Page 126 of Until We Burn
“What? What’s wrong?”
I impatiently snatch the phone from Kai’s hand and read the text.
WALLACE
Sophia and her friends are here. They’re in a group with three other Vipers.
CHAPTER 50
KAI
“Kai.”Diana’s breath trembles. “I need to know. Is there something going on with the Vipers tonight?”
All my defenses fall right then and there.
I can’t keep hiding this from her. The lines are too tangled now. We can’t unwind Sophia from the web without impacting Simon and the Vipers.
I sigh, dropping my head against the wall as I tell her the truth about Simon buying six tickets, and what Mikhalkov told us on the phone.
The truth has her blanching.
“Oh my god,” she whispers. Diana wrings her hands together. She paces back and forth, winding her hands through her hair. “All of this was happening, and you didn’t think it was wise to tell me?”
“Diana–”
“—I deserve to know if something is going to put my little sister in harm’s way!”
“I didn’t want you to worry!” I cry out. “You were already stressed about Sophia; I didn’t want to add to that. But I didn’t think your sister and the Vipers would show up together.”
“Even if they didn’t, I don’t want you handling the Vipers on your own, Kai. I want us to fight them off together.” Diana’s eyes widen. Shock numbs my system. We freeze in place, caught by the realization that we’re exposing every forbidden thought in our heads now. It was easier during sex when there were no inhibitions. But now, the painful possibility of crashing and burning at the end of all of this feels even more terrifying and real.
Ping! Ping!
Diana scrambles for her phone. I lean over to read the groupchat.
ROWAN
What are they dressed up as?
LUKE
Bet they’re tiny ass devils wielding pitchforks
WALLACE
They’re dressed up as faeries
A photo of them pops up. Under the glowing LED lights, Sophia glitters like a fairy emerging from the ocean. Freshwater pearls decorate her dark, silky curls. Crystal beads drip like raindrops from her dainty wings and gossamer blue mini skirt.
LUKE
Is it bad that I’m turned on???
ROWAN
The temptation to put you on a leash grows everyday
STELLA
