Page 27 of Soulless Rivalry

“Hey, wait!” Elyssa exclaimed as soon as I started stomping away from her.

I heard a thumping sound, like she’d let the book fall to the ground in her haste to follow me. She didn’t stop to pick it up though, like her curiosity wasn’t stronger than her desire not to be left alone in the dark. Soon enough, she was back on my arm as we both silently ascended the stairs together. Once up there, I splayed both hands on the stones and searched for whatever we had pressed earlier that had forced the wall open.

“Why are we already getting out of here? There are still so many things to look through down there.”

“Don’t let me stop you. By all means, get back there and have fun.”

Of course, I knew she wouldn’t because the dark scared her too much.

She remained silent and, after sighing loudly, like I would care about her obvious disdain, she started feeling the wall with me.

At some point, her fingers grazed mine and we were both quick to pull apart. As always, the feeling of her skin on mine was electrifying; I could barely take it but, at the same time, I craved more.

When, finally, I felt a stone give way after I pushed down on it, I held my breath. The wall opened back up and the dim light of the hallway nearly blinded me from how used to darkness I had gotten.

Elyssa rushed out of the secret passage and went to grab her phone that had fallen during our altercation. I silently made my way towards her, hearing the wall get back into place from behind me.

She inspected the screen before turning back to me. She seemed surprised at how close I had gotten, but I didn’t care.

Cupping her throat and ignoring how soft and warm her skin felt against my hand, I got in her face. “Not a word about this to anyone. You hear me?”

Gritting her teeth, she reluctantly nodded.

Prideful little thing.

KONSTANTIN

Days passed and people went back to their usual routine. A week after Buxley’s death, it was like nothing happened. Actually, if it wasn’t for the makeshift shrine that some people had made at the foot of the tallest wall of the great court, I was pretty sure everyone would have forgotten about the pet’s death.

There were pictures of him throughout his years at the academy, candles, and even little dog toys that people got for him every year. To me, it was bordering on ridiculous, but I guess it was just another one of these things that my brain wasn’t wired to understand.

“Did your brother get back to you with the info I asked him to find?” Royal’s voice next to me pulled me out of my thoughts.

I didn’t look at him, gazing at the darkness surrounding us instead. Something was wrong with the woods tonight. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what, but I felt weird. Like something was out of place.

“Not yet. Alexei is busy with school and any info on the new girl is locked up tight. Whoever her dad is, I’d say he’s pretty powerful.”

He groaned, sticking his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Ever since she spilled her drink all over him on the first day of school, Sinem Agüley was all Royal was able to think about. He was bordering on stalkerish. Following her all over campus and making up fake accounts to follow her on social media. The first one was not that weird according to me, but the second one was downright pathetic.

“Tell him I’ll pay him double the initial amount if he’s able to get it by this weekend.”

Without a warning, I socked him in the shoulder so hard he groaned.

“My little brother isn’t your bitch. He’s a fucking Korolov, don’t throw money at him like he needs it. Imply something like that again and I’ll slit your throat.”

Used to me, Royal only rolled his eyes and muttered, “Fucking Korolovs,” under his breath. I could tell he was pleased with making me angry, though, from the little smirk on his lips. Alexei was the youngest of us all and in his last year of high school. He still lived at home back in Olympe, Louisiana, with our parents.

We walked the rest of the way to the Church in silence, coming to a stop before the big oak doors. One of the two huge double doors had been left ajar. Royal sent me a confused look because the only people who had access to the Church were us and we knew never to leave it unlocked, let alone open. The school was filled with people who didn’t like us, or downright wanted us dead. The Academy was a neutral ground, but still, it never stopped them from trying to fuck with us.

Tryingbeing the keyword.

With my head, I motioned for Royal to follow me silently and he nodded once.

We entered soundlessly, keeping our steps as light as possible, which wasn’t easy considering both our sizes.

Once inside, I didn’t see anything missing. The statues were still there—but again, why would anyone steal these pieces of junk? Nothing seemed out of place, and the lights were off.

Royal turned to face me and opened his mouth, probably to say the same thing I was thinking out loud when a low grunt was heard from upstairs.

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