Page 93 of Trivium

Ahmina flipped the coin, which jingled as it hit the table. “Nobleman,” she said, smiling. She looked so carefree that Loveleena suspected the contents of the glass—not just the truth serum—had erased most of her anxiety. “Lennox.”

“Ask your question, stress-mina,” he said, leaning forward on the table.

“How did you feel last night? Be honest.”

Everyone at the table was completely silent, waiting for his answer. Loveleena could have sworn his eyes softened as he spoke to her. “Stupidly, embarrassingly in love.”

The tension between them was palpable. They looked at each other like they were the only two people in the room. It wasn’t until Emerson spoke that the tension broke.

“Oh for the love of—can you two just get on with it already?”

“My turn,” Lennox said, taking the pentacle out of Ahmina’s hand, who stared at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

Lennox flipped the coin and a few of them cheered. Nobleman. Confidently, Lennox looked to Serena. “You have to tell the truth.”

“I know,” she said, taking another sip of her drink.

“Did you and Ren hook up?”

Serena looked at Ren before giving Lennox a light punch to the shoulder. “You can’t ask that.”

“I just did.”

Ren gave nothing away.

“Lenny, give me the pentacle.”

“Answer.”

“Yes! Okay? Are you happy now? Give it to me!”

Lennox handed her the coin. “I knew it! You two lied about it, but I knew.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Ren said. “Hasn’t happened again.”

At his words, Serena froze then quickly regained her composure. “Cheers to that,” she said, clinking her drink against Ren’s now empty glass.

“Why do you need to know that anyway, dude? She’s your sister,” Emerson mumbled.

“Because they both lied to me!” Lennox laughed. “And I knew it too. I was right all along. And it’s not like I asked them details on if they⁠—”

“—Shut up, Lenny,” Serena said, uncharacteristically annoyed, and Lennox stopped talking. “Loveleena.” Serena’s eyes locked in on her and she sat up a little straighter. “Tell us what really went down with you and Kumani.”

“When did this turn into a relationship exposé?” Loveleena said. The last thing she wanted to talk about was Kumani. All of that was behind them now.

Serena shrugged. “When else are we going to talk about it? All we do is talk about battle and strategy around here.”

She could feel everyone’s eyes on her. She didn’t need the truth potion; she couldn’t lie anyway. “I hurt her. That’s all there is to know.” All eyes were on her as she took the pentacle from Serena. This time, when she flicked it in the air, it landed on a nobleman. If Serena was going to ask her personal questions, so was she. “Serena. What happened to Park? Where is he?”

Serena’s face suddenly went rigid and she set down her drink.

“I’m not answering that.”

“You have to.”

“I don’t kn—” she choked on her words, confused. The truth potion was working. Serena couldn’t lie.

Ren leaned back into his chair, seemingly amused. “Finally, this is getting good.” His knee touched hers under the table, sending a jolt through her body.