Page 51 of King’s Kismet

“I get throwing a lamp,” York cut in, rubbing his mouth to wipe his smile away. “But why a phone receiver?”

“That does feel oddly specific,” Novak added, not helping the situation at all.

Palmer snorted. “It’s in the chapter she was reading earlier... They fight, then fuck. And the main character hits one of the guys with the phone.”

“You were reading my book, you dick,” she accused.

“No,” he snapped.

“That’s why you picked shit with me.”

“No,” he repeated.

She glared at him. “I can’t fucking believe you right now.”

“What book is it?” I inquired before I could stop myself.

It wasn’t a good idea to jump into their heated conversation, but I was curious. They both read all the godsdamned time, and I’d picked up a few of the mage’s books out of curiosity... But I hadn’t read any of Sloane’s books.

“The one he just stole?” she asked me. “Or the first one he stole?”

“I didn’t steal them,” Palmer defended. “They’re on your shelf.”

Lo scoffed. “Now they’re on my shelf? Really? Because they weren’t there earlier.”

The mage grinned at her. “Oh? Were you looking for inspiration to—”

“I wanted to highlight some quotes I liked—”

“Who the fuck draws in a book?” Palmer raged. “You shouldn’t be allowed to buy paperbacks if you’re gonna mark in them or bend the pages or—”

“I bought two copies,” she interrupted. “It’s what I do. Get off my back.”

“Or get on her back,” Novak muttered. “This frustration is all your fault, anyway.”

They both turned to the vampire, and he held his hands up in surrender before miming the act of zipping his lips.

“So the book?” Briggs bought them back on track, not that any of us would thank him.

“Yes,” Sloane grumbled. “My fucking book.”

The mage narrowed his eyes at her. “It’s safe from your obnoxious green highlighter.”

“Palmer,” she warned. “Stop playing with me.”

He shrugged. “I did.”

“Please, give me back my book,” she gritted out like the words were painful.

“No,” Palmer replied with a grin.

“Oh my gods,” she ranted. “I’m almost done with the trilogy. Six fucking chapters. That’s it. I need to know how it ends.”

“I know.”

Sloane gasped. “You read it already?”

“No.” The mage chuckled cruelly. “I just know you wanna finish it.”