“I’d fucking love that.” He grinned wildly. “Fates, you can visit me anytime. I’d welcome you into my room, my bed, and my heart whenever you wish.”
I giggled, but before I could so much as blink, Eleanor and Aura flanked me on either side, each grabbing an arm.
“Hey, what is happening right now?” I protested, half-laughing as they dragged me out of the common room.
“Nail night,” Eleanor said brightly, a mischievous sparkle in her hazel eyes. “No boys allowed. Mandatory debriefing. Also, we foundglowpolish.”
“Oh Fates,” I muttered, but let them haul me down the hall.
“You were taking too long,” Aura told me, taking me into her room.
Aura’s room smelled strongly of floral scents. It was so strong I couldn’t pinpointwhat kindof flowers made the scent. Her bed had a tray of nail supplies that sparkled under the crystal sconce lights on the wall. Dozens of tiny glass bottles were set up in all kinds of colors, some with shimmer, others glowing faintly.
They practically tossed me onto the bed before following suit.
“Pick your colors,” Aura declared, tossing a bottle of glittery blue into a fluffy pillow like a dagger. “That’s mine.”
Eleanor giggled and snatched up a soft rose-pink, while I picked up a neon green that pulsed faintly under the dim light.
“You want to go toxic?” Aura asked, raising a brow. “Very accurate of you.”
“I mean, Iamtoxic,” I replied, uncapping the bottle.
“Ah! Wait you need a base coat,” Aura shrieked.
“And this!” Eleanor grabbed my hand and started shaping my nails with a file, her motions gentle and practiced. “Can’t forget to prep.”
I had never actually done my nails before. It was oddly comforting being around other women in a way I hadn’t expected. My closest female friend was Pandora, and we had never actually hung out one-on-one before.
“So…” Aura started, way too casually. “We overheard that you might be spending the night with Zuko.”
Eleanor nearly dropped the file she was holding, but she finished shaping my nails beautifully. “Ididoverhear that.” Her voice was a mixture of worry and curiosity, but her cheeks were already blooming with pink. “Will you be sleeping with him tonight?”
I shrugged, but heat crept up my neck. “That’s the plan. Why?”
“I mean…” Eleanor bit her lip. “You guys don’t really know each other that well. It’s just…fast, right?”
Aura rolled her eyes and flicked Eleanor’s shoulder. “It’s not something bad, El. It’s just sex. Rune’s not the type to make stupid decisions.”
“Thanks,” I said, giving Aura a grateful smirk. “But it’s actually not just sex. I feel something more with Zuko. I don’t think it could everjustbe sex with him.”
“What about with the others?” she asked.
“Others?” My heart skipped a beat.
I knew exactly who she meant.
“Yes, the others. Zuko, of course, but also Slater, Dimitri, Koa, and even that one agent…Jesper?” Eleanor brought up the other men that made me feel weird things. “You have a lot of chemistry. With all of them, honestly.”
“That’s true,” I agreed softly. “Sleeping with Zuko won’t change that.”
Eleanor nodded slowly, her voice dreamy. “You light up around them all differently. And Slater’s literally always watching you like he’s already yours.”
I smiled faintly. “Yeah. I like Slater. A lot.”
“And the others, right?” Aura waggled her brush at me like a wand. “You don’t even have to pick. Not unless you want to. You’re hot, and you’re not bonded yet. Enjoy it.”
“Maybe they’ll even be your mates,” Eleanor gushed, waving her hand over her face to cool herself off. “Oh, goodness, how cute would that be?”
