Zuko slid up beside me, warm hand brushing mine. “I hope we end up in the same house,” he murmured.
I shot him a sideways glance. “Mmm. I think I know where you’ll land, and it’s not my strength.”
Without a doubt, Zuko would end up in House of Torment. He enjoyed torturefartoo much, and he was good at it.
Before he could argue, he leaned in and kissed me. “But I like being in your room every night,” he said lazily as he pulled back. “Have you told Tibby he’s definitely going to be my brother-by-mating? Pretty little poison, you’ve taken liberties with me almost every night.”
I choked as heat flooded my face.
Tibby’s jaw dropped. “Dude, she’s mysister.”
Slater popped in, draping himself over my shoulder. “Don’t forget me. She takes liberties with both of us.”
I couldn’t hide the laugh that bubbled out of me. “I’d never forget you.”
“We’ve all heard that much,” Dimitri hissed under his breath, too low for anyone but me to catch.
My chest tightened uncomfortably. Dimitri had been avoiding me ever since biting me, and I hated it.
“Guys, she’s mylittlesister,” Tibby groaned, dragging his hands down his face. “Don’t let our dads find out.”
That was when the triplet sirens sauntered up, perfectly in sync and wrapping themselves around my brother. “Don’t be a hypocrite,” Nym purred. “You’ve taken liberties with all three of us.”
My gasp ripped out of me. “Aw, Tibby! You’re growing up!”
“I’m the oldest,” he muttered, ears turning red.
I bit my lip in amusement. Tibby may have been a player, but he never slept with anyone he wasn’t genuinely interested in. I wasn’t surprised he liked them, though; they seemed headstrong, and they were stunning.
Drecken stepped out of thin air in front of me, materializing so suddenly the crowd gasped. “Rune, I need you?—”
Darian’s voice cut in immediately, sharp and cruel from behind Tibby. “What a slut. Even fucking the professors now?”
Drecken tilted his head, unimpressed. With a flick of his fingers, Darian vanished in a shimmer of magic. “It’ll take him a while to come back.”
“Where’d you send him?” Tibby asked in shock.
“Somewhere in Vleyis Abyss.” He shrugged. “Don’t know how the academy thinks someone like that is fit for being an agent.”
I giggled. “Thanks for that.”
“I wanted to give you something.” He pressed a small vial into my hand. Liquid shimmered inside, faintly glowing.“Something I’ve been working on. Closest I’ve gotten to reproducing the feeling. Good luck on the placement, viperling.”
“Thank you,” I breathed.
He inclined his head and vanished into a portal.
“Holy shit, Roo!” Tibby’s eyes widened. “Was that seriously Drecken Grimsworn? Since when are you close to him?”
Before I could answer, Jesper jogged up, flushed and panting as he pushed a container of noodles at me. “Oh, great! I made it. Good luck, Rune!”
Tibby’s voice cracked. “Rune. What is with all of these men?”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, Tibby. You’re surrounded by triplets. I’ve only slept with two of them. You’ve slept withthree. You’re the one winning in sexual partners right now.”
He sputtered so hard he nearly choked on air.
The triplets around him giggled.
