Page 148 of Pretty Poisoned

River extends her arm, and Hazel drags the blade lightly across her wrist. I watch as the blood pools and begins dripping down her arm. My mouth waters.

"Well, don't waste it," Hazel says.

I hesitate for only a moment more before I take River's wrist and bring it to my mouth, sucking blood from the cut, clenching my thighs together as wet heat pools between my legs again and River lovingly runs her fingers through my hair.

There's a knock before the bus doors open one more time, and Declan and Eli step on. I release her arm and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

"About fucking time," Luca says.

"Shut the fuck up," Declan scoffs.

I hear his footsteps stop beside me and feel him looking down at me. When I don't look up, he reaches for me, using two fingers to tilt my chin toward him. My eyes meet his, and he leans in, kissing me on the lips slowly, deeply. His tongue slips into mymouth where, if he hasn't already tasted the blood on my lips, he'll be able to taste it now. I hold my breath until he pulls away.

"Good morning, Teagan," he says.

"Good morning..."

He says nothing else before continuing up the staircase. Eli follows him, pausing only long enough to spare me a disapproving glance no one else notices—a look that tells me he realizes I won't be running and thinks I'm stupid for it.

I hope the look I send back reassures him that I'll never tell.

Luca leans over the counter in front of me. "Did you guys make up or something?"

"No," I tell him. "I don't know. Maybe."

He still manipulated me. He still hurt me. But I do miss him. I'd be content to spend the next nine hours lying next to him with a book and his arm around my waist. Of course, I won't do that.

"Just be careful, Teagan," River says. "Don't piss him off again."

"I didn't—" I pause, deciding not to bother arguing that I didn't do anything to him—all I did was react to something he did to me. I point to Luca. "I thought you all saidhewas the dangerous one."

River shrugs. "Well, apparently not when it comes to you. Declan is usually pretty predictable. He's…I don't know how to describe it."

"He's unbothered," Hazel says. "Byeverything.He's always in control. There's something about you that's bothering him. That's dangerous—for you."

"So, what? You think he's going to kill me or something?" I force a laugh when I ask the question, even though I'm not joking.

"You'll be fine, Teagan," Luca says, seeing the worried look on my face. "Don't listen to them. I know him better than anybody.If he wanted to hurt you—if he wanted you dead, you'd know it. Do you think he wants that, baby?"

"No," I tell him. "I don't think that's what he wants."

But I'm still not convinced that he doesn't want me to hurt myself—that he doesn't want what Alana said. To get under my skin, to make me love him, to control me.

And then watch me go insane.

"Well, then there you go. You're fine."

"Wow, Luca," Brady chimes in from behind us. "Your logic is impressively delusional."

"Hey, shut the fuck up."

"For the record, I actually agree with Luca," Rhett adds.

"I'm going to go check on him," Hazel says, passing me on her way to the staircase. "I don't want him to feel left out."

"Well, what does everyone want to do all fucking day?" River asks.

I know what Iwantto do all day. But I'm not going to do it.

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