzed.

I pulled it out. Zara.

ZARA:

We need to meet.

About?

Don’t play dumb.

A second message appeared while I was still staring at the first.

Three people have already asked if I know you’re cheating on me with Cillian Ashbourne.

Fuck.

I swallowed and the bruises on my throat burned.

We are not actually together.

Publicly, we are. That was the entire point.

It’s just gossip.