Page 253 of A University of Betrayal

“Please don’t call her that,” I sighed, realizing with a sense of disappointment that my glass was empty. I resisted the urge to pour myself a refill. “Her name isJ.”

“J...”Miles thought aloud and turned to me with a wink. “Well, then maybe I’m notcompletelywrong.”

I had often thought that her name might not be J at all. But Julia? God damn me if she shared even ahintof a name with someone who was a thorn in my side.

“Listen,” Miles said, turning back to me. “I’ll forget about thatunfortunate incident.”He let his fingers wander over the old vintage globe in the corner of the room, letting it spin, and I tried for the twentieth time to block out the fact that this guy was touchingeverythinghere. “But not just like that.”

I leaned back, resting my head on the back of the couch, the strands of my light matte blonde hair slipping out of my forehead.

“What do you want, Miles?”

I didn’t even try to hide my frustration.

I had thought the DeLoughreys were responsible. David, I was sure, would have already reported me to the DUIO at the DLSC and probably the DUIO, with Bastien DeLoughrey in the lead, would have personally dragged me out of here.

But this young man here didn’t seem to be acting in the interest of his family.

“The Copelands don’t want me on their football team.”

I raised my head and looked at him in surprise.

“I’ll get you in,” I said.

If that was his demand, I wouldn’t sayno.

I hadn’t missed that contest between him and the Copelands on the big campus lawn. And I was still fascinated by how that Senseque girl had managed to knock him down. I would pay a fortune to be able to do research on a female Senseque.

“And...”

I sighed.

Of coursehe had a list. Did I look likefuckingSanta Claus?

I leaned forward, propping myself up on my knees.

“I want to be your partner.”

I raised my head.

“Mywhat?”

“Life on this campus is boring. You seem like a cool guy, even if you are a bit weird.” Miles spread his arms as if the offer of a lifetime was about to come. “Listen.” He came back to the couch and squatted down in front of me. “This partnership ismutual.”I stared at him grimly. “That meansyoucan expect things from me, too.” He rose and began pacing the area again. “It’s always good to know a DeLoughrey.”

“Of course...” I murmured unenthusiastically.

How could I have thought it was exhausting to have a puppy on your hands when there was Miles DeLoughrey, who seemed to have a lot of growing up to do.

“I’ll take that as ayes,”Miles said, strolling toward the front door.

I jumped up.

“Wait! You can’t just…”

“Yes, I can,” he interrupted me and opened the door. “After all,youwant me to keep your little secret from both DUIO and the Quatura, and to forget that you’re using my blood for your shady little experiments.”

He smiled mischievously, and I suppressed the urge to smack him, but ran a hand over my face.

He couldn’t be fucking serious.I wasn’t working with anyone because I couldn’t trust anyone...

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