Page 2 of The Obedient Lie

TheCrows.

They didn’t merge with families.

Didn’tneedpower.

Theywerepower.

Unbothered. Untouchable. Unforgiving.

No alliances. No arranged engagements.

The Crows never played the dynasty game. Theyrewroteit.

Bastion and Luca Crow stood like they owned the night.

All black hoodies and post-game bruises.

Identical twins. But you could still tell them apart.

Bastion was all instinct and impact—quick to strike, quicker to ruin. He didn’t hold back. Heexploded.

Luca was quiet. Measured. Lethal in stillness. He didn’t react. Hecalculated,then let you walk into the blade yourself.

Their cousins flanked them. Cups in hand. Scarred knuckles. Wolfish grins. Like normal the Crows were the centre of the party without including anyone.

And right now, I was walking straight into enemy territory. Where I most definitely didn’t belong.

Bastion saw me first. His eyes going up and down me slowly. His jaw clenched. Fingers tightened around the bottle in his hand.

Luca’s head tilted slightly. His expression unreadable.

And I didn’t stop.

I stepped into Bastion’s space. Grabbed the collar of his hoodie. And kissed him.

Hard.

Gasps sliced through the yard. Someone cursed.

His mouth didn’t move at first. Then his hand found my back, low, brutal, andpulled.

Bastion held me so tight, it felt like he could leave a bruise.

The kiss turneddeadly.

I broke it. Slightly breathless, only to turn to look at Luca.

Luca stared like his twin had failed to tell him something. Before he could speak, I reached for him. Grabbing a handful of his shirt, I went up on my toes and kissed him too.

The crowd cracked open. Noise erupting like a wave behind us.

Luca didn’t move for a second. Then he did.

One hand cupped my jaw.

His lips pressed to mine.

Slower. Deeper. Certain.