I rolled my eyes. “Good thing we aren’t playing poker.”
Sebastian chuckled from his position in the window, where he was reading a book about politics. Human, not supernatural. How very boring. Fortunately for him, Scrabble was a limited player game. I had suggested playing doubles, but my aunts apparently had more important things to do—things I wasn’t allowed to come along for. So the traitors had left me.
Hudson leaned back in the chair across from me and folded his arms with a smirk. I learned the hard way not to play poker with this man. I always lose. Now, we stick to board games where my heart racing could be a good or bad thing. It was about as fair as it was going to get with a bunch of supernaturals with stellar senses.
Harry floated over Hudson’s shoulder. “He has Z and Q, Miss Roberts, but no U.”
My ghostly, suit-wearing friend was keen to see me win after witnessing a game of poker, where I ended up naked very quickly. It was cheating, but I needed every advantage I could get. Of course, this only worked when I was the only person who could see him, and he’d already forgotten that status had changed.
Hudson glanced over his shoulder at Harry. “Do you always help her cheat?”
Harry floated back, and a flush filled his cheeks.
“Stop harassing my ghost. You use your supernatural senses to help you win.”
“It’s not the same,” Dave said.
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the board, scanning the words scattered across it. Wait, there it was. Not seven, but eight if I used the S from Rebecca’s “elopes.” She got extra points for the themed word linked to weddings. I was studiously ignoring the topic she chose and avoiding any words that invited discussion around the nuptials I refused to entertain. Poking my tongue into my cheek, I placed my letters down.
My three opponents watched with matching frowns as I formed the longest word yet.
“Accismus?” Dave muttered. He tilted his head like he was trying to remember what it meant.
“Use it in a sentence,” Hudson demanded.
I shook my head. “I’m not required to do that.”
“You think it’s made up?” Rebecca asked him.
They should know me better. Hudson stared at me so hard it was like being stripped bare to my soul. My heart pitter-pattered in my chest. Normally, that look preceded us getting naked. The idiot mistook it as panic for cheating.
“I challenge,” Hudson declared.
“You sure?” Dave asked. “You and Cora are neck and neck. If you lose, she will take the lead.”
My lips twitched.Take the bait, mate.
“I’m sure.”
Fool.
Dave pulled out his phone, and his eyebrows rose. That’s right.
“You lose. It’s a word.”
“What does it mean?” Hudson asked.
I chuckled. “It’s the act of pretending to be unbothered by an object or invitation, when the person actually desires it.”
“Like a wedding,” Rebecca sing-songed.
I shot her a scowl. “Or a certain persistent wolf shifter with the skill to make your pretty head spin.”
“Touché.”
Maggie bounced into the room with a tray of homemade snacks. Oh boy. Not a cookie in sight. My heart sank. At least nothing was glowing today. There was still hope they weren’t too awful. An egg yolk wobbled on top of a piece of pink meat. I watched as it slid off the mini bun in slow motion, revealing something bright yellow on the base. I stood corrected.
There was a separate plate for Rebecca, something wrapped in cabbage leaves. At least it concealed whatever concoction was lurking inside. Our plates had the deliciousness on full display.
