Page 98 of The Villain We Tempt

She lifts her shoulders at Wren. “Honestly, yeah, I’m with Galina.”

Wren rolls her eyes again. “In any case, thanks for keeping me company while Lena goes and gets her freak on.”

Lucia’s brows shoot up. “Wait, you think she’s with a guy??”

I snort. “Do younot?”

Originally, all five of us in our group chat—Lucia, Yelena, Arianna, Wren, and I—were supposed to hang out tonight. Ari had to ditch because of some study session at Ravencroft Library tonight. But when Yelena bailed at the last minute, she gave us the world’slamestexcuse. And it isn’t the first time she’s done this recently.

Lucia frowns. “I thought she had a study session for one of her economics classes?”

Wren makes a skeptical face. “Yeah, uh, quick question. Who’s the smartest person you know at Knightsblood?”

Lucia shrugs. “Ari?”

“Okay, after Ari,” Wren sighs.

“Yelena. Definitely,” Lucia nods.

I pointedly clear my throat. “Exactly. How much do you think Yelena De Luca—ourYelena, who gets straight As in her fucking sleep—needs a study group?”

Lucia’s brows knit.

“Plus, have youeverknown Yelena to ditch out on quality squad hangs with the girls?” Wren adds.

Lucia rolls her eyes. “Okay, that doesn’t mean she’s with a?—”

“She’s totally got a standing dick appointment.”

Wren’s declaration has us all cracking up as she reaches for the bottle of wine. I try to hold back, but she catches the slight arch in my brow as she pours herself her fourth glass of the night.

“Calm down, Mom,” she drawls.

It’s not that I’m worried about Wren, it’s just…

Okay, fuck it, Iamworried. It’s not like I think she has long-term alcoholic tendencies. But since her shit-tastic breakup with Bryce, she’s been goinghardwith the booze.

Which is fair, but still.

I glance at Lucia, who has the same slight look of worry on her face.

“Anyway,” Wren sighs, setting her mug down and flopping back on the bed again. “You were selling me on horny…sorry,romance…books?”

Lucia chuckles and shakes her head. “It’s just…there are somereally goodstories out there. I mean, yeah, they’re spicy as fuck?—”

“Which is why you read them,” Wren giggles.

“But,” Lucia continues, “the writing in a lot of them is incredible. I mean genuinely good storytelling and plots, they just happen to have a lot of smoking hot sex scenes in them as well.” She shrugs. “You should read one.”

Wren makes a face and jams her thumb way down. “I don’t think I’m the target market for romance right now,” she says flatly.

“MaybeIcan change your mind.”

I groan as I turn to see my brother leaning against the open doorway to Wren’s room at Morvaine Manor, wearing what I’m sure he thinks is his most charming smile.

“What areyoudoing here?” I mutter.

Zane laughs as he brings up a hand to push his fingers through his slightly longish hair.