Page 31 of Pretty Little Psycho

I grip the bottom of my chair. “Oh, I don’t think I need a guide. Thank you, though. I can find my way around.”

His eyes darken. “Nonsense. Valentin’s great-grandfather, my uncle, founded Tenebrose Academy. He’ll be an excellent guide.”

There’s no getting out of this. Fuck. I’m going to be stuck with Valentin all fucking day. I bet he’ll make sure I don’t stand Riot up tonight too.

I take a big gulp of my now cold latte and force a smile. “Sure. Can’t wait.”

But before I have a complete and total meltdown, Villette comes barreling in like a dark angel. “There you are!” She grabs my wrist and pulls me up from the chair. “Sorry, Professors, I was supposed to show Miss Blackwell the cafeteria.”

Professor Erebus’s eyebrows pinch into a scowl. “Very well. I’m sure Valentin will be disappointed, though. He was looking forward to showing you around.”

I bet he fucking was.

Villette drags me out of there so fast that I almost fall over outside. “Thanks for the save but please slow down.”

She whips around. “Don’t ever come over here again. The punishment…”

My skin prickles. “Okay, I promise.”

Once we’re back in front of the main hall, she lets go of my arm. “Sorry, if that was harsh, but there are certain rules you do not want to break.”

I nod. “I’m starting to figure that out.” Every sentence uttered in this place was subtext for something else. Every person here had something to hide. Their voices seem to be laced with sinister desire and craving. But they are so tightly wound, it gets stifled into something monstrous. I feel it in my bones.

I make it through the rest of my classes without running into Nocturnus, but only because they didn’t show up for the last two. My stomach had clenched when their names were called. So when they didn’t respond, I was able to relax and at least try to pay attention to the class.

But I can’t help but wonder what they are up to.

As I wait by the path for Villette, three ravens fly at my face. I scream and lurch back just as they dive at me again. “Fucking hell.” I cover my face and swat at them with the other hand.

“Leave her alone,” Jessamine cries out.

The ravens squawk at her before taking off.

I feel my cheeks redden as two different groups of students laugh at me as they pass. “Yup, hilarious,” I call out, which only makes them laugh harder.

Jessamine hands me the clip that must have fallen out of my hair. “They won’t stop until you give in.”

I huff as I pluck a few feathers out of my hair. “Give in to what?”

“I’m not allowed to say,” she whispers.

I groan and brush past her. “Thanks for nothing,” I call back.

Villette will understand. I hope.

The trees seem to cower away from me as I stomp through the woods. I’m fucking fuming so hard I don’t notice until it’s too late.

Fuck, I must have taken a wrong turn.

My chest tightens and I swallow hard as I find myself in front of Nocturnus House. The wind picks up. It tickles the back of my neck and sends goose pimples over my flesh.

I’m mesmerized by its vulgarity. In the light of day, I can see that its lines are sharper, the decay uglier, and the ground muddier than it was the night of the party. And the plants. Holy fucking shit. No wonder I couldn’t breathe. The entire front of the house is covered in hemlock plants.

The iron gates open with a wail and Atlas stands there like a Greek god. He’s so fucking beautiful it hurts to look directly into his eyes. They remind me of the ocean—soft yet dangerous. He’s kinder than the other two. Just as psycho, I’m sure, but warmer. Or maybe it’s just a trick to lure me.

He waves and a tingle floats through my body. “Come and hang out with me, Firecracker.”

Moisture pools between my thighs. I lick my lips, thirsty all of a sudden. “I got turned around. Can you just point me in the direction of the dorms?”

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