Page 95 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

Azaire shrugs. “Universal relations.”

“Who got the keys?” I ask.

Yuki says, “Me, obviously. None of these other duds are smart enough to steal from Cynthia.”

“Better not let her catch you,” Breck says.

“She’s not as vicious as you might think,” I add.

“Never doubt their special relationship,” Yuki teases.

“Nasty,” Jermoine says.

“Yeah, let’s not talk about the headmistress and me like that.”

Yuki laughs and tugs the bottle from my hand.

“Hey, Lucian,” Fleur calls while Eleanora glances at her sideways and Calista stares me down.

I sit next to Fleur and look at Breck, who’s pouring a shot. I ask Azaire, “Do you wanna drink?”

He shakes his head, no.

“Two here, kind sir!” I shout, for Fleur and me.

“Make that five,” Eleanora says.

“What am I, a bartender?” Breck says back. He hobbles over, tripping on his foot, telling me the state of his mind. He puts five shot glasses down and a bottle of vesi. “You guys playing speed?”

Yuki says “No” right as Fleur looks at me and says “Yes.”

She smiles slightly. Her lips puckered at one side and lifted on the other.

I look at Breck. “Five more.”

Fleur moves to sit across from me.

“Who wants to play with me when they’re done?” Eleanora says hastily.

Both Yuki and Jermoine say, “Me.”

“Go easy on me,” Fleur whispers.

“Sure thing, darling.”

“Darling?” She smiles and whispers, “I like that.”

I don’t.

The look Azaire gives me tells me he doesn’t either. I don’t know how much he’s picked up on between Desdemona and I. Him knowing anything only proves that I don’t.

There are five shots in front of both Fleur and me. Whoever finishes their five first, wins. Breck counts down from three and I start with my first one, taking it slow.

By my third, I can’t help but wish that the girl with the long white hair across from me had short orange hair instead.

By my fifth, I take it extra slow so Fleur will win, and I think about how I’d never get away with that with Desdemona. She would never let anyone go easy on her.

Least of all me, I’d assume.

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