Page 16 of Validus Vale Academy 1
“The British AUA. The one who was here last year for a few weeks. The ones your friends liked…”
Theodora Fucking Cunt Wilson.
“What about her?” I snarl. Even her name is like poison to me.
“She’s, she’s here, sir.”
“Here?” My mind short-circuits. She’shere?At Validus Vale?
Simon nods. “In with the remedials. I heard she got the Guggenheimer Scholarship.”
I keep my breathing even, refusing to show a scrap of emotion. “Did she come alone?”
“Yes, sir. It’s just her. Arrived this afternoon.”
As the shock wears off, I realize this is averyinteresting turn of events. Very interesting indeed. “You can go, Simon.” I hand him $100. Loyalty has its rewards. “And keep tabs on her. Daily reports.” He practically bows as he scuttles out.
“Who’s this Wilson chick?” Troy slurs, filling his glass again. “You gonna fuck her up, bro?” I ignore him, my mind in a storm.
She came back—and without the twins.
“Dude?”
Something snaps. I can’t tolerate this asinine moron polluting my space for another second. “I am not your bro. Or your dude. Don’t speak to me, don’t touch my food, and don’t drink my whisky. Understood? I don’t even want you in the same room as me.”
“Fuck you, asshole.” Troy slams his glass down, the crystal thankfully heavy enough not to break under the force. “You can’t talk to me like that. I’m the third-highest-ranked witch in this fucking academy, and you know who my father is.”
“And my family makes yours look like a convent of nuns. Don’t test me, Troy. I am not in the mood.”
He glares, then stalks off, knowing better than to push back.
“Am I going to fuck Theodora Wilson up?” I hiss at the empty space once his bedroom door slams shut. My gaze drifts to the wide leather sofa, the ghost of laughter echoing in my memory from the nights hanging out with Donovan and Wes. I’d betrying to read, and they’d be goofing around, making fun of my taste in literature.
Donovan waves a glass in front of my face. “I made a cocktail just for you, Cos.”
I looked at the dubious concoction and raised an eyebrow.
“It’s Down Rum Toddy? Get it? Say it fast.” He lets out a giggle, and behind him, Wes grins.
“Down rum toddy?”
Donovan starts chanting it over and over, then cracks up. “Downton Abbey! Like your posh show.”
“That doesn’t even make sense. They’d have been drinking French 75s in the early twentieth century. You can make me one of those.”
“Yes, m’lord.” Donovan falls to his knees, bowing and giggling.
Being with them allowed me moments where I felt young and almost free.
Yeah. I’m going to fuck her up. And once she’s broken, I’ll get my twins back. Because if she’s here, they won’t be far behind.
Theodora Wilson has no fucking idea what’s coming for her.
6
The morning finds me decidedly unrested.
My night had been a riot of disturbing, vivid dreams—all starring, of course,them.Even in my subconscious, I’m not free of their hold on my heart. I rub my eyes as the last tendrils of the sharp and unsettling dream vanish.
