Page 227 of Heartless Legacy

“I’ll meet you upstairs.” I say to Holden before following Eloise to the end of the hall.

All pretense of civility fades when we’re out of earshot of everyone else. “Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing?”

“I told you what I’m doing. From now on, we’ll no longer be watching the morning fashion show.”

“Because of her?” She sneers.

“Her, who?”

“Thea! I know you were with her. I can smell her perfume on you.”

We weren’t standing that close, so what she’s smelling is probably Thea’s body wash. I stole the bottle from Finn’s room and used it to jerk off in the shower this morning.

“We talked about this, Pax.”

“You talked about this, Eloise. I didn’t give an opinion one way or the other. But since you’re bringing it up again, let me make myself perfectly clear. Who I spend time with is none of your fucking business. My life isn’t a democracy. You don’t get a vote, so keep your thoughts and opinions on the matter to yourself.”

“I’m going to be your wife.”

Finn enters through the side door, a bemused smile on his face as he passes us. “Maybe. But right now, you’re an annoying pain in my ass. Figure out how to be less of that and maybe I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

I follow him to the elevator, ignoring his poor attempt at hiding his amusement. “Go ahead. Let it out.” I grumble, stabbing the button for our floor.

He looks up at the illuminated numbers signaling the floors we’re passing. “It’s good to have you back, man.”

Chapter 122

Pax

We’re a month out from final exams, which means the summer isn’t far behind. I feel like I’ve been sleepwalking through this semester and if I want to raise my grades; I need to ace all my assignments and tests from here on out. Thea swears she’s going to have a higher grade than each of us in our respective classes, and we all vow to prove her wrong.

Is it a manipulative way to get Finn to focus on his classes? Yes. Does he care? No, and neither do I. The competition is drawn out foreplay and I’m enjoying the hell out of it. I’m also enjoying longer workouts and showers in the morning, now that we’re no longer wasting time with the fashion show.

Finn’s humming as he turns the pages in his textbook. I tease, “Someone’s chipper this afternoon.”

“That’s because things are finally looking up for all of us.”

Things have been better. Thea’s been less antagonistic towards me, even though she still doesn’t fully trust me. Holden and I go to her place a few times a week to hang out with Finn. On the nights when she’s at her parents or hanging out with her friends, or when Finn’s beingFinn,he sleeps at the dorm.

We’ve hit a dead end with the clues we were following, and are relying on the other prospects to lead us to new ones in the bloodline challenge. I make it through typing the next few paragraphs in my paper before a commotion on the other side of the room drags my attention away.

“What do you mean, it’s gone?”

The guy patting his pockets answers, “I had it walking across campus and now… I must’ve dropped it.”

Two other people get up from the table, one declaring, “We need to find it.” I can feel the sense of urgency in his words. They rush out of the library as phones start ringing and vibrating around us.

00020

Emergency session requested. Details to follow.

I read the message twice before putting my phone away. I can read it a third time and it still wouldn’t shed any light on who requested the session or why. My friends and I share a look. We’re all thinking the same thing. Something big is happening.

A week passed before we got additional instructions for the emergency session, and those were to simply check in with our mentors. Mine has been out of town until today. My father rushes at me as soon as I enter the house. “What have you done?” His voice vibrates with anger as he shoves me against the wall.

“Nothing.” I say, genuinely confused about what he’s talking about.

“Do you think I’m stupid?”

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