Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
My heart thunders when I see a blank canvas chaotically smeared with red paint. The words are barely legible, but I can see them loud and clear.
Why are you still breathing, Glyndon?
My mouth falls open in a wordless gasp and I stare between it and Cecily. “Where…did you find this?”
“In front of our flat. We called Bran and he said to get rid of it because, well, it would’ve broken you.”
It would’ve.
“Why would anyone do this?” Cecily breathes harshly. “You’re the least antagonistic person on earth. It doesn’t make sense for someone to target you.”
It doesn’t.
Unless I got myself in bigger trouble than I thought.
I’m at a party.
And not just any party.
It’s the party.
As in the one Killian told me to come to and I vehemently refused.
Now, I have a good excuse for the change in my decision. I wasn’t thinking straight when he was around—he just rattles me too much.
But once he left, or more like, once I went to class and was separated from him, I gave it some serious thought. While half focusing on what the professor was saying.
I’m still not over the bitterness of being eliminated from the initiation at the last second for the simple reason of catching the psycho’s attention. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get close to the inner circle and investigate Devlin’s involvement in the club.
My chances of getting rid of Killian are starting to seem impossible, so I might as well use him. If it were anyone else, my upbringing would’ve interfered and I would have felt bad for using them, but this isn’t a normal person.
Killian is a raging monster with no restraints. He targeted me first, so it’s only fair that he gets a taste of his own medicine.
“I can’t believe we got the chance to be here! This is like the shit!” Ava’s awed shout barely reaches me over the loud music and the endless chatter.
Countless students surround the massive pool and some are soaking in the Jacuzzi while singing and shouting and producing all sorts of noise.
To say I’m reaching sensory overload in a matter of ten minutes would be an understatement.
As a weapon, I came with my partners in crime—Ava, Cecily, and Annika.
In fact, this isn’t the party Annika and Ava had planned to go to earlier, considering Anni’s reservations about defying her brother. It was Ava who begged and implored and bribed her with some special edition lipstick so she takes us here. Since REU students aren’t allowed on The King’s U campus or in the Heathens’ compound, we had to use Annika as our ticket here.
If I’d told Killian I was coming, he would’ve given me access, but I won’t be asking anything of that twat.
The only unwilling person here is Cecily, whom we had to drag along. Not only does she hate The King’s U students with a passion, but she’s also a lover of quiet nights like me.
We all wore dresses except for her—or actually, Ava forced me to choose one of hers. I settled on a dark red one that molds against my body and stops right above my knees. Then Anni did my makeup, gave me smoky eyes and lipstick that matches the dress, then styled my hair to fall straight to the middle of my half-bare back.
Those two definitely looked proud of their creation while I was half-horrified, half-doubtful that the one in the mirror was me.
Cecily, however, couldn’t be forced to wear a dress. She’s in jeans and a shirt that says Sorry for the bitch face. Didn’t want to be here.
Her hair is pulled into a ponytail and her lips are pursed tight.
She’s really been moody today, and I have a feeling it’s not due to exams as she claimed.
“Who’s going to be the responsible adults when these two social butterflies get drunk and we have to get them back home?” is what I told Cecily so she’d agree to come along.
I’m such a hypocrite, because really, I need them around. Cecily has always been our rock. The ‘brainstorm first, act later’ girl. The ‘I’m here to listen’ friend.
She’s like a mother figure, and having her here fills me with a major boost of confidence.
“Anni!! Why didn’t you tell me this scene is your usual?” Ava grabs her by the shoulder. “I have like a major girl crush right now.”
They’re wearing matching tulle dresses. Ava’s is coral pink and Annika’s is pastel purple. I swear they have something to shop for every hour.
“It’s not, really.” Anni casts a glance at our surroundings. “I’m not usually allowed at Jer’s parties, and by usually, I mean never. The guard let us in earlier because I kind of begged.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll protect you.” Ava nudges Cecily. “Isn’t that right?”
The latter grabs a red Solo cup from the table beside us and releases an unintelligible noise.