Page 106 of Glutton for Punishment

“I know you two missed each other,” I say dryly, “but can we maybe sit down if this staring contest is going to take all afternoon?”

Both of them blink and reluctantly move toward the table arranged in the center, sitting as far apart as possible.

Children. Both of them. Maddox wastes no time.

“Why are you here?”

I roll my eyes so hard it nearly hurts.

Atticus ignores his tone and looks at me. “I came to tell you everything has been handled.” His smile softens. “The Council has approved your return to SinVail Academy for the coming semester.”

“Seriously?” My chair scrapes against the floor as I launch up. Atticus laughs just as I throw my arms around him.

“I’m going back?!"

"Eeeeeeek!” I squeal so loudly that both men wince.

Atticus grunts. “Universe, Arwen—are you trying to burst my eardrums?” He laughs and wraps his arms around me anyway, hugging me back.

Relief and joy explode through me so fast I could cry.

I’m going back.

I pull out of his hold enough to look up at his face…

Only to find him wearing an unbearably smug expression directed across the table. Straight at Maddox.

I immediately drop my arms and step away.

“Tabby is right,” I mutter, returning to my seat. “Men are stupid.”

Both of them look at me. “What?” they say in unison.

A knock sounds behind me before I can answer. The door opens, and every instinct in my body tightens. A tall, familiar blonde woman strides into the room with a smile. Her golden hair falls in perfect waves past her waist. A white fur coat drapes over her shoulders despite the fact that it is absolutely not cold enough for that. Massive sunglasses cover half her face, and silk gloves sheath her hands as she glides inside on heels that probably cost more than my entire wardrobe.

His sister Paris.

Right… Maddox said 'guests'. Plural.

I tense, preparing for the worst. She wouldn’t just outright attack me in this room? Right?

“I’ve been waiting forever,” she drawls dramatically, shutting the door behind her. “But I assumed you might need saving from that ghastly screeching. What was that?”

She slips off one glove, finger by finger. I dislike her instantly.

I have no legitimate reason outside of the fact that she called my excitement ‘ghastly’. But something about her makes every hair on the back of my neck rise.

Maybe it is the arrogance. Or just the fact that she is one of them.

I glance at Atticus and find his face bright red.

His eyes stay glued so aggressively to the table I think he might be having a stroke.

I look toward Maddox… He somehow looks even angrier than he did five minutes ago.

Oh.

Ohhhh….