Page 54 of Underground Prince

She tugged at a piece. “I say it with love. What’s with the sudden change? Did you drink some dye along with putting it on your head?”

“Well…” I busied myself slipping my laptop into my bag as we walked. I’d come in late last night, Theo’s driver dropping me off around four a.m. I didn’t see Verily when I woke up this morning—or not so much woke up as unfolded out of my seated position on my bed. I hadn’t slept, my mind firing like a line-up in a gun range, thinking, considering, wondering, hoping. One thing was for sure: I wanted more. Of Theo, of his world, all of it.

“I had an epiphany last night,” I said to Verily.

“Where’d you go, anyway? I was kicking myself all night.” She stopped us in the pathway, causing other park-goers to have to part around us. “I’m sorry about the whole Noah thing.”

“Verily, you meant well. It’s me that’s the problem, not you.”

“That’s a little harsh.”

“But true.” I shook my head at any more arguments. “I did a lot of thinking last night and I’m going to try. Not to get back to normal, but to at least make an effort at—everything.”

“You mean…” Verily regarded me through lowered lashes. “Have a conscience again?”

I laughed. “Yes, that thing. No more sleeping around, enough with lying to my parents and friends. I’ll even attempt….” I took a breath, tried saying again, “I’ll even attempt to hang out with our old posse.”

“Even N—” She clamped a hand over her mouth, as if afraid the mere mention of his name would curse everything.

“Even Noah,” I finished for her.

“Scar!” She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged hard. “This is wonderful!”

“I said I’d make an effort,” I said into her jacketed arm. “Not do.”

“That’s enough for me. C’mon. Let’s go get a latte to celebrate before my next class.”

“Sure.”

Something was keeping me from telling her about my adventures last night. Maybe it was because I liked having this secret Theo and I shared…a clandestine kiss, promising whispers, seductive warnings. At the thought, I licked my lips and despite the chilled air, warmed at the remembrance.

“Be honest, Vare,” I said. “Did you take a giant salary cut to be with me? To introduce me to this and make sure I was okay?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m going to be late and I need a coffee first. So do you, as a matter of fact. You have these purply things under your eyes that are matching your hair.”

“What I’m trying to say is, you can go back to that. Leave me to it. I’ll be all right.”

“Nuh-uh.” Dragging me by the elbow, Verily pulled us along the path.

“Vare, come on. I’ve had enough of an introduction—”

“Last time we left off, Sax was booting you out on your pretty little rump for defying him. You’re not prepared yet and you know it.”

“What is he, the king of the underworld?” I asked.

She screeched to a halt. “See, this is what I mean! He’s no one to mess around with and you seem to be making it your life’s purpose to make his head explode.”

“I can’t help it,” I said. “It’s like a tic.”

“You’ve got to snap out of it, then. He’s hot, yes.” She held her hand up, beginning to tick off her fingers. “He’s smart, he’s savvy. Did I mention gorgeous and mysterious?”

I inclined my head. “Are you setting me up for a trap?”

“He’s cold.” She clenched her hand into a fist. “Ruthless. I’ve seen him go into rooms with people and those victims never come out.”

“Vare…” But I couldn’t exactly argue with her. I saw the gun.

“Maybe I’m being overdramatic on that part. They do come out. But limping and stuff! And bruised, and very scared.”

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