Page 61 of Wicked Waters

Tapping her bottom lip, she thought for a moment, and then her face brightened as she caught sight of the door up ahead. “The library? I’m allowed in there at any time. Head girl privileges. Just don’t tell anyone I let you in.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I surreptitiously hit the Record button as I entered next to her. Flipping a couple of switches that caused a few dim wall lights to turn on, she led me through the main foyer, into the stacks, and eventually came to a stop next to one of the alcove study tables. She released my arm, turning to face me as I leaned back against the edge of the table, affecting a casual pose.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Yeah,” I said, seething beneath my skin. “I could do with speaking to someone who might understand. Please don’t tell anyone, though.”

“Of course not.” She came and stood right in front of me, the fabric of her dress brushing my suit trousers. Too. Fucking. Close.

“Quinn’s extra-credit paper, uh, was plagiarised. I can’t believe anyone would stoop so low, and I know how that sounds coming from someone with my reputation.”

“Oh.” Penelope’s mouth turned down. “The history paper? I can’t believe she would cheat just to win. That’s awful.” Her hand landed on my arm, and I couldn’t stop my body jerking at her touch.It was obvious now. I’d had my suspicions after everything Caiden had told me, but seeing her here and now, I knew. The fucking fake sympathy on her face had rage building inside me all over again. How could she stand there and lie to my face? “I see now why you were looking at her like that. I…it’s not my place to say anything, but, Roman, you’re better off without her. She’s my friend, but she doesn’t deserve to be with one of the gods.”

“Yeah.”

“She isn’t even one of the goddesses.” Penelope’s hand went to her laurel wreath. “But you have other options.” Her arm slid up my arm to my shoulder, and she leaned in. “I’m the one wearing a crown.”

Fuck. This. I lifted my hand, ready to push her away, and then?—

“Penelope!”

The cracked, teary shout from behind Penelope had the very welcome effect of making her jump and move away from me. I stared in horror as Quinn came into view, her face streaked with tears, her arms wrapped around her shaking body. What the fuck? I took a step towards her, but she stopped me in my tracks with a savage glare.

“Quinn. I’m a little busy with Roman at the moment,” Penelope said.

“Please. It’s important.” She sniffed, and I wanted to commit murder all over again.

“Fine. Roman, can you wait outside for me, please?” Penelope batted her lashes at me, and all I could manage was a curt nod.

As I passed Quinn, her glare intensified. “I hate you,” she spat. “You didn’t believe that I hadn’t plagiarised my essay, and now I see you cosying up with Penelope? I knew you had a thing for her, even though you tried to deny it.”

What? My heart fucking stopped. “Quinn?—”

“Get out of my sight.” Her expression was so fierce, so harsh, that I stumbled backwards, rubbing at my chest. My vision was getting weirdly cloudy, like there was water in my eyes. Oh. Water.

Fucking hell.

I spun on my heel and dived into the stacks, my momentum abruptly halted by an arm yanking me backwards, a palm slamming down over my mouth.

“Shhh,” Knox’s voice sounded low in my ear. “Don’t lose your head. We’ve got it all in hand.” He released his grip on me, and I let my body relax against the bookshelves. When I met his gaze, he mouthed, Phone. Record, with a subtle nod towards where I’d left Quinn and Penelope.

My heart rate slowed, seeing the conviction on his face. He had a plan. Following his instructions, I took out my phone, exited out of the voice recording app, and switched to my camera. Carefully pushing aside a couple of books, I inserted my phone into the newly created gap, pointing at Quinn and Penelope. I zoomed in on their faces and hit Record.

33

QUINN

“What do you want?” Penelope stared at me, her expression fluctuating between faux sympathy and irritation. Now I knew what to look for, it was easy to see.

This girl had been my friend.

How could she have betrayed me like this?

“What do I want? Let’s talk about what you want first. It looks like you got it, doesn’t it? You got the boy, the crown, and next week, you’ll get the internship. But how did you manage everything?” Lifting my hand, I began ticking off points on my fingers. “Let’s see…you stole Roman’s hoodie from my room and hid it in your room.” I watched the colour drain from her face, her mouth falling open. “But no, wait. That one wasn’t to do with the other points, was it? Why did you take it, Pen?”

I could see the moment when she decided to stop lying to me. Her veneer dropped away, and she straightened up, her mouth set in a harsh line. “You didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve the attention of the elites. You especially didn’t deserve something so personal.”

“Maybe, maybe not.” I began to pace up and down in the way I’d seen detectives do in the whodunnit movies my mum liked to watch. “Let’s go back earlier than that. The party at Chaceley Rock. Why did you spike Roman’s drink?”

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