Page 112 of Brutal Prince

And so do I.

We’re only a few feet away from each other, still his hatred washes over me like an icy wave.

He knows I know.

He saw me last night.

He’s going to—

Marcus stares straight at me until I hear the door whoosh open again behind me, then his eyes dart past me. “There you are,” he says, before his eyes are on me again.

“Here I am,” Briar says. He walks right past me, even knocking my arm with his as if he’s suddenly gone blind in one eye.

Marcus’s gaze dashes back to me, but then Briar has his arm around his shoulder, swiveling him around.

“You’re stoned,” Marcus says, frowning at Briar.

They could have been brothers with their long legs and narrow waists.

Bloodbrothers.

Goosebumps break out on my arms, I turn and hurry the other way. If I’m fast enough, I can make it to homeroom before Briar and avoid seeing Marcus again. Avoid his aura of penetrating evil from touching me.

I’m still reeling when I arrive at Ms. Parson’s class. I slip into my seat by the door and draw out a notebook, flipping it to a random page. I put my head down and start doodling like my life depends on it, desperate to untangle the spaghetti-mess of thoughts clumped in my head.

I don’t get very far.

My phone starts vibrating with an incoming call. When I see the name on the screen, my fingertips start tingling.

Addy.

I could take it in the hallway — there are still a few minutes before the second bell — but that might mean bumping into Briar on his way in. Possibly seeing Marcus again too, depending on where his homeroom is.

Instead, I take a quick look around, turn in my chair, and put my phone to my ear.

“Hey, you okay?” I say.

“I guess,” Addy replies in a thick voice, like she’s been crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just…family stuff.” Fabric rustles against the speaker. “Listen, I’m not coming to school today, but Maxine told me Dylan’s throwing a party.”

A party? The fuck do I care?

“Addy, do you have something on Briar?”

But she ignores the question and keeps on talking right over me.

“You should try to get in. I know I said I didn’t like your plan but…I think it’s the only one that’ll work. I’ll see if I can work something out but—”

“Addy. Addy, listen—”

“—I might be gone for a few days, so I don’t know if—”

“Indi?” At the sound of Ms. Parson’s attempt at a stern voice, my stomach drops.

Dammit.

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