Page 180

“Goddammit,” Damiano groans as we break the kiss at the sound of his brother’s sleepy voice.

I’m blushing deeply as I lean out from behind Damiano’s huge body to smile weakly at Cenzo standing in the kitchen doorway.

“What’s the question, Vincent?”

Damiano frowns. “Vincent?”

“Don’t worry about it.” I pat his chest and then glance at his brother. “Yes?”

He grins. “Two-parter, actually. One, am I invited to dinner. And two, will it be served before or after you freaks fuck on the kitchen counter?”

30

DAMIANO

kayla.reads93: WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!!

briannalately: I’m calling the cops on the algorithm

rachactually: JESUS CHRIST JUST WHYYYYY

laureninreallife: cool cool I hate having eyes now

sammytheskeptic: WHAT AM I LOOKING AT???

hannahlolbye: I hate it here

A calming Zen falls over me as I sip my mug of coffee and scroll the comments on my latest contribution to the general online cultural experience.

katiekattt: WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THAT

mikewiththehair: Fuck you, man. FUCK. YOU.

I snort a chuckle and skim a few more comments before I scroll back up to the video of the cow having a bloody, pus-filled abscess the size of a golden retriever drained from its side.

Man, that is foul.

“Dame?”

Arianna smiles curiously at me as I slip my phone into my pocket and turn.

“Wow,” she says, joining me in the Morvaine Manor kitchen. “It has been a minute since I saw you in this place.”

I chuckle and lift the mug in my hand.

“I missed the coffee.”

My brow furrows, as if I’m genuinely confused as to why she’s standing in this kitchen at five in the morning. Morvaine Manor is home to The Order. Arianna is a member of the Ouroboros Society and lives in The Atheneum.

Spoiler: I’m not confused why she’s here.

In fact, she’s the reason I am.

“Early study session with someone?” I ask her.

She laughs. “Not quite. Achilles is out of town for something, and Yelena…” She shrugs. “Well, here I am.”

I smile at her in the dawn light. “You’re a good friend.”