“Exactly.” He rubbed his hands together. “And speaking of pleasure…” Off our looks, he rolled his eyes. “No. Not that kind of pleasure. Whose minds are in the gutter now, hmm?” He shook his head to himself in mock disappointment, then told us, “I mean in the sense of fun. You know, doing something that’s not attending classes, studying, or worrying about draconic political threats, asshole exes, or magical mind intrusions and power fuckery? Something truly freeing and fun?”
Evira sat forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “What do you have in mind?”
Zayn shifted on his seat to face Vaxan. “According to rumors floating around campus, that Lambo parked in the student garage belongs to you. Right, Your Majesty?”
“It’s a Lamborghini Revuelto.”
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”
Vax tensed. “You wish to drive my car?” He started shaking his head, which had Evira and I chuckling. “Absolutely not. The only person at this table who I’d allow to do so is Winter.”
“What?” Evira cried. “What about me?”
“Aren’t you here to let loose and experience liberation?”
She stared at him. “Ah, you know about my reckless and wild reputation from my childhood.”
“And that’s something you wish to revel in while here, yes?”
“Dammit,” she grumbled.
Zayn chuckled. “He’s got your number, gorgeous. At least I’m not the only one now.” He rubbed his hands again. “But I wasn’t even suggesting I drive your car, my insanely intoxicating, mouthwatering snake prince.”
Vax jolted at his words.
When Zayn had detested him, he’d used thesnakeaspect of Vax’s heritage derogatorily. Now here he was amending that,going as far as to rewrite the intention and meaning behind it entirely.
He beamed out at Zayn, as Zayn went on, “I was thinking more like you take your car out, Win and I take our bikes, Evira shifts into full ice dragon glory, and we really go for it.”
“You mean, a race?” I asked.
“Something like that, yeah.”
“It’s utterly frivolous. Chaotic, even. And playfully reckless,” Vax concluded. The corner of his mouth turned up as he laid his hand on Zayn’s. “I adore it. Count me in.”
Evira reached across the table and stroked Zayn’s cheek. “Love it, hellion,” she said.
He nuzzled against her affectionate touch, that sweetheart side of him coming out again.
“Me too,” I confirmed.
A musical alarm sounded, and Evira eased from Zayn, then pulled out her phone. “It’s my ten-minute warning for the start of each of my classes,” she told us. A sheepish expression played on her face as she said, “Sometimes when I get distracted, I lose track of things.”
“You’re not the only one,” I assured her, stroking her arm. “A few weeks ago, I had a dinner scheduled with my dad and I lost track of time atPolaris, showing up late.”
“That night I burst into the restaurant bathroom?” Zayn asked.
“The very one, fireball.”
He winced. “Oops. Didn’t know you were already in shit when I did that and cost you more time.”
“Another visit toPolaris,” Vax uttered. He glanced around at the many students filling the Cafeteria, knowing many had supernatural hearing and that I couldn’t have people aware of myfeeding predilections.So, he cast anauditory reductionspell over the table, then said, “I understand it’s something youneed… what you get from patronizing that place. However, doing it with those who are most definitely sexually attracted to you and are clearly just waiting for the day when you lose control and fall into reciprocating that… it doesn’t sit well with me, or—”
“He thinks Carter is a sleazeball,” Zayn cut in.
I scrubbed my hand over my face. “I wouldn’t disrespect any of you. We’re in a committed relationship now, and I don’t want to go outside of that, but—”
“You can get what you need in that respect from me,” Zayn interjected again.
