Page 35 of Dig Your Grave

My cheeks warmed.“Revealing how?”

He shrugged, looking away.“Let’s just say the Skulls have historically enjoyed humiliating novices, especially women.At least this updated version covers more.”

I swallowed.“Thanks for the heads-up.”

He nodded.A heavy pause followed, tension thick as an anchor in the room.We were on the cusp of something huge, something that threatened to devour both of us if we failed.

Anubis exhaled softly.“I also wanted to see you one last time before the Trials.In case tomorrow goes sideways.”

My heart lurched.“Don’t talk like that,” I whispered.

He stepped closer.My breath caught.The overhead dorm light cast half his face in shadow, emphasizing the strong angle of his jaw.His eyes, that strange swirl of green and brown, fixed on me with an intensity that sparked heat in my core.

I realized we’d been dancing around each other for weeks, moments of real closeness overshadowed by crisis and deep desire.Now, that unspoken electricity felt stronger than ever, overshadowed by the knowledge that tomorrow we’d step into the Skulls’ lair.

He skimmed his hand up my arm, searching my face.“I’m not going to lie, Suede.I’m terrified.Not for me, but for you.”

I swallowed a knot in my throat.“I’m terrified, too,” I admitted.

He cupped my cheek gently, his thumb brushing over my lower lip.I felt the slight tremor in his touch, he was as affected as I was.My instincts warred.Was it safe to let him into my heart, to care for him, when everything was so precarious?

And yet, this was the moment to choose trust or walk away.My body decided first.I leaned into his hand, letting my eyes flutter shut.A beat later, he was kissing me, tender, cautious at first, then deeper as my arms wound around his neck.

His hoodie smelled of soap and the faintest hint of cologne, a warm, comforting blend.The taste of him was dizzying, and the pent-up tension spilled over.It felt like exhaling after holding my breath underwater for days.

When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard.Our eyes locked, an entire conversation unspoken.I don’t think he’d kissed me once all weekend in the jail cell, even though he’d done everything else to my body, mind and soul.

We sank onto my bed in a tender rush.Gentle caresses, hushed murmurs came from us.Nothing like before, as we shed our clothes.We were forging solace in each other's arms before the looming trials.The night became a blur of raw passion, real passion, as Anubis, dominated me in truly every way.All the ways he had before, but now my heart as well.He entered me whispering reassurances, quiet vows of whatever happened next, we’d make it through it together.

In the aftermath, whether simply resting in each other’s embrace or just sharing a stolen kiss, I felt though we might not survive tomorrow’s Trials unscathed, we weren’t alone anymore.We had each other.

Outside, the campus lay still under the dark sky.But behind my eyelids, I had a thought about his words in the caretaker’s cabin.Maybe we really could upend the Skulls’ twisted tradition.

Friday night arrived with ominous swiftness.The campus air was charged, as if everyone subconsciously sensed something large was at play.Anubis and I spent the day separate, he had a mandatory Rowing practice, and I had to maintain my normal schedule or risk suspicion.

But as midnight neared, I slipped on the black slip dress and the hooded cloak he’d given me.A shiver scuttled down my spine.The dress clung to my curves more than I was used to, and the cloak’s hood draped low over my brow, hiding my face in shadow.

I was to meet Anubis by the caretaker’s cottage, the same place where we’d first uncovered the original Skulls’ ledgers.My sneakers crunched over fallen leaves as I crept down a seldom-used campus path.The moon glowed behind a haze of clouds.

A figure waited near the cottage door—Anubis, dressed in black slacks and a matching hooded cloak.He gave me a slow once-over.“You look…” He cleared his throat, seeming at a loss for words.

I felt oddly self-conscious, heat creeping along my collarbone.“Strange?”

“Beautiful, but in a dangerous way,” he murmured.

My heart fluttered.He took my hand, guiding me into the caretaker’s cottage.Inside, it was dark save for one flickering candle on the old desk.I glimpsed the shelves full of forbidden archives.

Anubis shut the door.“We’ll head to the Alumni House in a moment.But first, I want to give you this.”

He opened a drawer and pulled out a sleek black phone.“Use this if anything goes wrong.It’s a burner phone.Programmed with my number only.You can ditch it afterward.”

I closed my fingers around it, trying not to show how touched I was by the precaution.“Thank you,” I said softly.

He blew out the candle.Then, hand in hand, we walked back outside.Around the rear of the cottage was a dirt path leading through a dense stand of trees, behind which a sleek black SUV waited.A driver in dark clothes stood by the passenger door.

Anubis squeezed my hand.“We’ll ride with some other participants.Don’t say too much.I’ll do the talking.”

My stomach churned.Other participants?We approached the SUV, where two robed figures already sat in the back seat.The driver gave us a silent nod as we climbed in.

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