Page 69 of Moon Kissed

“Okay,” she whispered. “Okay, okay.”

Nia psyched herself up, slowly setting off for the dais. I followed at a sedate, but determined pace. In many ways she was walking into the belly of the beast, but not in any of the ways I was.

It wasn’t her Nyx, Orion, Edric, and Badr wanted to torture, blackmail, then lock up and throw away the key.

Ava gave me the mother of all filthy looks when I sat down across from her.

“I don’t get this,” she snapped at Badr. “A fish and a psycho are sitting with us now? I don’t know which is worse.”

My mouth opened to say something scathing.

“If you’ve got a problem with it,” Edric sliced in, “sit somewhere else. And while you’re packing your shit, you can stop calling her fish.”

Ava tensed, face purpling. She definitely had a problem with it, but if she moved to another table, everyone would see the queen get dethroned, while a fish claimed her place.

She sat up, nose lifting. “I don’t have a problem with it, but Badr does. He doesn’t wantheranywhere near him, and we have to respect that.” Ava looked right at me. “The f— The omega can stay. You leave.”

“Mmm, these pancakes are delicious.” I chomped down, moaning pornographically. “Nia, you’re going to kick yourself for passing on these— Actually, no you’re not. Try them.”

She frowned at me, no doubt wondering why I was being so buddy-buddy, then her brows smoothed out. I knew understanding dawned when a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Please, don’t tempt me. I’m supposed to be on a diet. I shouldn’t even be eating these scones.”

“Leave,” Ava barked. “Bitch, get up and go!”

“You won’t regret breaking your diet for these,” I replied, ignoring Ava completely, knowing she hated that more than sitting with a hundred fishes. Paxton chose that moment to return with Badr’s food. He tossed me a wink as he set it down, and I forced myself to ignore that too.

“I wouldn’t be worried about breaking my diet for them during the omega mealtime,” Nia said. “They’re only serving us this stuff because we’re all mixed now.”

“What do they usually serve you?” Nyx asked the window.

Strong assumption he was talking to Nia, but he wasn’t looking at her. Nyx was flexing and fixing his reflection’s hair—preening like a red-bottomed baboon.

Nia answered back, telling him they get nothing more than cereal, oatmeal, and toast, while I scanned the row of handsome faces—all so different.

It was hard to get to know my fates, because they were too busy bullying and sneering at me for proper conversation, but pictures of the five of them were beginning to clear.

Nyx was the vain, clownish one. Edric was the silent, but deadly one. Orion was the misunderstood bad boy who beneath it all, just wants a hug. Paxton was the arrogant, confident one. And Badr was the angry one.

I told them as much over Ava’s continued bleating for me to go away. Except for Badr. There was no reason to antagonize the guy when I knew why he was angry. Seeing your brother slaughtered right in front of you will do that to a person.

Edric’s brow twitched. “Did you just compare me to a fart?”

I shrugged, stifling a laugh. “Fitting for a wind wolf, wouldn’t you say? Especially one that slips out of cracks and stinks up the place with his lies.”

“What’s she talking about?” Orion pounced. “What lies?”

“Why are you asking me what the hell she’s raving about?” Edric leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. “She’s finally got our attention, so she’s using it to stir up shit. Don’t fall for it.”

Oooh, he’s good. Expert deflection if I do say so myself.

“We’re not falling for it,” Nyx said, turning to Nia. “So, Nia, what else is different on the omega side? Do you have the same basic classes? Were you able to get set design back on the—? What the fuck do you mean vain!” Nyx spun on me, popping my brows up. “You don’t even know me. Where the hell do you get off calling me a vain clown?”

“And Paxton’s the confident one?” Orion blurted. “Paxton?”

“Real nice with the tone of surprise,” Paxton shot back.

“What are you basing these conclusions on?” Orion went on. “Your shroom-induced fever dreams?”

I laughed. “Glad you guys aren’t letting me get to you, or I’d be having too much fun right now.”

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