Page 14 of Don't Look Away

“But if you become a fully-fledged member, then…” She shakes her head. “You could rule this whole damn place. Every resource would be at your fingertips.” She opens the door. “Just think about it, Lux. You might as well use what you’ve got to get what you want.”

With that, she’s gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sit back down on the bed. I felt like Iwasembracing my relationship with Roman, but maybe she’s right. Maybe I’ve been half-in, and half-out this whole time.

And if I want every resource this place has to offer, then I need to slip into my role as queen of this campus andreallyembody it. It’ssoagainst my nature to be in the spotlight, but I don’t feel like I have a choice. I need everything Roman’s name and money can provide, and if that means whoring my soul out to the campus king, then that’s what it means, I guess.

Leaning back on the bed, I sigh heavily and close my eyes.I miss you, Bree.A tear slips down my cheek.I’m going to find out who did this to you, and then I’m going to make them pay…

CHAPTERFIVE

Lux

By the timeRoman returns to our room with the food, I already have several of my boxes unpacked. And, thankfully, it wasn’t difficult finding room for my stuff. Once I shoved his shit aside, mine fit perfectly. It just took some rearranging.

I don’t have tons of stuff, anyway. Everything I have I managed to shove into a small dorm room that I shared with Emily.

And while I was going through everything, I found the necklace Roman gave me. I slip it over my head, smoothing my thumb over the seal. The weight around my neck reminds me just how subjugated a consort is, and I shudder at the thought of wearing a symbol of the fucking patriarchy. But whatever. If I’m going to get information, then I need to play them at their own twisted game, and that means playing by their twisted rules.

When Roman walks in, a food bag in his hands, his mouth falls open. “What the…?” He looks around, his expression growing increasingly horrified. “You moved all my stuff!”

“Yeah.” I take the food out of his hands, then hand him a box, filled with random shit. “Put this in your car. It needs to be donated.” I place my hands on my hips and glance around the room. “I’ll probably have a few more boxes to add later.”

He looks down into the open box. “You’re donating my old surfing trophies?”

I make a face. “They were on the floor. And they were dusty.” I pull one out of the box. “This one is broken, for God’s sake.”

I can tell he’s annoyed, but what can he really say? He moved me into his house without my knowledgeorpermission.

“I’ll put them in the garage,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Great,” I say, lifting a finger. “Also, I’m going to need a maid in hereat leastonce a week. You guys aregross.”

He lets the box fall to the floor, a true indication of just how valuable hereallythinks those items are. “What the fuck happened? When I left this room a half hour ago, you were so grief-stricken, that you could barely move. And now you’re cleaning my room?”

“Wyn came up to see me, and she made a few really good points,” I say, pulling all the useless shit off his beautiful built-in bookshelves. He has random trinkets scattered across the polished walnut; everything from a tube of toothpaste to random Exeter University swag. Do we really need a bright blue stress ball with the university’s seal printed on it?

I toss the ball into an empty box, then take the toothpaste into the bathroom, and shove it in a drawer. Roman follows me, clearly unnerved by me messing with his things.

“And what points were those?” he asks, arms crossed over his broad chest.

“That I’m not helping Bree by lying in bed, doing nothing.”

He narrows his eyes suspiciously. “You were grieving. Lying in bed doing nothing is understandable.”

I shrug. “She encouraged me to embrace my life here, to find a new purpose. So that’s what I’m trying to do.”

I just don’t tell him that my new purpose is to find Bree’s killer, but of course, he zeros in on that statement.

“And what new purpose might that be?” He’s still suspicious of my sudden turnaround, I can see it in his eyes.

I walk up to him, and dip my hands beneath the hem of his shirt, smoothing my fingertips over the ripples of his abs. He unfolds his arms and sucks in a sharp breath.

“She said I should giveusa shot. For real. No half measures. No more fighting it.”

Damn, I’m really putting words in Wyn’s mouth now, but it’sessentiallywhat she was saying.

The suspicion melts from his face, and it’s replaced by… relief. “I never knew Wyn was so wise.”

My hands explore further, moving to his pecks as I stand on my tippy-toes, placing my mouth half an inch from his. “She’s full of great ideas.”

---