Page 126 of Bad for Me

Everly’s text comes to mind and hope flutters in my chest as I lean toward him.

“Everly said the university’s gossip app reported the rumor, but the information from that app is vague at best. Just because the Missive knows about us doesn’t mean that everyone else knows. What if this is merely a warning for me to hide my tracks better? Think about it. If he wanted to end me, why would the Missive mail a message to you rather than send my name as a command to a current Crow on campus?”

My father paces in contemplation as I pull out my phone and text her back.

Me

Does the rumor mention names? Pictures?

For once, the fog doesn’t block my message from sending and I don’t have to wait long before she responds.

Everly

No, actually. It just implies there’s a student-teacher relationship on campus. Girls on my hall showed me the OOTF this morning.

Relief floods through me. If the rumor doesn’t mention our names, there’s still time to salvage this situation and keep Everly safe.

I set my phone aside and face my father again. “No pictures, no names. And if the Missive sent that message toyouand not one of the current Crows, then it’s a warning, not a command. A rumor about a student-teacher relationship isn’t a death knell to a university, but confirmation could be, so the Missive might be trying to stop the rumor from spreading on my end before it gets out of hand.” I pause, thinking about what no names or proof might also mean for the university. “Then again… the rumor could also be about someone else.”

The thought makes me frown, and my father huffs.

“God help whoever else it could be about. They don’t have our Rutherford name and the Order’s connections to protect themselves.”

“God help them, indeed.” I resist shivering at the familiar chill that always settles in my bones when I think of the Order’s power and influence. Once the urge passes, I crave Everly’s warmth again. If I’m to keep her safe, though, we’re going to have to be more discreet.

“I’ll keep Everly under the radar for her sake. No one will know about us,” I promise.

“Know about you?! Woodrow,” my father growls. His face reddens again as he continues, “You have to end this now before you actually get caught.”

“We won’t. Compared to what I did during my time as a Crow, maintaining a low profile during a relationship will be easy. If you think I can’t keep my love life under wraps, then you don’t know your son as well as you think you do.”

He tilts his head and rests back in his chair. “Your love life, hm? Do you, then?”

My brow furrows. “Do I what?”

“Do you love Everly?”

Yes.

My heart leaps to confess but the word lodges in my throat before it can escape. Do I love my student? My stepsister? Can people fall in love in days after one “hates” the other’s existence for five years? The answer should be no, and yet, while the way I feel for Everly in such a short time feels crazy, it’s like she said Friday night. It also feels right.

I meet my father’s gaze and answer in the most sane, honest way I can for now.

“I’m not sure. But I know she’s worth fighting for, and that’s enough for me, for now.”

His face softens as he nods. “I’ve always known she’s worth fighting for. I’m glad that you see it now too.”

He pushes up from his seat and pats his pocket where he stowed the envelope.

“This was my command, so I’ll be the one to send a message back.”

I’d argue with him, but he’s right. Tradition dictates that the letter stays with the Crow who received it until the command has been completed by them. If another Crow takes it over instead, both are punished, whether they follow through with the command or not. If the Missive accepts my father’s message, then we’ll be in the clear.

“Text me as soon as you know. But, Dad, thiswillwork,” I reassure both of us, keeping my voice steady even as my heart races.

My father gives me a pointed look. “It better. Or I’ll kick your ass before one of these Crows does, I can promise you that.”

“I don’t doubt it,” I answer with a dry laugh.

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