Page 82 of Into The Darkness

I opened it and took a sip. “Oh, why didn’t anyone tell me these existed? These actually taste good.” Ash laughed and linked our fingers, guiding me to where Rain and Pico and his girlfriend were.

The music was loud, and the place had been transformed into what felt more like an actual frat house versus a den of sexual rituals. I couldn’t help but admire Pico’s girlfriend acting normal and carrying on with Rain. Then Pico and Ash shook hands and hugged.

“Yo, Ember,” Pico said, sliding up to me and giving me a side-hug.

“Hey.” I offered a tight smile, not sure how to assess the situation.

My gaze locked on Rain. He was looking at me in a way that was so . . . different. I couldn’t quite understand what he was thinking or what was going on with him, but I didn’t love that my boyfriend’s best friend and stepbrother hated me.

“How do you feel?” I was pulled from my thoughts by Pico’s girlfriend. “It was kind of awkward when we had to party afterward, so I was just checking in.” She offered me a sweet smile.

“Oh, thanks. Yeah, no, I don’t feel as awkward as I thought I would?” We both laughed.

“My name is Marissa.” She offered her hand, and I shook it.

“Ember.”

“Is it weird for you?” I asked, not sure how I feel about Ash and me ever participating in anyone else’s initiation.

“We love it. It’s become our thing. I’ve been dating Pico since high school, so we were one of the first that had to initiate since we came to college already dating.” I narrowed my eyes at her. “It spices things up.”

“I can see that.” She linked her hand in mine.

“I don’t have many girlfriends. Not many people understand our lifestyle, so if you ever want a study partner or something, I’d love to hang.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I’d love that.” I will just file away having sex with her boyfriend in the box in the back of my mind.

“Fuck this.” Rain threw his beer can down, and it splattered everywhere.

“What the?!” Ash screamed at him, getting splashed.

“I’m out.” Rain pushed past me, and Ash looked at me apologetically, the corners of his lips pulling as his eyes bore into mine.

“He’s grumpy.” Ash looked over his shoulder at Rain. “Amor, I have to go check on him.”

I shooed him away and said, “Take care of your business.” He nodded, giving me a kiss on my lips.

“If you need me, any of my men will come get me. Just tell Pico or whoever.”

We were in our little bubble in Isles, but all bubbles must eventually pop, and when ours did, it would not be pretty.

Chapter thirty-three

“Stop. Immediately,” I demanded.

“You sound like your dad.” Rain huffed as he slammed his bedroom door behind us.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked.

“Aren’t you tired of all of this, Ash?” He waved his arms around. “Doesn’t this charade exhaust you?”

“What are you talking about?” I questioned.

“All of this.” He sat on the bed. “You have to initiate Ember into this because you want to protect her, yet you know you are going to fucking murder her brother in a few months.”

“So?” I asked.

“So?” He screamed back at me. “She obviously isn’t going to want you to do that. She is going to be pissed if the plan goes through—”

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