Page 42 of Dragon Unleashed

Val drapes her arm around my neck as she peers at us in the mirror.

“Nope. Won’t do. You need more sexiness for Mabon. More sexiness if you’re coming to my gig.” Her grin fades. “You are coming, right?”

“We’re coming,” Naeve chirps as she steps out of our bathroom, wrapped head to toe in a giant white robe. “You can pick our outfits, if you like. I—I’d like to look sexy. See if Beck notices.”

“And she dresses like a granny,” I add.

“I can choose?” The excitement in Val’s voice is palpable.

This is a mistake.

“To my room then, ladies—I have perfect thing for you both. Bring the drink. You’re going to need liquid courage.”

She nods at the Fiery Fury sitting on my desk and waltzes out. With a groan I scoop the bottle up and trail after her.

Ping.

I glance at my phone in surprise. Chano’s meeting me later. The girls are here. I extract my hand from where Naeve’s doing her best to make my chewed nails look presentable and hit the screen.

Farrell: My room. We need to talk.

Crap. Not now. Not when I’m two drinks in, and about to let loose for the first time all term. When Naeve and I are finally behaving more like friends.

Naeve peers down at my screen. “Go speak to him.”

“Hey, that was private,” I grumble.

“Do it now, then we have time to deal with the body after.” Val winks as she yanks me to my feet. “Go on. If you don’t, you’ll fester all night. I want you to enjoy my gig.”

“I’ll give him exactly two minutes and if he isn’t licking my boots then I’m leaving.”

“We’ll definitely need a shovel,” I hear Val say as I leave her room.

Farrell’s rooms are as luxurious as I remember. Always helps having the Virrey of Venez for your daddy. Best tutors, best rooms, best everything. I trail my fingers over the mahogany dresser as I follow him down the hall to his living room. Who gets a whole apartment to themselves in student dorms? Oh yeah. Assholes, that’s who.

Farrell turns around with two glasses in his hands, alcohol sloshing around in the bottom. “Let’s try to be civilized, Lorelei. Can we sit down and talk like adults? Drink?”

I wrinkle my nose and nod as he finishes adding mixer and a sprig of mint to each glass before placing mine on the breakfast bar in front of me.

“This whole situation, it’s not of my making. You have to see that.” There’s a slightly plaintive tone to Farrell’s voice and a part of me feels sorry for him. A tiny part.

“You could have dealt with it entirely differently.” I draw the back of my hand across my mouth. That kiss in front of Lady Tenebrae… It’s the second time Farrell has kissed me. The first since I got together with Chano. And both times it was like touching the moon. I’m a terrible mate.

I glare at Farrell.

He puts his drink down carefully and leans on the counter. Just when I think he’s about to reply, he pulls himself up and strides to the window, peering out across the night. Rogue fireworks are already popping, even though it’s only just dusk.

It’s not Farrell’s fault I enjoyed the kiss. And I’ll be damned if I let him see how rattled I am. Eyeing the two glasses in front of me, I sneak a sip of Farrell’s after tasting mine. It definitely has more booze, and I need every bit of help I can get right now. Tastes better too. Claiming his glass as my own, I walk over to him.

“I half get it, Farrell. This is dangerous, for us both. Your father…” I trail off, the mere thought of that man sending shivers down my spine.

“Exactly. My father. Look, if I’m meant to be courting you, it has to be plausible. Lady Tenebrae barely bought our save.” Farrell presses the tips of his fingers to his temples and rubs little circles there.

He seems stupidly stressed.

I sip my drink before nudging him. “Yeah, okay. I see that.”

He blinks, giving his head a slight shake. “If this ruse is going to work you have to make more of an effort.” He licks his lips.

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