Page 156 of Seeds of Malice

Avery takes two, hands them to Lilly and me, then grabs one for herself.

Dax and Bobby each take one too.

Avery holds her glass out and says, "To my new sisters," then she leans into us, asserting, "I know you're both going to make it through the night. Don't worry about anything. They'll try to scare you, but I promise there'll be no harm. It's just to ensure you're strong enough to be a sister. Because once you're one of us, it's a bond that will never be broken."

My stomach flips.Why would they try to scare us?

Dax chuckles. "Don't look so scared, you two. All sororities and frats try to scare you. There's nothing weak about either of you, right?"

Lilly laughs. "Nope! I'm not weak."

Dax turns toward me.

"No, I'm not either," I declare, telling myself again that I can and will do anything. Again, this is important to Dax. He claims it'll change my life. So why would I want to mess that up?

"That's right. You're not," he affirms.

"All right, you two, get out of here," Avery orders, taking her two fingers and motioning for Dax and Bobby to leave. "I have things to do with my soon-to-be sisters."

She slings her arms around Lilly's and my waist and leads us out of the room and up the stairs. She guides us down the hall and into a bedroom.

Cindy and Marcey stand in the room with flutes of champagne in their hands. They're both wearing little black dresses, just like Avery.

"You look amazing," Cindy gushes, coming up and sliding her fingers over my gold mesh skirt.

"Thanks," I reply. She's been nice, but I'm still cautious around her. She used to sleep with Dax, and I don't know how she could ever get over him, even if Avery has claimed several times she has. But she's not done anything since Avery warned her, so I should stop being hesitant around her.

Marcey steps up next to her. She reaches for my top and slides her finger over the side of my breast. "Wow, this material is amazing. Where did you get it?"

I ignore the fact that she touched my boob, telling myself it was innocent. I shrug. "I don't know. Dax got it for me."

"Of course he did," Avery says, and for a moment, I'm not sure how to take it. She adds, "He's so in love with you, all he thinks about is you. He's hiding several more boxes at my house to surprise you after tonight."

I arch my eyebrows. "He doesn't have to keep getting me gifts."

Avery puts her hand on her hip. "Yeah, he does. You're his woman."

I laugh.

"Plus, he's so proud of you." She smiles, opens her mouth, then shuts it.

"Is there something you want to say?" I question.

Her face brightens. She hesitates again, but her smile widens.

"What is it?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "I shouldn't tell you."

"Tell me what?" I fret.

She glances at the others.

"Avery!"

Marcey groans. "That's not fair, Avery. Tell her."

Avery releases a breath, then steps closer. Her floral scent flares around us. She lowers her voice and states, "You can't tell Dax I told you."

---