Page 104 of End Game

“But,” Ronan adds, “you still aren’t invisible.”

Something in Griffin’s expression changes.

“We negotiate what your role is before you participate. Sometimes in more complex ways than others. Like last night. I led for a few minutes because that was what we agreed on. Then you took more control because it made sense, and everyone was comfortable with it.”

Griffin nods slowly.

“You didn’t become my submissive. I didn’t become yours. You didn’t suddenly enter the hierarchy. We agreed on that before we went into the situation.”

“Context,” I say.

“Exactly.”

Cami glances at Dex. “And what happens if I want to be the one in charge with him?”

Dex’s grin is immediate.

Ronan looks between them. “Then you’re in charge of Dex—if he consents to it.”

Cami blinks. “Even though he’s technically above me?”

“There is no technically,” Ronan says. “Not if the two of you negotiated something different.”

I nod. “The hierarchy gives us a default setting when multiple dynamics overlap. It doesn’t erase individual dynamics or that it can’t be changed depending on circumstances.”

“So if Ronan isn’t there, you generally lead,” Cami says to me.

“Yeah.”

“And Dex generally follows you,” she adds.

“With tremendous grace and obedience,” Dex deadpans.

I stare at him.

Cami laughs. “And sometimes I’m submissive to Dex, but not usually.”

“Because you’re a bigger brat than me, you’re just not as obvious,” Dex says as he nudges her with his elbow.

She narrows her eyes at him. “But if Dex and I decide I’m tying him up and bossing him around—”

“Then God help us all,” Griffin mutters.

“—he’s submitting to me.”

“Yes,” Ronan replies.

She thinks about that. “So the arrow can change directions.”

“The whole fucking chart can change,” I tell her. “As long as everyone involved knows it changed and agreed to it.”

Ronan points at me. “That.”

Dex looks scandalized. “Did Micah just out-Ronan Ronan?”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

But I realize Griffin is very quiet.