Page 58 of Fallen Gods
My fingers curl. That chill races down my arms, and I flex against it hard, shoving my hands into my pockets.
“Enjoy the show,” I finally mutter, turning to go. I should leave it there. Should walk away.
But I glance back once, just for a second.
He’s still watching Rey. Not leering. Not assessing.
Guarding.
And that’s worse.
Because whatever game I thought I was playing with her, I’m not the only one playing anymore.
And though I don’t lose…
Something tells me he doesn’t, either.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rey
“So what’s next?” I ask, watching Aric’s back as he walks away.
We’ve moved to a corner of the room. Most of the freshmen are raiding snack tables or wandering off to mingle with one another or to chat with their advisers. But a few of the others from our getting-to-know-you group are lingering next to Rowen and me, clearly unsure what to do next.
The hall echoes with a low hum of too many conversations, and I could curse my overly sensitive nose. I’m picking up stress sweat and cheap perfumes, an assortment of body lotions, soap, and coffee. It’s distracting.
Eira sighs and checks her watch. “Please tell me this is actually over and we won’t be forced back into some team-building exercise, because I say no.”
Rowen clears his throat next to her, as if to say,you don’t really have a choice. Seriously, why is he here? And why hasn’t he said something? His silence is worse than the lingering stares he keeps shooting in my direction, like I should be able to somehow read his mind or something.
Eira glances over her shoulder before he can open his mouth. “You’ve been working for like an hour. Shut it.”
He holds up his hands. Normally I would laugh, because I’m the one who bosses Rowen around, but instead, I’m just extremely confused.
“Working?” Ziva asks. “Working in what manner?”
“Yes,” I add. “Working forwho?”
Eira waves her phone like it’s obvious.
Ziva and I share a look. No, no it isn’t.
“I’m a makeup influencer,” she says, as if that explainseverything, and honestly? It explains a bit.
“You don’t say,” Ziva deadpans. “So he’s your personal protection from someone trying to steal your eyelash curler?”
Eira shrugs. “A threat can come from anywhere.”
All right, that’s actually a valid statement.
“Besides,” Eira continues, “my dad’s high up at Odin Enterprises. It would be a publicity nightmare if something were to happen to me. I mean, can you imagine?”
Oh, I am. Imagining.
She realizes I’m the boss’s daughter andIdon’t have a bodyguard, right?
But this is an ingenious way to get Rowen on campus without looking suspicious. Although I wonder why Father didn’t just send him as my bodyguard. Or have him enroll as a transfer student or something.
