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My stomach dipped. Did Viktor like her? I should be happy. She clearly crushed on him, but my heart still ached a little. Stupid heart. “She is. Maybe you should ask her out.”
He chuckled. “I’m good; plus, I’m not the girlfriend kind of guy. I don’t imagine you’d want me to have a fling with your best friend.”
My stomach settled. “No, not a fling.” Not anything. The thought flashed into my mind, unwelcome. “I’m going inside. I’m hungry.”
“I’ll join you.”
Maddox appeared from around the gate with Felix. “Elle, Viktor. I’m letting everyone stay tonight. It’s late, so I figured we’d make a night of it, and they can leave tomorrow.”
I looked Felix up and down. I’m sure he had one more reason for this spur-of-the-moment sleepover. After what Viktor had said about Craig, the last thing I wanted was for them to spend the night. Not that I fully believed it but he had always been eager to hang out with me, and the more I thought about it, the more the truth seeped in.
“Oh, Nai.” I sighed when I saw her round the same corner, with Craig, both laughing. He stopped and waved when he saw me.
I didn’t wave back.
Chapter Ten
Viktor went to his room. I wished I could go to mine too, but Naomi was here, and I wanted to spend time with her, even if it meant staying with Craig and the two other male magicians we were stuck with. Felix and Maddox had gone to the study to read. They’d tried to hide their flirting, but it was obvious. I’d have thought it cute if it weren’t for Maddox’s ex, Aaron, who we all liked. I’d hoped they’d get back together, but it didn’t seem like they would now.
I leaned forward, rolling my aching shoulders as we all sat in a circle on the floor in the living room. The ornate red rug warmed the chill of the wood floor, and the fire, set under the oval stone-framed mirror, hissed and crackled as embers floated out from the grate.
“Let’s drink.” Craig shook a bottle of whiskey in his hand, grinning. “Swiped it from the cabinet upstairs.”
“Maddox is going to kill you,” I said with a clenched smile.
He shrugged. “Worth it.”
Naomi leaned in his direction. “Oh it’s fine, Elle. He won’t even notice it’s gone.”
My eyebrows knitted together. She knew he would, but of course it was for Craig, so anything went. Viktor’s little revelation had put me on edge. I could see the truths, but a part of me hoped he was wrong.
“Let’s play cards,” one of the men said. I couldn’t remember their names. I think one was called Eric. They looked around eighteen years old, or not far off. “Poker?”
Naomi shot me doe eyes. I sighed. “Fine, I’ll play.”
Craig poured shots for himself and Naomi as cards were dealt. He tried to give me one, but I refused.
She downed one, then coughed. “Ohhh. This is fun.”
“I’ll bet one more skal,” one of the magicians said.
I had a bad hand, so I folded. The one who bet a skal won, and Craig poured more shots.
“Slow down.” I clicked my tongue. “You don’t want to vomit.”
“I’ll slow it down if you actually drink one.” He grinned at me, urging one in my direction.
Naomi gave me a look. “Come on, Elle.”
I let out a long exhale. “One.” I took the shot glass. “Then I’m done.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Sure.”
An hour later, I was ten skal up and three shots in. I pushed the coins into my pockets.
“I’m heading to bed.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. “It’s ten. You never go bed this early.”
