Isaac is arguing dramatically about something with Dominic, who is far too amused to stop egging him on. Luke, however, looks like he’d rather throw him into the fire than admit he’s enjoying the more chaotic energy his siblings bring into the mix.
“What happened to your integrity, huh?” Isaac asks, fixing him with a narrowed look, clearly accusing him of cheating again.
“Who said I had integrity?” Dominic returns with that same smirk he hasn’t abandoned all night.
Isaac’s eyes light up like he just scored the proof he needed. “See? You’ve been cheating this whole time.”
“It’s just a game, Isaac,” Zane offers, though I catch the slightly humored gleam in his eyes that helps soften his edges.
“Sure, it’s just a game now, but what happens when this becomes a gateway to more dishonesty?” Isaac proposes with a cocked brow. “Someone has to protect the moral code here.”
Eve snorts. “And you’re the one to do that?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he shoots back. “Did you want to take over? I didn’t think you were done giggling at Dom yet.”
Immediately, she flushes and sputters on a response she can’t quite form, only to get more frustrated with herself. She flicks one of her cards at Isaac with a grumble, but is swiftly pulled closer to Dominic, who is grinning ear to ear.
“How cute,” he coos with an arm over her shoulder, to which Eve covers her face with both hands. “Precious Evelyn is all flustered.”
“Shut up.”
This earns her another chuckle from Dominic while Zane sighs and Luke mutters something under his breath that I don’t quite catch. Hunter laughs quietly, and even Caleb cracks the faintest hint of a smile.
It’s strange how they talk to each other. There’s no careful phrasing or constant awareness of where everyone stands in the hierarchy. They just talk, tease, and argue like it’s completely harmless, and this is normal to them.
It throws me off more than I want to admit, since I don’t have anything to compare it to.
Wraith Peak isn’t like this, and it never has been. You might have the occasional stolen moment in private, but nothing so open and shameless like this. Even at its calmest, there’s always an edge and a quiet reminder of where you stand.
Here, it feels lighter and less restrictive.
I shift slightly in my seat, drawing my knees up just a bit as I watch them, trying to understand it. In a way, it’s like I’m watching something I was never meant to see.
“You’re being especially quiet over there.”
I blink and look up to find Zeke watching me now with one brow raised slightly.
Not knowing what else to say, I murmur, “Am I?”
“Yeah,” he says. “It’s unsettling.”
A few of the others glance over with a touch of curiosity, but they don’t interrupt.
“That’s rich coming from you,” I mutter.
Zeke smirks slightly, as if that’s what he was hoping for. “See? That’s better.”
I roll my eyes, but something in my chest loosens just a fraction. I didn’t expect anyone to care enough to check in, even if only offhandedly.
“Alright,” Isaac cuts in, leaning forward slightly as he focuses on me. “I have a question.”
“That’s always dangerous,” Eve mutters.
Ignoring her, he points loosely in my direction. “You knew Zane before all this, right? Back in Wraith Peak?”
I stiffen slightly, not prepared for any questions. Hesitantly, I murmur, “Yeah.”
There’s a brief pause, like they’re waiting to see if I shut down or if I refuse to take this any further, but I don’t.
