My chest contracts and I swallow the drool that’s gathered in my mouth.
Never mind me, Glyn. People like me are just not important.
Devlin’s words rush back to my mind with the lethality of a storm. Red slowly creeps into my vision.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
“You matter, Ces,” I choke out. “You have no clue how much you matter.”
A shadow of incredulousness creeps into her features before they soften, “Thanks, Glyn. You’re like the sweetest.”
“What is this fucking betrayal?I’mthe sweetest!” Ava barges in, batting her lashes. “Glyn is the doll.”
Cecily raises a brow. “No, you’re the one who curses like a pirate.”
“And I feel so left out, I’m revoking friendship rights to all of you bitches.”
We turn around at hearing Remi’s distinctive voice. He’s glaring down his very aristocratic—currently pissed off—nose at us while simultaneously flipping his dashing hair back.
Creigh, aka his unwilling shadow, stands a short distance away, both hands in his pockets.
“How did you guys manage to get into The King’s U?” Cecily asks.
“Anni is a doll and put in a word for us with the guards.” Remi’s tone turns dramatically hurt. “Since when do you party without me?”
“Since, uh, I don’t know, you party without us all the time?” Ava points a finger at his chest. “You don’t see us revoking friendship rights, do you?”
“I can’t believe this. So it’s my fault that you don’t come along when I ask?”
“Duh. In case you forgot, you end up ghosting us to shag anything in a skirt.”
“What the actual fuck, Ava? Of course I’d choose shagging over your mimosas and drunken rants about a certain psycho. Shagging is the whole point of these parties, not your unresolved feelings!”
“Screw you, your grace.”
“It’s actually your lordship, but I’ll take the upgrade in title.” He grins. “Now, who’s in the mood for an orgy?”
“Eww,” Ava, Cecily and I say in unison.
Creigh raises one hand.
Annika winces. “No clue what you guys find fun about this party. Can’t we get out of here? I’m game for anything Remi suggests.”
“Anni, honey.” Ava grabs her by the shoulder. “You should never,everagree to Remi’s plans. He’ll leave you in an unknown place with unknown people and sod off to get his dick wet.”
“I did not leave you in an unknown place with unknown people!” Remi shouts. “I was kicked out of my own house by that fucker—”
Ava slams her palm on his mouth, making him shut up mid-sentence, then glares at him, but he waggles his brows.
Having been released from Ava’s hold, Annika grins and slides to Creigh’s side, then nudges his shoulder with hers. “Didn’t know you’d come. I would’ve picked a better dress.”
His expression remains blank. “Why?”
She rolls her eyes, then tugs on the tulle of her skirt. “Do you like this one?”