Page 65 of Twisted Legacy

My hands shake, my stomach churns, and my ears ring as I try to remember what it was. This happens every time I think too hard about that night. It’s like my mind and body are trying to protect me from whatever happened.

I look around the room again. The people here, and anyone at school, could be the perpetrator. I hate feeling like this. I hate being afraid and on edge. I hate being stuck, like I can’t breathe or move on. Taking a deep breath, I decide it’s time I stop avoiding and figure out what happened.

Chapter39

Pax

Ifiddle with my cufflinks, trying not to look as irritated as I feel. Of all the things I’d like to be doing on a Thursday night, spending time at this party isn’t one of them. I know it serves a purpose and with the end of the semester fast approaching, this is the perfect time to get some last-minute face time with important people and donors before everyone scatters for winter break.

My parent’s included. Every two years the families go on a member only retreat, no kids allowed. They’ll be back in time for the town’s New Year’s celebration and then school will be back in session. I’m looking forward to a month where all league business comes grinding to a halt.

I’m standing near the front of the room where I’ll get the most exposure and shake hands with another senator who tells me he appreciates my support.

“What are they doing here?”

I keep my face impassive as I finish up my handshake and order a drink from a passing server. I need a drink, but I also need something to keep my hands busy. Why did I ever agree to let Eloise ride with me?

“Do you know what she’s doing here?”

I nod at another person walking by before responding, “This isn’t the place for your petty little squabbles.”

“I-”

“You, nothing. I don’t care that the two of you can’t stand each other, you save that shit for campus. If you make us look bad, you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting it. And before you try to hide behind your arrangement with Finn -let me be clear- your status as a future wife doesn’t mean shit to me or anyone else if you can’t act the part with Thea in the room.”

“I’ve been trained to smile and hug my adversaries. It’s her you have to worry about.”

Thea might be as eloquent as a rusty fence blowing in the breeze, but she cleans up well. She’s wearing an off the shoulder midnight blue cocktail dress with an asymmetrical hem and strappy shoes. She’s always in sneakers or boots on campus, but she’s gliding around on those heels just as confidently as the other women who wear them all the time.

She scans the room, then smiles when she recognizes someone in the corner. It’s one of the other pledges from Zeta Nu. I look over at Eloise and see her glaring at Thea, LJ, and the pledge. “Fix your face, Eloise.”

“Why are they talking?”

Finn walks up with his father, and says, “Why wouldn’t they be Ellie? Aren’t the Zeta Nu’s trying to convince our newest legacy student to re-pledge?”

The investigation into Thea’s accident is over, and to appease the council, we’ve all agreed to redo the entire rush season. Eloise’s vote is next week. I think the Zeta Nus are waiting until after the vote to make an official decision about inviting Thea to re-pledge. If it’s up to Eloise, the answer will be no. Finn putting her on the spot in front of his father, pretty much guarantees she has to send the invite.

I don’t care if Thea’s a Zeta Nu or not. What I do care about is that she’s not joining the Lady Lions or any other sorority. She can say no to Zeta Nu, but it better be a string of no’s to everyone else, too.

Finn walks off to mingle, leaving me to deal with hisfiancé.I should not have agreed to let her ride with me. I didn’t know it meant she’d act like we’re together.

“Pax?”

“What?”

Eloise huffs again.

“Clearly you’re not having a good time with me, Eloise. Perhaps you should go hang with one of your lackeys.”

“Where’s Finn?”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say he’s somewhere avoiding her -like I wish I was- until I see him dragging Thea into the throng of bodies dancing stiffly in the middle of the floor.

I look in the direction they came from and see Barrett Devereaux staring at them. I can read Thea’s body language well enough to know she’s uncomfortable dancing with Finn, just like I could tell whatever Deveraux said to her was about to get an answer he wouldn’t like.

This is one time when Finn’s obsession with this girl may have come in handy. The league members here will see us interacting with her, and it keeps her bitchy comments under control for a few more minutes. Holden walks over to where I’m standing and says, “Eloise, you’ll need to find your own way home.”

“Why?”

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