Page 3 of Inside the Wicked

“Eight o’clock!” Riley sings at my back.

In the theater hall I take a space near the back with no one around me. My peace doesn’t last long before Adam Sullevan occupies the seat next to me. I wish he wouldn’t. Despite making amends with him, and despite him being the only person who knows what I truly get up to with my time, I don’t want any company.

“I wanted to check how you’re doing,” he says quietly, cautiously. Like he knows about the serpent I am.

“Fine.”

“Ana—”

“Do you need something, Adam?”

“I need to know you’re not being forced to do shit you don’t want to,” he hisses low.

The lights dim for the lecturer’s presentation.

“I’m still there by my own will,” I drawl. “You can quit your concern.”

“It’s been months. How long do you plan to keep this up?”

“As long as it takes.”

“To do what?”

I turn my head toward him, and he winces at my cold eyes. “I made sure he spared your life once. I won’t be able to do it again if you keep prodding. Leave me alone, Adam. Forget my existence if you must. You don’t want to keep sniffing around business that could get you killed.”

“And who looks out for you, huh?”

“I do.”

“You don’t have to do it alone.”

He truly believes he can help. I pity his lack of self-preservation. Hypocritical, maybe.

“Yes, I do.”

Adam gives up with a shake of his head as he turns back to the projector screen.

“I heard you’re going out to the Night Palace tonight,” he says.

It’s the first time I’ve known whereRiley plans to take me.

“Is there something happening there tonight?” I inquire.

“Some rich kid’s birthday, I think. Not the most elaborate venue, but a lot of students will be there.”

I can hardly suppress my groan. Then again, it could work to my advantage that Riley will have others to keep her company while I inevitably pretend to drink too much and have to leave. I can’t get even close to drunk tonight. I don’t want to know what punishment Alistair will have in store for me if I show up hungover tomorrow.

“I want to help you,” Adam says softly. I hate the gentleness.

“You can’t,” I snap. “I don’t need saving. Stop looking at me like some sort of damsel in distress.”

“You’re letting him change you.”

“You’re wrong. This has always been me. It’s just a shock because no one wants to believe it.”

“Kaiser wouldn’t want to see you this way.”

I’m close to erupting, and this is not the place to break. My voice turns venomous. “None of you knew him. You don’t get to throw hiswantsat me. He’s not fucking here.”

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