Page 2 of Vile Heart

Andry was right. There had been unrest over the past days outside his father’s office. A killer was on the loose on the streets of Helion, and as the ambassador of Helion in Usurn, worried families had flooded the building and begged for news on their loved ones. They’d wanted the truth.

Thetruth. Camren scoffed and polished off his glass.

The truth walked around here tonight, pretending not to care. The truth had been carefully avoiding Camren over the past two years, and he had let that happen, had trusted that he’d know when their moment would come.

Well, the truth would come out tonight.

The moment had come.

“I’ll have another one,” he demanded, shaking the ice cubes in his empty glass. Turning around, he leaned his back against the bar and took in the view, when a small hand touched his.

“Hi.” A mousy girl watched him, a hesitant smile on her face.

Camren gave her a slow once-over, gaze lingering on the red heart pinned on her chest. He quirked an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”

“No, but I thought—” Even in the dimmed foyer with its shiny sparkles, he caught her blush. She cleared her throat, then picked herself up. “I know what will happen tonight.” She gestured to the black heart pinned to Camren’s chest and shrugged with a nervous chuckle. “If you need any volunteers, you know, I’m available. Should you, I don’t know?—”

Camren held up a hand and the girl snapped her mouth shut. His eyes narrowed as he took her in and his lips ticked up when he caught her fidgeting with her hands. “And you wanted to volunteer?”

“Haellen!” Someone pulled on the sleeve of her blazer, making the red heart glimmer brightly. “Come on.” Still, she hesitated.

Camren suddenly yanked forward and she yelped and stepped back, eyes wide with fear as she finally let herself be dragged away by her friend, “You don’t have the right tools to satisfy me, baby girl,” he called after her, grinning until the duo disappeared out of view. Oh well, it was time to get this party going.

The foyer was even more crowded when he stepped his way back inside. Up at the railing, Ryker and Devyn had gotten into a fight. Other students were gaping when Ares and Zar stepped up to separate them.

“Hotheaded fools,” Camren murmured. Planting his empty drink into the hand of a random student with a, “Here. Put that away, will you?” Camren straightened his blazer. It was time togo and say hi. Ryker had quite the reputation, though he was surprised to see Devyn being ticked off so easily. It was because of Cor Night, of that he was sure. It did something strange to them all. Such as causing a fight between friends. Or bringing up the one thing that had been stored in the back of his heart. Camren wantedhisfriend back.

Usurn was a planet in the Seastea galaxy, rooted in history and custom. Continuing

legacies and rights of passage were big deals, especially for families with history in the

founding of their culture’s rich heritage. Camren was half Usurian, half Helion. His mother’s Usurian family held strong ties with the founding families of this planet, whereas his father had his with the Imperial family on Helion. A planet he’d never visited despite his mixed origins. A planet he could have moved to had he accepted a place at the prestigious Helion Academy. Camren hadn’t wanted to move though. His life was here. His friends were here.

Histruthwas here. His lying, little mouse.

Camren made his way to the railing of the foyer through the concert of bright flickers of light. Everyone, including professors in attendance, wore red hearts pinned to their chests that had a light inside. The brightness was by design since the true meaning of the night revolved around those pins and their ability to be spotted.

Aside from the red hearts, there were only a handful of Black Harts who wore obsidian pins. Camren and his friends. The richest families of Usurn. The leaders of the Praeda.

And his prey was already at the party, trotting around somewhere with that asshole cousin of his. Camren’s fists clenched.

Suddenly the audience gasped collectively, then Ryker stormed past him and headed for the entrance, leaving Camrengaping after him halfway on the stairwell. Whoever he had spotted, was in big, fucking trouble.

“Where the hell have you been?” Ares asked when he joined his friends.

“Around,” Camren replied noncommittally. “Anything good come through yet?”

Illya shook his head.

“It’s not like you can’t just have your pick on any given day,” Ares

stated.

“What’s your excuse then?” Camren teased. “Too busy with your fake lovers to bother

catching real tail?” It was always so easy to rile Ares up.

“Don’t be jealous that I have something interesting to occupy my time.”

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