Page 278 of Boys Who Hunt

“Don’t act like you didn’t break down the entire Skull and Serpent Society with your dad,” my mom tells him.

“Says the woman who lit Spine Ridge U on fire,” Dylan retorts.

Ivy’s eyes widen. “What? She set the building on fire for real?”

Now everyone begins to laugh, except Ivy, who doesn’t have a clue what kind of family she’s gotten herself into. But she’ll learn soon enough. I’ll make sure of that.

Alistair clears his throat. “So … now that we’re all together, who’s up for a family dinner next weekend? Of course, Heath, Max, Elliot, and all the other kids are also invited.”

“Wait a minute, you mean Kai, Nathan, Uncle Felix, and Dylan will be in the same room?” Max asks.

“You got a problem with that?” Lana asks him.

“No, no, not at all.” Max laughs and puts his hands up like he’s calling out a truce. “I just thought it was weird.”

“Why?” Ivy asks curiously.

“Oh, Dylan and Kai, as well as Felix and Nathan have a very violent history,” Max whispers into her ear.

“Nothing to concern yourself with,” I add.

“The past is the past,” Alistair says. “So are y’all coming or what? Atlas, Orion, and Apollo will also be there, Heath.”

“What about Ivy? Is she welcome too?” Max asks.

“Of course, the more the merrier,” Dylan says.

“You’re awfully casual about inviting someone you don’t know,” Alistair says.

“Pfft. Of course, it’s not my house.” Dylan shrugs.

“Where is it, then?” Max asks.

“Torres Casino restaurant. We’ve got the whole floor.”

“Holy shit, Kai and Ares’s casino?” Max mutters.

“I don’t know if I like this idea,” Heath says, folding his arms.

“You should come,” Ivy says, wrapping her arm around his. “I’d like to meet your families.”

“Aw … who can resist that cuteness?” Max rubs his lips together.

Heath rolls his eyes. “Fine, fine, we’ll go.”

Ivy smiles. “I’m glad you changed your mind.”

“You won’t say that after someone pulls out a knife just for being offended,” I say.

“No. No, no.” Alistair raises a finger. “No weapons. No knives, no guns, no machetes, and no baseball bats. Nothing. That’s the rule at the family dinner table.”

I grin. “Who said anything about needing a weapon to inflict pain?”

Mom makes a face. “Felix, remind me to make sure Kai and Ares bought those plastic forks.”

“Your families sure are a violent bunch,” Ivy whispers.

I whisper back, “You don’t even know the half of it.” I grin like the psycho I am. “Welcome to the asylum.”