Page 22 of Twisted Desire

“Does she know?”

Allison shrugs. “I haven’t told her.”

“Maybe start there?” I suggest.

“As if it’s so easy.”

I arch a brow. “Isn’t it? We’re about to go to war, Allison. Embrace it.” I slam the medicine ball down as I squat and then pick it back up, pretending I’m not ignoring my own advice. “Tell her.”

She pauses, seeming to ponder that. “Huh. You’ve got a point. Good talk, Skylar. Thanks.”

I grin. “Come on. Let’s sweat.”

“Okay, but then we’re getting waffles for breakfast.”

I surprise myself by laughing. I’ve never been one to have a lot of female friends, but as much as she used to annoy me, there’s a chance I can see myself being friends with her. Maybe. “Deal.”

Nikolai and Oliver meet us for breakfast in the hotel restaurant. We’ve all showered and gotten ready, so as soon as we’re done with eating, we can check out. We still have to grab Monica before we meet Jackson.

Kelsey and Seth left last night, so our small group is even smaller.

I avoid looking at Nikolai by focusing on the syrup-smothered waffles in front of me. I push a raspberry around my plate with my fork before stabbing it and lifting it to my mouth.

“What’s with the awkward silence?” Oliver asks around a mouthful of food.

I keep my eyes down, shrugging. “Just because we’re not talking doesn’t mean it’s awkward. I swear, you humans—”

“Sky,” Allison cuts in, sounding confused at my response to Oliver’s question.

“Skylar wanted me last night, and I denied her,” Nikolai tells him in an amused voice.

My blood boils, and I push my plate away. “I’m going to pay for the room. I’ll meet you guys at the car.” The chair scrapes against the floor as I stand, walking away from the table before I launch myself across it to strangle Nikolai. He’s made me look pathetic.

He should’ve known he was asking for too much. Suddenly a tangle in the sheets isn’t enough? Too fucking bad for him. I’ll find someone else to satisfy my needs.

Perhaps Jackson, I consider with a wicked smirk. That’d piss Nikolai off for sure.

The group walks out of the hotel together and gets in the car without saying a word about my less-than-pleasant exit from breakfast. It isn’t until we’ve picked up Monica that anyone speaks, and then it’s only Allison and her chatting about some comedic cop show they’re both “obsessed with.”

Nikolai is sitting in the passenger seat but hasn’t said a word. At least not to any of us. He’s been on his phone a few times, touching base with the other groups.

“What’s the lowdown?” Allison asks after he finishes the fourth call.

His lips quirk. “This morning I received a report that group one infiltrated a small compound. Shut it down and erased memories of several members. Group three and four have gained at least fifteen supporters each.”

“To what end?” Monica chimes in.

“They’re joining the mission,” Nik explains. “The groups are growing with each stop they make, so when they come across buildings that house The Experiment, there’s a higher chance of taking them down, and with fewer fae injuries and casualties.”

“That’s good news,” Oliver says with a hopeful smile, then asks, “How much longer until we meet this Jackson guy?”

I glance at the GPS. “A little over an hour.”

“It’s almost lunchtime. Should we stop before we meet him?”

I sigh. “I’d rather not.”

“Come on, Sky,” Nik says softly. “We all need to eat, and we’re not meeting Jackson until this afternoon.”

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