Page 58 of The Knight

His shoulders tighten, and his steps slow, tension thinning out his mouth. I can tell he doesn't like the question, but thankfully he says, "I don't blame you for wondering."

Hastily, I add, "You're all so different. But you most of all. And not just because you were born in Europe."

"Our parents have been friends for a long time. Especially my mom and Cole's father."

"Is that it?" I study him. "Because your friendship seems deeper than just convenience or childhood nostalgia."

Not meeting my eyes, he admits, "You're right. We have a bond that exists outside our circle of influential and powerful family members. Even if we didn't go to the same school now, we'd probably have the same friendship. But we're very different people."

"So why?" I press him. "Why be friends with him at all?"

"Because..." He trails off, seemingly reflecting, and I wonder if he's remembering every moment of his childhood with Cole. "He's not just the person you see now. There's more to him."

"Like what?"

"His fierce loyalty. His belief in others. The fact that he never backs down, even if sometimes that's more of a flaw than anything. Cole has been there for me. He'll be there for you, too, as you testify."

"Somehow I doubt that." Looking up at him, I dare to ask, "Will you be there for me in the coming storm? Not just today, but in the future?"

"I'll try." He squeezes my hand, and warmth flows through me. "Whatever you need, just tell me."

"Another kiss wouldn't hurt," I tease him.

Leaning down, he tilts my chin up with his fingertips and presses his warm, parted lips to mine. The kiss is deeper, more confident now that we've done this a few times. He knows the way in, can sense how to stroke his tongue across my bottom lip and make me shiver with delight.

Pure please courses through me, undeniable and raw in a way I've never felt before.

Until a voice cuts through it all and ends everything. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Get away from him—get away from each other!"

I take dizzying steps back at the sound of Cole's anger, heart leaping to my throat in panic and he strides over to us, Tanner trailing in his wake by several feet. Anger written in the lines of his face, his scowling brows and harsh green eyes, Cole reaches out with both hands—and shoves Lukas in the chest so hard that he nearly falls.

"Cole!" Angry at him for ruining a perfect moment, I step between him and Lukas, even though I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Cole is just as likely to shove me as to stop fighting. "Cut it out."

"You." He spits the word out, looking at me like I'm a rabid dog that turned up on his doorstep. "The sooner you leave, the better for all of us."

Lukas, rubbing his chest, frowns at his friend. In a voice full of quiet rebuke he simply says, "Cole."

"I mean it. What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Cole advances on us, and I can't tell if he's trying to intimidate me or threatening to shove Lukas again. "This is some two-timing manipulative bullshit."

I scowl at him. "What the fuck are you talking about? I'm not two-timing anyone."

"Oh yeah?" Cutting his eyes up at Lukas, he demands, "Did she tell you that just a few weeks ago she nearly fucked Blake?"

"Hey!" Bringing my hands up, I shove him, just a little, but my half-assed strength does nothing but get me two palms full of warm chest. My eyes go to Tanner, standing casually behind Cole, looking bored out of his mind, then back to Cole's piercing green eyes full of anger. "There's nothing between me and Blake. Besides, that wasmonthsago. And it wasn't... we didn't go out on a date or anything."

"So you're fastandeasy," Cole taunts, and I blush furiously, shoving him again—this time hard enough to send him stumbling half a step back. I can feel students starting to trickle in from off campus, and the embarrassment of this, how public it is, makes me want to stab Cole to death. He says, "You know, Brenna, I've heard before that country girls are bow-legged for a reason. I just never knew how indiscriminate you'd be. What, one rich guy isn't enough for you? What's next—all four of us?"

He makes it sound like I want their money. But that's not why I'm doing this at all. Every bit of it has been a means to an end.

"All I want is revenge for my brother."

"So you don't want us, then, do you?"

"No!" I declare, curling my hands into fists in front of me. "I don't want you at all!"

"See?" Cole lifts his eyes and looks at Lukas, who is standing right behind me. "You're just a tool for her. A way to get back at the system that ground Silas into dust. She doesn't care about you—she'll never care about you. It's all a game to her."

Horror mounts inside me, and I whirl to face Lukas, trying to stammer out an explanation. "It's not—I didn't meanyou.I wasn't using you."

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