Page 58 of Deadly Sacrifice

He shakes himself out, glaring at me as he gets into position with his fists up and knees slightly bent like this is some above the board fight. While he’s wasting time trying to focus on his form, I’m already barreling forward to take him down.

I ram the guy with my shoulder to his stomach, falling with him as he grunts. Righting myself, I straddle him and let loose. My fists make a sickening crunch sound every time they collide with his face. He gets a few good hits in too, but not enough to get the upper hand.

“Fuck you, mute freak!” he shouts, digging his heels into the dirt to try to flip me off.

I grin. My lip is cut, and I’m sure my teeth are a little bloody, and who the fuck knows what kind of monsters he sees in my eyes. Just like some drugged-up douchebag to pick on something he doesn’t understand. My hand is curled tight around his throat in a matter of seconds, and maybe I should feel bad about how quickly his face loses color, but I don’t. All I feel is a toxic kind of out of control from deep within me that rarely sees the light of day.

By the time Asher manages to pull me off the guy, he’s unconscious. And still, I feel ready for more. I’d probably kill him without a second thought right now. I’m desensitized, crazed, and ready to spill blood for no other reason than I’m having a bad fucking day.

I guess that’s what happens when you grow up in a cult.

Asher and Creed always joke about The Celestials being a secret society, but I know better. I’ve seen the dark underbelly of this world we were raised in. I’ve learned their secrets and almost died because of it. And now I’m being forced to do their bidding.

30

Prudence

It’s October. Only two and a half months left of the semester, and just about nothing to show for it. I haven’t heard from my mom. I don’t know if she’s doing okay. But I’m still as motivated as I was the day I walked onto campus. The only problem is that Griffin has been distant all week since his parents were here, and without him, I’m back to square one, searching for ways into The Celestials without him.

At least there’s always one thing to count on around here; on Saturday nights, there’s bound to be a party.

I show up to the Beta Ep. house around nine. Annie and I walk through the front door arm in arm. We may have pre-gamed a bit. I’m not drunk, but I have a nice buzz going on that I’m hoping will give me some courage tonight.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” Annie shouts over the music, side-eyeing the open living room where Mark and a bunch of other frat guys are playing flip cup.

“Want me to come?” I ask. You know, for moral support. It took a whole hell of a lot to convince her not to hide in our bedroom for the rest of the semester. Mark is a dick, but I won’t let her wither away just because he’s likely going to be around. The best payback is showing up and looking like you’re doing just fine without them.

Annie gives me a tight smile, shaking her head and causing some loose tendrils to slip out of her bun and fall around her face. “Thanks, but I’m good. I just need a quick pep talk in the mirror. I’ll find you later.”

“Okay, I’ll just be… here,” I offer her, shrugging and tucking my hair behind my ears. She walks away, and I shift on my feet, scanning the crowded space. Parties are so not my scene, but I wanted to talk to Griffin and Annie needed to get out of her week-old pajamas. It seemed like a win-win, but now that I’m standing here alone, I’m considering pressing my back against the wall and trying my best to act invisible.

But then I see him.

No, not Griffin. Unfortunately.

Creed smiles at me across the room, walking forward and parting the crowd with nothing but the intense energy radiating from him. I suck in a deep breath, conflicted and angry at myself because of it. My mind remembers that broken feeling he left me in after the closet thing. My pussy remembers nothing but the ecstasy he gave me. And my lips want to slam against his and draw blood.

My mind wins out, and I turn on my heels to follow Annie to the bathroom. Maybe we both need a pep talk to calm our nerves tonight. I only make it a few steps, though, before Creed is at my side, curling his fingers around my neck and breathing out a sinful chuckle behind me.

My spine is rigid when I spit out, “What the fuck do you want?”

He steps closer, searing my back with his body heat. “Just a dance,” he purrs against the side of my neck, pressing a kiss just below my ear. “For now,” he adds.

“No,” I say bluntly, even though my feet refuse to move from this spot.

Creed wraps one arm around my stomach, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Why not?”

I look at him, putting our mouths far too close together. “One, I don’t want to. And two, I need to go check on Annie,” I reply.

Creed rolls his perfectly disastrous amber eyes, curling his lips up into a crooked, cocky smile. “Relax, Ember. Mark won’t go anywhere near her with me around,” he assure me smoothly. He stands and rounds me, facing me and taking my hand. “Come on,” he pleads, cocking his head to the floor of dancing bodies.

I narrow my eyes, reluctantly following him. “What did you say to him? That day in the cafeteria.”

We stop at the edge of the makeshift dance floor. Creed pulls me in until our chests are pressed together and I have to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. He lifts my hands and puts them around his neck and then puts his hands on my waist and rests his forehead against mine while we sway. We don’t match the beat of the music at all, but Creed doesn’t look like he cares.

“I told him that I’d cut his dick off and mail it to his mom if he tried that shit again,” he answers casually. “But who knows? Maybe he’ll catch me in a really bad mood and I’ll just kill him instead. Then your friend wouldn’t have to worry.”

I blink a few times, furrowing my brows at that image. “Um, I— Wow, okay. Because that’s not totally insane or anything,” I say dryly.

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