Page 124 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

“That’s Knox,” Romi says. “His family is one of the oldest in Cinderhart. Not a First Fivefamily,” she adds with a sniff, “But with their connections, they may as well be.”

Her finger moves to Smackdown, the muscular juggernaut walking beside Knox. “That’s Mason.” Despite his size, his uniform looks perfectly tailored. Now that they’re closer, I see he’s wearing the same silver vest under his blazer as Knox. “His dad is the Butcher of Jig Street.”

“I’m sorry, what?” It shows how shocked I am that I’m able to break eye contact with Knox long enough to gape at Romi. Even across the quad, his eyes are fucking magnetic.

“And the one with the angry face?” I ask. Does he look like that all the time? Because that was the same expression he wore in the woods on that day. Like he was having the worst day of his life, and thenIarrived.

“That’s Silas. His dad’s acoal miner.” Romi whispers the last as if she doesn’t want anyone overhearing.

“Can we go back to theButcher?”

“Mason’s dad?” She frowns. “Yeah, he’s really good at it. Ask anyone.”

It doesn’t make sense. How can they be so blatant? No, fuck that. What doesn’t make sense is the fact that I’m staring at the three guys whomurderedsomeone in the woods not three months ago.

The Serpents go to the same school as me.

It’s official. My life can’t possibly get more fucked up than this.

Chapter 11

Silas

“Well, slap my ass and call me Sally,” Mason says dryly. “Is that...?”

“Nim fucking Winters,” Knox replies.

“What the hell is she doing here?” I ask, and Knox turns to look at me with a frown.

“Let’s find out, shall we?”

Mason lets out a quiet rumble of a laugh as we head down the path toward Nim. “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if she’s going to school here?”

“Hilarious?” Knox shakes his head. “No. It would be bizarre.”

“How did she get in?” I realize my hands are in fists and hurriedly shove them in my pockets. “I thought you have to live in Cinderhart to go to school here?”

Knox holds up his hand, counting off on his fingers. “Resident of Cinderhart,threeunrelated sponsors, and the first year’s tuition up-front.” He lets out a grim laugh. “She’s not a student. She’s a tourist. Follow my lead.”

The girl next to Nim goes stiff when she sees us approaching. She grabs Nim’s arm and tries to lead her away, but Nim hasthose big, doe-like eyes fixed on us and she isn’t budging. Even when the three of us stop right beside her.

“Where’s your visitor’s card?” Knox asks, all steely voiced and dead eyed.

Nim’s friend steps forward, herding Nim behind her like an overprotective mother, but her voice quavers when she says, “She’s not a visitor. She’s a student.”

Knox’s lips twist into something unpleasant. “She’s not in uniform.”

Her friend’s voice drops to a whisper. “She only just got here.”

Knox cocks his head. “Have you forgotten the rules, Ms. Furino? Students aren’t allowed on campus grounds during school hours if they’re not in uniform.”

I know Knox is the Student Body President, but I’m still flummoxed by his ability to remember everyone’s names.

Nim pushes past her, standing in front of Knox for all the world like she doesn’t remember who the fuck we are. “I don’t have a uniform yet. Maybeyourswas waiting for you the day you arrived on campus, but we can’t all be as fortunate as you.”

She’s even prettier than I remember, and I made a point of remembering her. We all did. We couldn’t help it.

That afternoon in the Silverash Forest, this girl ruined something special. I haven’t forgiven her for that. I doubt the others have either. I’ve thought a lot about her since then. At night, in the dark. I thought about the things I would do to her, how I’d make her pay for destroying that special moment between Lorenzo and us.

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