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“Okay, well . . . I want details later,” Bree says, unashamed. “Full details. Size, length⁠—”

“It’s a picnic, not sex,” I say quickly.

Bellamy tips his head. “I mean⁠—”

I shake my head hard. “No.”

He laughs, a deep belly laugh, head falling back slightly. The sound is . . . not as annoying as it should be.

“We’ll see you later?” Ever asks, eyeing us like she isn’t quite sure what to make of the situation.

Frankly, neither can I. “Sounds good!” There. I actually sound excited.

That must be enough to convince them, because they continue on their walk. Bellamy pulls me away, and it’s either resist and set my friends and the blood bargain off, or go along with it and keep up the charade. As we walk arm in arm—I really shouldn’t have linked mine with his—we get more than a few looks from passing groups of students. We’re making a spectacle of ourselves.

The soft vibration of a privacy rune brushes over me as I kneel on the blanket. Good. No one can hear us. “What the fuck are you doing?”

The infuriating vampire grins as though I told him he’s the hottest man alive. “What does it look like I’m doing, sweet ruin?” He tucks my purple hair behind my ear, moving so quick I don’t even have time to stop him. His shadows are subdued today, a subtle aura of black surrounding his form.

“It looks like you’re trying to piss off Melody.”

“What gave you that idea?” He opens the basket and pulls out a triple chocolate cake, complete with fresh shavings of chocolate.

“Everyone can see us,” I tell him, shaking my head. “I agreed to fake date you to get her off your back, but I didn’t agree to”—I wave my hand around—“whatever this is.”

“Romance?” he offers.

It’s a fight to not curl my lip in disgust. “Is there any way out of this?”

His smile widens. “Just eat the cake, Raina.”

So, no. I’m stuck on this cursed picnic until he’s satisfied, which will likely be when he’s good and sure Melody got the message. I yank the fork out of his hand. “Fine, but I want a big piece.”

“Anything for you.”

I take a plate from him. “Shut up.” I stab the fork into the cake.

He props himself up on one elbow, one leg bent and the other extended, perfectly at ease. His shadows settle around him, outlining him in darkness. “Goddess, I love those sweet nothings.”

“You’d probably love my foot up your ass.” I shove the bite into my mouth. The shaved chocolate melts on my tongue, rich and decadent, and the cake is perfectly moist. Fuck, this is good.

“I’m not opposed to pegging with proper preparation.”

I choke on my cake, coughing and glaring at him as he laughs and bites his bottom lip. “You’re an asshole.”

“But a cute one, right?”

“I won’t dignify that with an answer,” I grumble, shaking my head. “You know you’re hot shit. It’s why you lord around campus.”

He hums. “How was your day?”

“Do we really need to do this?”

“That bad, huh?” He’s not going to make any of this easy.

I huff. “No. It was fine.”

“I have an idea to make it better.”