Page 4 of The Preacher's Pet

His words strike pain into my heart. No, she’s not happy to see me. It brings me back around to wondering just what the hell happened to her. Could her parents have told her something about me or my family that has made her never want to speak to me again? The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I wouldn’t expect that of them—they were always so nice to me—but really, our families were enemies of sorts. Perhaps they did.

My mind doesn’t want to explore the other possibilities too closely. That something truly awful might have happened to her while she was missing.

Malachi rakes his hand through his dark hair. “We could probably find out what room she’s in. We could go to Mrs. Tarnowski at student reception and see if she’ll take a bribe.”

I shoot him a disbelieving look. “For one, Mrs. Tarnowski is not going to be there at this time of night, and for two, I don’t know how Ophelia will react if I just show up at her door.”

Mal shrugs. “If you guys were friends, why would she mind?”

I shake my head. “She seems different now.” I remember how much I’ve grown and changed over the years. “I guess we’rebothdifferent now.”

“Are you sure she even recognized you?” Roman asks, arching an eyebrow. “I mean, you were wearing a mask.”

“She recognized me. I know she did.”

Malachi snorts. “And that’s why she ran? Doesn’t sound like she wants to be friends anymore.”

His words shouldn’t hurt as much as they do. “She’s practically a stranger to me now,” I say, “as I am to her. Maybe it should stay that way.”

Roman agrees. “Yeah, we don’t need to get involved with some damaged girl from your past. We’ve got enough going on without worrying about her.”

Roman calling her damaged stirs anger inside me, but I force it back down.

I glance back in the direction of the Vipers’ lair. Roman has his cross back now, and the Vipers seem to be settled with the biker chick with the tattoos. “I don’t think the Vipers will be causing us any more trouble.”

“Now they’ve had their balls cut off,” Mal says with a smirk.

I think he’s underestimating the Vipers. They’re always going to be our enemies. But as long as they stay in their wing, and we stay in ours, we’ll keep the peace.

Voices come through the undergrowth behind us and two of the Devils burst into the open. Great, just what I need.

“What the hell?” Dom growls. “Why were you chasing that girl?”

He thinks he’s his father, the head of the college these days. Stupid fucker. I shake my head, not wanting to deal with him right now.

The trees sway, and another figure races into the clearing. I recognize the girl, Camile.

“Is the entire party coming?” Malachi drawls.

Camile’s brows draw together, and she shoots him daggers. “It’s not funny. Where is Ophelia? Why the hell did you chaseafter her?” She sucks in a shaky breath and turns her attention to me. “What did you do to her? She took one look at you and ran.”

Ouch. That hurts because it’s true and I don’t know why. I pinch the bridge of my nose, really not needing any of this.

“I know her, from when we were kids,” I say. “I have no idea why she ran, and I just wanted to talk to her.” I glare at Dom and Tino. “She’s gone inside, she’s safe, and I wish her no harm. I suggest you get back to your Duchess and the party. There’s nothing for you to do here.”

“We had to make sure she was okay,” Tino says. Out of the Devils, I hate him the least. He’s more laid-back than Dom, and less crazy than Kirill.

“Well, she is.” Malachi rolls his eyes. “And we’re turning in for the night, so you can fuck back off to the sad party.” He smirks. “Didn’t have you guys down as sucking the Vipers’ cocks.”

Tino doesn’t take the bait, he merely smirks. “You were there too, Mal.” He uses the shortened version of Malachi’s name with sarcastic emphasis. Tugging on Dom’s sleeve, he turns away from us. “Come on, D, let’s fucking go.”

He takes a few steps. “You coming, Camile?”

She shakes her head, her dark hair shining in the lights of the college grounds. “I’m going to check on Ophelia. Can you tell Mackenzie I’ll catch up with her later?”

“Sure,” Tino says, and he and Dom turn and walk back into the woods.

The minute they’re gone, Camile turns to me, all righteous indignation. To my utter shock, she pokes me in the chest.

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