Especially since it’s only NOW that he turns eighteen. She didn’t even wait until then to have a relationship with him. Which, if this book were taking place in reality, would get her slammed for statutory rape already.

Not defending the relationship, but it has been legal. When Anita first shagged him, Cynric was 16. They were in Las Vegas. The age of consent is 16. They sent Cynric over to St. Louis when he was 17. That is Missouri's age of consent so yeah, Anita has been legal in THAT sense. This doesn't excuse all the other factors that are wrong in this relationship though.