Page 56 of Made in Malice

“I did?” Nova tilts her head, not realizing those few words would show Grace where both of them stand. Grace was never allowed in our house, and she knows no one else was either. Mission accomplished.

“What was it? I didn’t have my purse.”

I look over my shoulder, making eye contact with Grace. “What are you still doing here?”

“I’d like to know too,” Lucian says from the stairs. He must have come up here when he didn’t find Nova in the library.

“Great, is there nowhere here that’s safe?” Nova mumbles under her breath, which makes me smile. She has no idea how true her words are.

“Brother,” I greet Lucian in lieu of saying his name and confirming which of us is which, a tactic we developed long ago.

“He asked you a question. Why are you here?” Lucian repeats my inquiry while joining me, standing in front of Nova. It creates quite the visual, and I’m not sure Lucian even realizes what a statement it is. “Actually, I don’t give a fuck. Go,” he tells her with a jerk of his head toward the stairs.

Grace stomps off with her backup in tow without so much as a word in response.

“What was going on?” Lucian spins and eyes Nova as if to assess her for any evidence of what happened.

“Just your girlfriend making sure I know she pissed on you first.”

“I’m not into watersports, and she isn’t my anything,” Lucian tells her.

“I don’t think she knows that,” Nova sings and drops into the green chair behind her. It’s then I notice her bag and computer.

He continues to badger her. “Why are you up here?”

“Why are you up here?” she retorts.

“Looking for you. You made a deal,” I interject before these two start arguing. I don’t believe it will go the way either of them thinks. Lucian settles into one of the other two chairs as if he’s sitting on a throne. I drop into the last remaining seat.

“Remind me what deal that was, Nox?” Nova plays coy.

“How you can tell the difference between us,” Lucian supplies before I can.

“It’s simple, anyone with a brain should know.”

“Then spill it.”

She looks Lucian dead in the eye and says, “You make my skin crawl, he doesn’t.”

I watch my brother’s eyes darken to the point where I actually think I might have to get between them, but he calmly says, “I think the word you’re looking for is tingle.”

Nova lets out a peal of genuine laughter while her blue eyes nearly sparkle. I can tell by the softening expression on Lucian’s face that he’s not immune to her delight, even if he’s the one she’s laughing at.

“I didn’t know you have a sense of humor, pretty boy.” She’s still grinning.

“I don’t,” he deadpans in response, which makes her shoulders shake as she hauls her computer into her lap.

“So what are you threatening me with today?” Her voice almost sounds bored.

“No threats,” I say quickly, cutting off Lucian, who already had his mouth open to answer her.

“Here to do schoolwork then? Oh yeah, that’s below you.” She taps her short black fingernail against her lip, pretending to think. “What else could it be? You haven’t told me that I’m garbage yet today, is that it?” She manages to sound helpful while mocking him.

I bet this is making Lucian crazy. He’s never had a girl not be a simpering mess at his feet, yet she doesn’t even seem intimidated.

“Well, you are related to the Umbras, or so they claim.”

“Lucky me.” She lowers her head to look at her computer, and I can feel her pulling away.

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