Page 27 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

“Where’s Kai?” she says angrily.

“I’m not his keeper, Calista.” I shrug my arm out of hers.

Her eyes narrow. “Nor am I, but you know how he gets,” she says sternly.

I hold out a finger, “Just give me a moment,” and walk back to Yuki, taking the longest chug I have all night before I reconvene with Calista. “Shall we, milady?” I ask, holding out a hand to her.

She looks at my hand and scoffs. “You disgust me.”

“Always a pleasure.”

We walk in utter silence, which could be better because we hear everything, meaning we’ll find Kai sooner. Though, I’m unsure that finding Kai is what I want to do. For all Calista knows, he’s out here with a girl, and that’s not something I need to see.

I’ve known this kid my whole life. For better or worse, he’s practically family.

We both stop when we hear chattering, Calista giving me a smug look. We follow the noise, but it’s not Kai we find—it’s Azaire and Wendy.

Azaire gives me a shy smile and Wendy gives me a horrified look.

“Our apologies,” I say with a smile, dragging Calista away, and it’s back to silence.

We find Kai passed out by the river with Aralia, who says, “He needed water.”

“That’s what you’ve been delegated to?” Calista sneers. “My brother’s water fetcher?”

“No, Calista, some people just want to help,” Aralia snaps, looking back at the water. “Just take him and get out of here.”

“You’re gonna stay here?” Calista says.

“I like the water.”

“Whatever.” Calista pulls her brother up by the arm and looks at me. “A little help?”

As obnoxious as it is, Royals help Royals. It will do neither of our families any good to have the future king of my world being seen like this. I pick up Kai’s other side and we take him back to the suite together, promptly parting ways as soon as we can.

I rejoin Yuki—who’s two sips away from Kai’s level and is talking to Jermoine as if nothing happened. Fleur and Eleanora sit by the fire, Eleanora next to Jermoine, leaned over and practically on top of him.

I wonder briefly what Yuki said and if Jermoine notices the glances his girl continues to point my way.

But I was the one to screw that one up.

A few weeks ago, after another academy fundraiser, I went back to Eleanora’s room. She’d taken a glass of wine from the gala and I poured her a glass.

“I hate these galas,” she said while she tugged off her strappy heels.

“Yes,” I said, handing her the wine and taking a sip of my own. “You and me both.”

Eleanora began to untie her corset. “Could you?” She turned her back to me and moved her hair over her shoulder.

“Gladly.” I set down my glass and reached for the strings, tugging them undone. Her dark blue dress fell to the floor, leaving her in a white slip, and she fluffed up her curly brown hair, turning toward me.

“There is one good thing about them,” she said, stepping closer.

“And what might that be?” I settled my hands on her waist.

“The night after.” She draped her arms around my neck and pulled me to her lips, kissing me slowly at first until she decided she liked the taste and kissed me deeper.

Eleanora tugged at my shirt, then my pants, and I lifted the dress slip from her body.

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