Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
“A nonanswer. You’ve been around Wilder too long.”
Time to end the hug. I hopped off, tucking my ring hand under my arm. “Victor isn’t important to what we’re doing.”
“He could be,” Lucien replied. “If he takes issue with you moving into a house with four men.”
“Excuse me? Why would he take issue with that?” I asked slowly. “I’m not moving into a house with four men.”
“This doesn’t work if you don’t,” Wilder added. “How can we be your alibi, saying you were with us the whole time, if you’re not with us even half the time? Plus, the dorm security is a joke. This house is the safest place on campus. People who start wars don’t live behind paper walls.”
“I’m not moving in here.” My reply was firm. “You’re sweet to worry about me, but I can take care of myself.”
“Is that the reason?” Rafael asked. “Or do you not trust us? Despite everything we’re about to do together.”
“It’s because of everything we’re about to do together that you know I trust you enough. We’re not actually having this conversation, guys. I’m not moving in here.” I made for the door. “Are we set for tonight?”
“Depends on if Owen spends the night in the infirmary or if he goes home to Mommy. We can’t get to him in the Thasher Estate.”
“Okay. Keep me updated.”
I left them to it, heading back to my dorm. I had mountains of homework to do and two texts from Katie saying she was willing to gift me her presence again if I took her out for an expensive make-up dinner and shopping that night. At this point, I assumed saying no would get me another latte down the pants, so I texted back yes as I crossed campus. Maybe she’d tell me she made progress getting Saylor and her friends to back off.
If I’m not friends with Katie, how exactly do I keep getting sucked into her orbit? The question taunted me while I climbed the steps and entered my building.
A couple of students hung out in the common area, studying or talking over a bowl of popcorn. Both activities ceased when I walked in. One after the other, they stared at me, eyes blank.
My neck hairs stood on end. Curled lips and shining eyes were wrong, but at least they expressed an emotion. This dead-eyed look as though they were seeing through me. As if I were a dust ball that blew in through the window, reminding them the floating specks of nothing they dismissed, were once living.
Shivers crawled up my skin. I hid it, defiantly staring back. They could call me a Dreg as often as they wanted. I would never let them forget that I matter—that Winter mattered. I rounded the corner, feeling the exact moment their gazes fell away.
My makeup dinner for Katie was more an order than a suggestion. Her text said she was picking me up in twenty minutes and to wear something that wasn’t shit embarrassing. I had a feeling the only ones of my outfits dubbed perfect in Katie’s eyes were those she picked out for me. They were exactly what I would not wear.
I was still pissed after my unwanted coffee shower on the quad. Let her hide behind her menu, cursing me in the ugliest, mismatched outfit I could dig up.
“I might even wear clogs.”
That got a laugh out of me easier than in months. It wasn’t a laugh borne of happiness. That emotion was gone from me like an ex who cheated, wrecked my credit, drained my bank account, and gave my name to his angry bookies before skipping town. It was over between us, and I didn’t want that bitch back. Being happy without Winter in my life was the final betrayal against my sister.
No, my laugh returned for one reason only: the fact that I’d take the happiness from Winter’s murderers permanently.
I turned the key in my lock, pushing open the door. Please let Owen have opted for the infirmary instead of running home to Mommy. Rafael promised the next place they hung him from, it won’t be so easy to get him down.
Giggling, I flicked on the lights.
Six figures pressed on my vision, defying the empty space I meant to walk into. Wrongness jarred me, paralyzing my feet for the few precious seconds it took for my mind to scream, Run!
Whipping around, I sprinted for the door.
“Get her!”
A wall of flesh slammed into my spine, dropping and pinning me down. “Get off!”
I struck wildly, glancing off a hip bone. I yanked up cloth and dug my nails in the flesh, ripping out a yell that pummeled my eardrum.
“Stop standing there! Help me,” he shouted. “Grab her hands.”
That was the cue.
They piled on me. Sitting on my hands and legs, kneeing my head into the carpet. My door slammed shut as the last of my cries bounced down the hall, calling for the students eating their popcorn in the common room. Thunderous footfalls did not return to me, letting me know who was coming to help.