“I see the mediocre artist does not approve. How is your dead kingdom doing, Miss Astalis?”

“Splendid. Watching your empire sinking slowly and having a jolly good time, Mr. Will-Never-Be-As-Good-As-His-Mummy.”

“Jeez, your nerd-talk game is hot.” Daria pretended to fan herself. “So, are you kids bumping uglies?” She pointed between Lenny and Hunter, obviously adding fuel to the fire.

“It’s a work in progress,” Knight said, slinging an arm over each of their shoulders and looking between them. I stole a glance at him, and our eyes met, then darted in opposite directions. Bile bubbled in my throat.

“I have a boyfriend,” Lenny whispered hotly, her cheeks pinking.

“No one’s buying that, Lenora. You need to be at least semi-tolerable for that to happen.”

Vaughn was obviously turning on his charm this evening.

“We’re going on a double date next week,” Knight announced, and I couldn’t help myself.

I let out a bitter chuckle. So he and Poppy were officially dating. Good for them.

“You seem hell-bent on making that happen.” Daria eyed Knight curiously. “I wonder why.”

“Just playing matchmaker, like my good friend Vaughn, who threw me into Poppy’s arms so generously. Thanks, man.”

“You needed a shove in the right direction,” Vaughn said meaningfully, his eyes boring into Knight’s.

Knight shrugged. “Anyway… Three more couples to fix up, and I’ll secure my place in heaven.”

“Even if you find the cure for death, you won’t be getting a free pass into heaven,” I signed.

Vaughn and Daria, who understood what I’d said, burst out laughing. Knight ignored me, turning his head to Poppy, his eyes dropping to her lips.

“I can get a place in heaven, can’t I, Sunshine?”

Sunshine.

I was Moonshine, and she was Sunshine.

If I’d had any doubt he was playing a game to get even, I’d just received my proof.

“Of course,” she simpered. “I’ll take you with me.”

He leaned down, pressing his lips against hers. Kissing her. In front of me. Her mouth opened, and his tongue slid past her lips. I looked away, feeling something inside me collapsing. I felt the ground beneath me shaking. I needed to get out of there.

“Luna,” Vaughn barked, staring daggers at Knight, who was still engrossed in the kiss. “Come with me.”

“Where to?” I asked.

“The humble pie is getting cold. Better get Knight his fix.”

My legs carried me after Vaughn as we moseyed through the lush grass toward the Coles’ house. Even though I wasn’t sure where we were really going, anything was better than standing there with a front-row seat to Knight trying to wrestle his tongue into Poppy’s mouth, not stopping until he reached her liver.

I didn’t know why Vaughn was saving me—if, indeed, he was doing that. He was the one who’d insisted I go away so Knight could get over me. Job done.

Inside, Vaughn started throwing doors open, like he was looking for something specific. When he got to the laundry room, he motioned for me with his head to come inside with him. I did. I stood with my back against the wall. He kept the door ajar, crowding me with his back to it.

“You like Lenora,” I signed.

I didn’t want to talk about how much it hurt to see Knight with someone else. I didn’t want to ask Vaughn how long Knight had had a girlfriend. I clutched the ragged ends of my pride with bleeding fingernails.

“I hate her.” He let out a breath, and with it, his obvious frustration.

“Same difference.”

“We’re competing over the same spot at her dad’s academy. She’s her father’s daughter. Connect the fucking points, Lu.”

“Is that what’s bothering you?”

“What else could it be?” He scoffed.

“The fact that she might be more talented than you.” I jutted my chin out.

He threw me a patronizing smile, stuffing his hands into his pockets and taking a step toward me. He seemed relaxed, like he was burning time until something important happened. Vaughn was a world-class planner. His life was a chess game, each step perfectly calculated and in complete harmony with his end game.

“You seem to be taking Knight’s antics in stride. I’m proud of you. I thought you’d cower and break. You proved to be more resilient than I gave you credit for.”

I tipped my head up, meeting his gaze. He was close to me now. Too close for comfort. Vaughn was beautiful, but not in a way I found attractive. Like a god-shaped sculpture. Gorgeous, lifeless, and so terribly cold. He captured my chin between his fingers, slanting his head sideways as his eyes traced the shape of my lips.

“Terrible, isn’t it?”

My heart quickened. I wanted to step away. To turn my back on him and leave. To run back to my house. But running away from problems was getting old, and had proved to be destructive.

My grays met his blues, defying him to finish his thought.

“The sacrifices we have to make to put things back in order,” he explained.

“You wanted me gone,” I reminded him.

“I wanted you strong,” he amended. “You were no match for Knight, which was why you didn’t have the balls to go after him.”

“And now?”

My heart looped inside my chest. Why was I waiting for his confirmation? Who was he to decide, anyway?

“Now the jury’s out, and it’s your job to prove it.”

“You’re mad at Knight for pushing Lenny into Hunter’s arms.” I grinned. I’d found Vaughn’s vulnerability, dug it up with a little spoon.

“I’m never mad. Just fair.” He shrugged. “Besides, this is about you, not me.”

“Knight doesn’t want me anymore,” I signed.

I foolishly tried to goad him to tell me differently, but Vaughn was far too sophisticated to fall into this trap.

“You know, Luna, people dislike me because I fight mean. With no mercy. But what they don’t get is that terror and arousal are very similar. Same adrenaline. Same incentive. Same reaction. What do you say, Rexroth? Are you ready to fight back?”

Before the meaning of his words could register, Vaughn leaned down and pressed his lips to mine ever so softly. We hovered between a kiss and breathing each other in, our eyes still open, but I didn’t pull back. Didn’t push him away.

Vaughn kissed the corner of my lips, murmuring, “You are delectable, Luna Rexroth. I could devour you and not even feel sorry for it.”

He still wore a cunning grin when he was jerked back, and before I realized what was happening, Vaughn had been thrown on top of the washing machine and Knight’s fist hovered in the air as he towered above him. Knight was bigger by far, and physically stronger. But that didn’t stop Vaughn from smiling up at him, the flame of the devil’s match twinkling in his pale eyes.

“If it isn’t fucking Judas Iscariot himself.” Knight narrowed his eyes, spitting on the floor.

“Careful, Cole. You’re a taken man now. I wonder what your girlfriend is going to think about your little outburst. I was just kissing a perfectly single, shit-hot girl.”

“Traitor!” Knight screamed in his face.