Page 64 of Validus Vale Academy 1
Time for avery long, very hotshower—courtesy of my friend, Ludo.
28
The moment I step out of the shower, my phone rings—I know it's him before my eyes even register the caller.
I’d assigned the prick the perfect ringtone. American Nightmare by Ice Nine Kills.
My stomach clenches, a familiar pulse of anger and hopelessness increasing with each insistent ring. I have to answer before the voicemail kicks in. I quickly dry my hands, snatching my cell with a sliver of a second to spare.
"Father?"
"Cosmo." His voice is sharp, like always. No pleasantries, it’s always business. “The Singleton-Smith girl; you are to start dating her. Her father expressed an interest in mingling our bloodlines, and I tend to agree with him.”
Hard fucking pass.
I keep that thought in my head and grit my teeth. “I thought you despised that family. Why would you want an alliance?” A heavy knot begins to form in my stomach.
"Don't question me, boy," he snaps, impatient and icy. “If you ever possess more power than I do, then you can make the decisions. Until then, you do as I say—you know I don't need to compel you."
The words hang between us. I’ve done some terrible things at my father’s bidding, all for the safety of my sister.
"OK." The agreement tastes like ash in my mouth.
"Start immediately. The girl knows to expect your attention."
"I understand," I say, the words hollow, echoing the emptiness inside me, as my father hangs up.
Fuck.
Seriously, fuck my life.
Yes, Jordan is objectively beautiful, but there’s something about her fake tits, fake blonde-barbie hair, and fake flirtatious smiles that makes my skin crawl.
Everything’s gone to shit since the twins left. I could handle my father when I had their support; they had their own twisted parents, so they understood the hell I was living in. Donovan's ridiculous sunshiny bullshit and Wes’s intense, poetic soul worked miracles, giving me the fortitude to do whatever I had to do without disintegrating into despair.
But thenshehappened, fucking Theodora Wilson, and everything changed.
Gods, they’d be laughing their asses off, knowing I had to date Jordan fucking Singleton-Smith. But amidst all the piss-taking, they’d also figure out a plan to help me through it. Wes would put his clever mind to finding out a weakness to exploit. Donovan would give ridiculous suggestions, like I spell her become a lesbian.
Fuck. My. Life.
The phone, still in my hand, chimes.
UNKNOWN:So excited that we’re dating! Escort me to the dining hall this evening to announce our union <3
I change the unknown number’s contact name to HARPY.
ME:I’m busy
HARPY:Get unbusy, or I’ll tell my father
"I need a drink," I say out loud. And yes, it’s only mid-afternoon, but fuck it. Crossing to the liquor cabinet, my hand hovers between bottles and eventually pulls out the tequila. I try to remind myself that Jordan is just a pawn, like me, but that doesn’t conjure up any empathy.
At least having this ‘date’ in the cafeteria—stark overhead lighting, crowds of students, same-old same-old menu—will be casual, no faux-romantic bullshit.
Jordan obviously didn’t get that memo. I pick her up, as instructed, at 6pm. She opens the door, and I’m enveloped in a sickly sweet scent. Her scarlet cliché of a dress clings from her tits down to mid-thigh. She does a little twirl after air-kissing me hello. The back dips down to her ass crack. Yes, her ass and her tits are perfectly sculpted, and she doesn’t have an ounce of excess fat, but I’d bet my bank account that it’s the result of a slimmerglow potion rather than workouts.
Slimmerglow. Hmm. That stuff is nasty, and everyone who uses it ends up shitting themselves from time to time—especially when eating rich foods.
