Page 9 of Shattered Jewel

And how I suspect the other half is still out there somewhere—possibly even within my reach.

As well as the Court’s.

By the end of it, I’m curled up at the head of my bed, knees drawn to my chest, as Sasha paces the room.

The glow of our desk lamps throws her shadow against the walls, elongated and fluttering.

“So you’re saying...” Sasha knits her brows together. “These men—Cav, Kaspian, Axe and Wilder—are after the ruby Heart? That they want to find the other half? And if they don’t ... they’re toast?”

Nodding, I watch as she stares off into space.

She looks back at me suddenly, her face ashen. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. My voice is hoarse from all the talking and the growing trepidation. “But I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

Sasha studies me for a long moment, her gaze probing. Then she nods. “We’ll figure this out. We’ve faced worse before.”

I chuckle softly at that, the sound devoid of true mirth. “Have we? Have we really?”

She gives me a pointed look. “Your goldfish died during our freshman year. That was pretty tragic.”

Despite myself, a real laugh bubbles out of me, genuine and cathartic in its release.

Sasha climbs onto my bed, curling around me protectively. Her warmth is the softest blanket, and despite the chilling topic of conversation, I feel safer.

“Above anything else,” she says into my hair as her fingers trace soothing patterns on my arm. “You’re not alone in this. I may not be able to stand up to those brutes physically, but there are other ways.”

Her voice lowers ominously on the last sentence.

“I have to find the other half of the ruby Heart before they do,” I say.

Sasha pauses, shifting to look at me with newfound concern etched deep in her face. “I was thinking we call the cops on them. Schedule a raid. Or forge a letter from one of them to the Dean admitting to inappropriate relations with a professor.”

“That’s not enough,” I counter softly. “Maverick made this my fight when he unknowingly brought disaster upon himself. I became the necklace’s custodian when he died, so everything is intertwined. And if I don’t step up now, the Court will, and they’ll keep covering their asses. Maverick’s killers will never be found.”

“And the guys? Do you care what happens to them?”

I sigh, avoiding the question and rubbing my temples. I’m so tired, but sleep is a luxury I can’t afford right now.

“I just ... I need to find the other half of the ruby Heart and end all of this before it gets any worse,” I murmur, gazing blankly at the worn carpet between our beds.

Sasha’s arms tighten around me as if she’s trying to lend me her strength through that simple gesture. “They might care for you too, in their own twisted way.”

Her words hit home. As much as there is a bitter rivalry and reckless manipulation between us, there’s also an undeniable connection—an addicting brew of attraction and my unrelenting wish to save them before this gets worse.

I stiffen in Sasha’s hold.

Save them. Like I have any idea what I’m saving them from. They said they were killers, but their hands do nothing but elicit ecstasy from me. They claim to be the Sovereigns’ slaves, but the savage glint to their eyes tells me they enjoy viciousness over escape.

“I don’t trust them,” I say to Sasha. “Not completely.”

“But...?” Sasha prompts, her eyes reading the hesitation in mine.

“But, I feel there’s more to them than what they present to the world.” My gaze falls onto my hands. “Maybe they’re not entirely to blame for the actions they’ve been forced to take.”

It’s a thought that grew stronger the more I broke the story down for Sasha.

Sasha cocks her head to the side.

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