The door to Davon's dorm creaked open without a knock. He didn't need to look up to know who it was—only two people carried an aura as loud and disruptive as a storm.
Devin and Lucien stepped inside, shutting the door behind them.
Davon, sitting at his desk, didn't move. His crimson eyes stayed fixed on the book in front of him, though he hadn't read a word in minutes. "You two never change. Still barging into places you don't belong."
Lucien flopped onto the couch with a lazy grin. "You say that like you're not glad to see us."
Devin remained standing, arms crossed, expression calm but unyielding. "Let's skip the pleasantries. The question is—when are you going to tell her?"
Davon's eyes narrowed. "…Tell who what?"
"Elise," Devin said simply. His voice was calm, but sharp enough to cut through the air. "When are you going to tell her that you're a vampire?"
For a moment, silence pressed against the room. Davon finally looked up, his jaw tightening. "That's none of your concern."
Lucien chuckled. "Oh, but it is. You're dragging us into your mess, cousin. Every time you brood and hide things, it ends up splashing onto everyone else. If she's really the one, you can't keep lying to her."
Davon stood abruptly, the book snapping shut in his hands. "Stay away from her." His voice was low, dangerous, vibrating with warning. "Whatever games you came here to play, keep Elise out of it."
Devin's gaze didn't waver. "Don't worry. We're not after her."
Lucien smirked, tilting his head. "Yeah. Elise isn't our type."
Devin allowed the faintest trace of a smile. "I prefer the golden-haired one. Anastasia, was it? Bright, full of energy. She's… refreshing."
Lucien stretched on the couch, his grin wicked. "And I'll take the stubborn one. Patricia. Purple hair, sharp tongue, doesn't take no for an answer. She's amusing."
Davon's expression shifted from anger to outright disbelief. "…Unbelievable."
Devin's calmness never cracked. "What?"
Davon pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. "Devin, you're falling for my cousin. And Lucien…" His gaze cut to the smirking one. "…Patricia won't bend for anyone, least of all you."
Lucien only laughed. "We'll see."
Davon sank back into his chair with a sigh, frustration radiating off him. "This is going to end in disaster."
But his cousins didn't care. To them, the game had only just begun.