Page 54 of Savage Blooms
“Who goes first answering a question?” Nicola asked.
“Traditionally, one would draw lots,” Eileen said. “But I’m willing to take volunteers. Is anyone feeling brave?”
Finley screwed his mouth shut. Nicola looked a little too nervous to go first, so Adam stepped in.
“Sure. I’ll go.”
“Fabulous. We’ll go counterclockwise after you. Me, Finley, Nicola and then back to you.”
“Sounds good to me. Ask away.”
“Happy to,” Eileen said, fixing him with her steely gaze. “Adam: Do you think magic is real?”
“Eileen, you’re cheating,” Finley cut in. “You can’t just blurt out a question. Everyone has to agree on what we’re asking.”
“The question stands,” she said, ignoring him entirely. “Do you think magic is real?”
“Do you?” Adam shot back, knocking her off balance. He was looking at her hard, gauging her reaction. Had he come to suspect that she was lying about the whole sordid family saga, about any of it at all?
Maybe he was smarter than she thought.
“Adam, wait your turn,” Finley said.
“If Eileen isn’t playing by the rules then why should I?” Adam said, electrifying Eileen to her core. A twist. Sheloveda twist, and she loved a dark horse even more. “And she may have agreed to follow your orders, but I haven’t. With all due respect, take it down a notch with theFifty Shades of Greything.”
Finley looked like he had just been slapped across the face and then spat on for good measure.
“First of all,” Finley said, in that voice he only saved for lecturing or winning arguments, “you’re in my house, so I would watch—”
“You’re all inmyhouse,” Eileen said with a frustrated noise. “And you’re all boring me to death. Stop measuring cocks and answer the question.”
Nicola clapped a hand over her mouth, but not before a giggle bubbled up. She was practically kicking her feet with glee, watching Adam and Finley peacock. Maybe Nicola had a little bit of a capricious streak, just like Eileen, and maybe she liked watching men compete to impress women.
Eileen could use that, too.
“I believe that there may be some things out there in the universe that we can’t explain,” Adam said with a huff. “Is that a good enough answer?”
“Not on your life,” Eileen said, at the same moment Nicola rolled her eyes and Finley made a disappointed tsking sound. “Come on now, details. Are you really such a rationalist or not? Aren’t bite marks and freak weather enough to convince you?”
“You only get one question, Eileen; now it’s your turn to confess,” Nicola said, as quick a study as Eileen could have hoped for.
“I like Adam’s question,” Eileen said, crossing her arms. “I’ll answer it. I do think magic is real, Adam. More than that, I know it. And I know better than most that it’s nothing to be trifled with, especially by those with no respect for it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“One question per round,” she sneered.
“My turn,” Finley said. “I can’t promise how many rounds I’m going to go, so make it a good one.” Then, muttering under his breath only loud enough for Eileen to hear, “I know how this game always ends.”
Nicola seized the moment, leaning into the circle and asking, “Have you ever seen a faery?”
“Of course. Dozens of times.”
“Come on,” Nicola whined. “I need details. Tell a story.”
“That’s not part of the game.”
“Oh yes it is,” Eileen said, leaning in close and ghosting her lips over his neck. “Shall I motivate you?”
