Page 55 of Fall Before Her Throne

“Got it.”

I stood, brushing some dirt off my athletic shorts. “See you here at the same time tomorrow. If you’re going to stay with us, you need to get as strong as us.”

16

LEONA

Leona: I just punched Max in the face

Fallon: Fuck yeah

Zoya: Really? Why?

Willow: …

Willow: As a doctor, I’m concerned, but as a friend, I wanna know what the fuck he did lol

After that joke of a sparring match, I needed a cup of coffee. I started a fresh pot using some grounds Giulio had dropped off with supplies earlier. The pot bubbled away while I tried to decide what to say.

Leona: He deserved this

Willow: Oh no. What happened?

Leona: …

Leona: Uhh

Fallon: Who kissed who?

With a grimace, I dropped my phone onto the counter and rubbed my eyes. Was she standing behind me? How the hell did she know?

Leona: What are you talking about

Fallon: Clearly your tension came to a head, and my guess is that it started with a kiss, but something went wrong. I mean, you fucked your other boyfriend in Max’s house a couple weeks ago, so you guys were bound to kiss eventually

I stared down at the screen like it was accusing me of committing a crime. Fallon’s level of perception was mind-blowing.

Zoya: So who kissed who???

Willow: Your silence is very telling

Fallon: I think “damning” is the better word

I huffed a breath through my nose and rolled my eyes. After a calming drink of fresh coffee, I finally responded. My cheeks burned, and I tried incredibly hard not to cast glances at Wynn and Max, still talking in the grass where I’d left them.

Fuck. I couldn’t avoid it forever. What else was the girls’ group for, if not to confess one’s most sinister crimes?

Leona: I guess he kissed me first

Fallon: And when did this happen?

Leona: Last night

Fallon: Fucking knew it

Zoya: FIRST?! There was more??

Fallon: Oh, brilliant observation, Zoya