Page 338 of A University of Betrayal

It was as if this man was trying to penetrate me with his gaze.

Suddenly, he pressed his lips together and looked away for the first time, looking past me.

“I’d have to lie if I said this deal was the only reason I am dancing with you.”

Confused, I waited for him to continue.

“You know someone who means a lot to me,” he murmured with a dark voice, letting go of my hand briefly so that he was only leading me by the waist across the dance floor while his hand slipped into his pocket. “Even though I wonder whatyouhave to do with her.”

The confusion had already multiplied.

What was he talking about?

He stared at me as if searching for something in my gaze.

“She didn’t tell you anything…”

It sounded like a statement.

“Your friend,” he continued, and the dance became slower and more irregular. “Give her this.”

He stopped abruptly and reached for my hand.

I wanted to pull it away, but something cool was already slipping onto my heated palm.

His expression became serious.

“If you don’t, I’ll know.”

And with those words, he let go of my hand, turned away from me and left the dance floor.

As if I had frozen myself, I stood there and let my gaze wander after him until he disappeared into the crowd. And only then was I capable of opening my hand.

That was the moment when my eyes widened and I gasped for air...unsuccessfully.The moment when someone took my heart out of glass and smashed it on the ballroom floor.

Don’t Deserve You

Plumb

First Vivienna, then Margot, and then the other Quatura. They had all wanted to speak to me, but I had tried to walk through the hall with my head held high and fled through one of the exits into the corridors of the west wing.

One hundred and thirty-five. That was the number of steps I managed to walk before my shaky knees gave way.

I collapsed on the floor in the middle of the west wing’s main corridor.

I couldn't breathe.

With my hand pressed over my mouth, I tried to stifle a scream that found its way out in a heart-rending sob. Another sob, mixed with countless hot tears, fought its way out until I couldn’t hold back another sob.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.

Tears flowed. My nose was running.

I slumped against the wall behind me, closed my eyes and continued to sob, the wall freezing.

“What have I done...” I gasped out, struggling for air.“What have I done?”

The words left my dry throat in fragments, which gradually tightened... until I finally laid my head back against the cold wall in a daze and let the feeling of helplessness consume me. Around me, the world freezing a little more.

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