Page 96 of Snake

Nim

Afaint thud, and a whispered, “Fuck!” wake me up. I jerk, eyes popping open to a dimly lit room. I lift my head from a bare chest, my cheek parting reluctantly where the sweat glued us together. I can barely make out anything except the vague suggestion of a canopy bed and some armchairs beyond.

And the two men I’m squashed between. I’m sprawled over Knox’s torso, but there’s an arm draped over my waist, and when I turn and squint at the person behind me, it transforms into Silas. Which means—

I push onto my elbow, wiping groggily at my face as I watch Mason move closer to the bed. He’s limping a little, like he stubbed his toe on the way in.

“Cappuccino, whipped cream, dash of cinnamon,” Mason says, but obviously not quietly enough becauseKnox wakes with a flinch, rolling onto his side and immediately scratching at his lower belly as he stares first at me, then Mason, through half-closed eyes.

Mason hands him his coffee. “Vanilla latte.” Knox gives him a nod as he pushes into a sit and accepts the cup.

Silas groans, accidentally bumping into me and then glaring at me when I swear at him for almost spilling my coffee.

Mason gives him a level look, hands him his cup, and says, “Coffee. Black.”

“Thanks,” Silas croaks, closing one eye and staring at us through the other like he’s wondering what spell we cast on him last night.

I feel the same. For one, I slept like a damn rock. And that surprises me, because I’m pretty sure at least one of these guys snores.

I sip at my coffee, but it’s still too hot. Silas’s mouth must be made of tin, because he’s slurping it like it’s lukewarm. Knox sniffs at his cup and then puts it down on the nightstand.

Mason comes to sit at the foot of the bed. I can smell something sweet drifting from his cup. Hazelnut, perhaps.

We sit in a comfortable silence for all of a moment before Knox breaks it. “We’d better get moving. Busy day.”

I look over at him, but hurriedly avert my eyes when I see his blank expression.

Is he talking about me going back to the city? It’s stupid, I know, but after last night, suddenly I don’t feel such an intense urge to get out of this town.

Flighty much, Nim?

It’s not my fault that these three men fucked me into a state of oblivion. I was all fired up and ready to leave last night. Now all I want to do is curl up against their warm bodies and pretend that the world isn’t the cruel, heartless place I thought it was.Is that too much to ask?

But I see steely determination in Knox’s eyes when I look at him again. I guess he won’t let me change my mind.

For some fucked up reason, that just makes me love him even more.

Oh God, I told them I loved them.

And they said it back. All three of them.

My cheeks are pink as I gingerly make my way to the side of the bed. I’m still naked, and I can feel their eyes on me as I stand, but I force away the urge to grab something to cover myself, taking slow, measured steps to the bedroom door.

When I glance back to pull the door closed, all three of them are watching me with open hunger on their faces.

Goosebumps break out on my skin, and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m terrified or pleased.

The monsters hiding under my bed turned out to be three savages. I should have left them alone, but I lured them out of the shadows to play.

Why do I get the feeling it’ll be difficult—perhaps impossible—to chase them away again?

* * *

There’s silence in the car on the way down the mountain. I stare at Hart Falls when it comes into view—the sparkling sheet of water rushing down half a mile before crashing onto the rocks above a small lake. There are too many trees in the way, but I have a feeling that just out of sight lies that dead island the Serpents took me to.

This would be a much shorter route to the Academy...if there wasn’t a mountain in the way. And I have a feeling if there was a way to create a road between the two places, someone would have done it already.

When a church spire pops up, my stomach sinks to my toes.

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