Page 12 of Beautiful Venom

And it is, but now, I don’t have Violet with me.

Megan is actually a local to Stantonville and could’ve gone to SRC, but she purposefully applied for a scholarship here because, in her words, “This place is the shit. Aside from their famous hockey program, SRC doesn’t have much to offer.”

The Stanton Wolves are the Vipers’ biggest rival. Both teams are known to produce the best NHL players, and their ‘Cold War’ games are easily the highlight of the college league.

Despite Megan not being massively interested in hockey, she was brought up surrounded by these two legends, so she knows more than the rumors I’ve heard and what my technical research can produce.

“I didn’t go for anyone,” I say to keep up the conversation. “He was generous enough to let me take a fan selfie after the game.”

She shifts her attention from the mirror and hikes a hand on her hip. “You’ll sit there and tell me with a straight face that you don’t want to be anything more than a fan?”

I spin my fountain pen between my fingers but remain silent.

“That’s what I thought,” she says with a gloating facial expression, then looks at the mirror again to pat her red curls. “Better not get your hopes up. He’s top of the food chain, as in royalty, in this college, town, and world. People like you and me don’t mess with people like them and get out unscathed. So lower the standards…unless you only want to fuck him? In that case, get in line. I’d let that man throw me around like I’m his puck. I heard from an acquaintance of an acquaintance that he has a huge dick to match the energy.”

“Megan!”

“What? Gotta do my research before opening my legs. And I just did yours, too. You’re welcome.”

I laugh despite myself. “What else do you know aside from rumors about his dick size?”

“That’s all I need.” She side-eyes me. “That’s all you need as well if you want to stay out of trouble.”

“I just want to know my chances.”

“You have none. Those people who live up the Hill only get into relationships with each other, marry each other, and produce little minions like themselves who’ll repeat the cycle all over again. We’re outsiders, D. Outsiders get no chances.” She looks up. “Dear God, in the next life, I want to be reborn as a rich man. Amen. Hold on. With a huge dick also. Big amen to that. No pun intended.”

“So outsiders get no chances, but fucking is okay?”

“Hell yeah. Fucking is harmless fun. Anything beyond that is not. If you want to be super realistic, you’ll get a better chance fucking that manwhore Preston—who accepts all girls’ advances—than Kane. Hell, Jude might be easier to fuck than Kane. It’s hard to get that man excited about anything other than hockey. His hookups are few and far between. Either he’s training to be a monk, or he has one hell of an NDA in place, because all the girls want a piece, but few have managed to get it, and those who did don’t talk about it.”

Fucking Kane is the last thing on my mind right now. Okay, notreallythe last. I’d be lying if I said I don’t find him hot. Under different circumstances, I’d be open to some harmless fun like Megan, but with my situation, I need something deeper.

A lot deeper.

“Have you ever been to Ravenswood Hill?” I ask. “You know, to snoop and see how they live.”

“Hell no. This pretty head.” She motions at her face. “I want it kept on this pretty neck. Thank you very much.”

“Is it that dangerous?”

“Fuck yeah. Listen. I know you’re probably one of those students who loves the thrill of secret worlds, haunted houses, and enchanted forests, but this is not a horror movie. Those who’ve dared to go close to the Hill have disappeared without a trace. Don’t become a statistic.”

I already have. I have nothing else to lose.

But Megan is right. Going to the Hill just to snoop without any entry or escape plan in place is just asking for death.

That’s why I thought the best way would be to achieve entry through the team.

Megan sprays a cloud of perfume before she leaves, attempting one final time to invite me to the latest ‘sick’ party. However, she gives up when I tell her I’m studying tonight.

At least, that’s what I intend to do.

I find it hard to focus and barely finish reading a case study for ethics.

My phone lights up and I check it to look at the pictures Megan’s sent of ’what I missed.’

The pen nestled between my fingers stills and drops on top of my textbook when I find a DM from @kane.davenport.

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