Page 26 of Wicked Dreams

Out in the hall, students are waiting to get into the academic wing.

My gaze finds Caleb in the center of the crowd without trying. I swear, he always has a beacon of light on him. How else can I pick him out so effortlessly?

And just as fast, he spots me. His beautiful lips tip down, down, down, until they threaten to slide right off his face.

His two other friends, Liam and Theo, are throwing around a football. Eli is in the middle of them trying to intercept it. But Caleb stands still, hands in his pockets and completely unbothered.

Except for the way he watches me.

“Why’s he staring at you?” Riley whispers.

“Great question.” I wet my lips. “Maybe we can just go a different way?”

“The other doors are locked,” she mumbles. “And I don’t have a key for those.”

Of course not.

“Caleb!” Savannah brushes past me, headed straight for him.

She walks right up to him and touches his chest. He glances at her, but his gaze switches back to me. There’s a new gleam in them, one that gives me pause. He touches Savannah’s shoulder, but not in a friendly way. He pushes her aside and sweeps past her, still zeroed in on me.

I don’t love where this is going.

“Oh dear.” Riley gulps.

He stops right in front of me, impossibly tall. I crane my head back to meet his burning gaze. Something has him angry, but I have no idea what it could be. I just saw him an hour ago in the tower, and…

“Where do you go?” he demands.

Huh? I tilt my head, trying to make sense of his question. “When?”

“For lunch,” he spits. “Do you hide out in the bathrooms?”

We’re gaining more and more attention by the second.

But instead of cowing, I straighten. His interrogation pisses me off.

“I’m sorry, Caleb, am I supposed to report to you?” I plant my hands on my hips.

His eyes flick down, lingering on the opening of my shirt for a heartbeat before his eyes trail upward. His movements are slow and steady, everything in complete control.

In opposition, my heart races.

“You should,” he says. “Haven’t you heard?”

“Heard what?”

“That I’m the fucking king of this castle. My word is law.”

“You’re ridiculous,” I snap.

He grins. Not in a good way—in an unhinged way. I don’t love that look and have the distinct feeling that I misstepped. It’s like calling a girl crazy and suddenly being proven right. That she is, indeed, crazy.

Is Caleb about to go full psycho on me? Surrounded by people?

“Ridiculous,” he echoes.

“Yes.”

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