Page 19 of Ashes

“I’ll agree to that,” he answered with a shrug. “When?”

“Tomorrow night. Our place. We can sit and talk. We have questions anyway.”

“And I have answers.”

“Fine. Tomorrow night—” I started, ready to give him further instructions.

“At seven. You’ll text me if anything changes. Meet you on the back patio,” he finished for me, making me crinkle my brows.

“Uh, yeah,” I said, confused about how he knew exactly what I was going to say. Maybe it was a coincidence.

“I’ll see you then.” He clapped Sin on the back. “You too.Friend.” And then he was gone, pushing past us and continuing on like we hadn’t just had an encounter in the middle of the commons.

“What was that about?” I asked, tearing my gaze from Seth’s retreating back and focusing on Sin.

“What was what?” Sin grunted.

“Seth. He called you friend.”

Sin shrugged, looking troubled. “I don’t know. Guy’s a nut job. Who knows with him.”

He had that right.

I spotted Church ahead of us. Melanie called his name, and he paused, a scowl on his face as she tottered toward him in her high heels.

“What’s she want?” I murmured, making to go to Church.

Accosting him when he was sleep deprived wasn’t a good idea. Sin followed me over, and we stopped when we reached them.

“So I was thinking I could come over tonight,” Melanie said with a giggle.

“Why do you think I want you to come over?” Church asked, rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

“Because you didn’t claim the mute. She’s not even on campus. Rumor has it she tried to kill herself with Asylum and failed after they were fucking each other—”

It happened in a flash. Church’s forearm was at her throat, and he had her pressed against the wall of the English building.

“Where did you hear that?” he roared, his body shaking with barely controlled rage.

She parted her lips to speak, but no sound came out because he was putting too much pressure on her neck.

I reached forward and rested my hand on his shoulder. Immediately, he released her. She rubbed her throat, her eyes glassy.

“Answer me,” Church demanded.

She let out a cough. “E-everyone is saying it. You didn’t do a public claiming—”

“Just because I didn’t fuck her in front of anyone, doesn’t mean I didn’t fuck her. She’s mine. She belongs to the watchers. I told you that you were out, and she was in. Or did you fucking forget?”

Melanie visibly swallowed. “Church, she’s not right for you. She and Asylum—”

“Nothing happened between them. Do you hear me?Nothing.And nothing ever will.”

“I could give you anything you wanted. I-I can do the group stuff too. I’m sorry I wasn’t willing before—”

“Melanie, stop. We didn’t pick you,” I said, stepping in front of Church before he choked her out. “We chose Sirena. Rumors are just that. They aren’t true. Sirena and Seth had a bad experience we’re looking into, but that’s all. She’s recovering in the medical ward. Nothing has changed for us. OK?”

Her gaze darted between us for a moment. “But Sin said—”

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