Page 12 of Deadly Sacrifice

A hint of a genuine smile flickers on her lips. She nods, saying, “Maybe if you prove to be a decent guy, I may just say yes one of these days.”

An eager determination lights up in Asher’s eyes while I look between the two of them for answers. What the fuck are they talking about?

“Or,” I offer, trailing a finger down her arm. “You can tell them all to go fuck themselves and spend mornings after a party with me. I’ll need plenty of one on one if I’m going to survive.”

Asher sighs, mumbling something under his breath, but I don’t care enough to listen. My focus is solely on the subtle blush working its way up Prudence’s cheeks. Oh, fuck yes. She’s going to be so much fun to mess with.

8

Prudence

I’m in the library late, with only an hour until closing. I prefer it like this, when there aren’t hordes of students milling about. Technically, everyone is respectful and quiet, but I can still feel eyes on me like pins and needles across my flesh. Now, there are only a handful of stragglers scattered across the large main floor.

I’m hyper-aware of anyone nearby as I walk through the stacks, pulling book after book as I go. Unlike probably most of the people here, though, I’m not grabbing these to help me study. I’ve got two books on the school’s history, one on the city of Black Creek years ago as Blackwood University was formed and built, and a few other random ones that I thought looked interesting.

I settle into a lone table in the far back, up against a window with a view of the entire main floor. I don’t like the idea of someone sneaking up on me, so I keep my attention divided between the books and the people lingering in the library.

My eyes get heavy the longer I read, and before long, I’m barely able to stay awake. I’m really not a night owl, but my new rooming situation leaves a lot to be desired. Or I don’t know, maybe I’m a judgy asshole. Annie seemed perfectly nice when we met, but the guy hanging off of her as we moved in to our room was a walking red flag. The look in his eyes screamed I’m going to be here screwing my girlfriend regularly, so you’d better find somewhere else to be.

Whatever. I don’t mind spending all of my free time here. It’ll be good for me to read as much of this as fast as possible.

The last hour is gone in a blink, and the librarian rings a little bell on her desk before announcing that everybody better get packed up. I rush to close up the books spread out on my table, and then I grab the pile and hurry back to the stacks where I pulled them. Each one is thick and heavy, so I’m not breaking my back lugging them back to my room in my backpack.

I’m so busy trying to find the exact spot where I found the books that I’m not nearly aware enough of my surroundings. I back right up into someone behind me. Jumping, I spin around and clutch the person’s arm in apology, but the books are so heavy that they all tumble to the ground the second I’m not gripping them with both hands.

“Oh, god, I’m sorry! I’m so clumsy. I’m so sorry,” I rush out, dropping to the floor to pick them all up. The person slowly crouches too, grabbing one of the books and silently flipping through it. It’s then that I finally raise my eyes, and all the hairs on my body stand up. It’s the gorgeous guy from my first day. The first one, I should say, since he certainly wasn’t the only hottie on day one. He’s the guy who — intentionally or not — rescued me from Asher the other day.

His golden tan and icy blue eyes steal my breath, as does the focused wrinkle in his brow as he skims a few pages from the book about the school’s history. I awkwardly clear my throat as I hold out my hand, glancing back to see if the librarian is checking the aisles for students yet. He flicks his gaze from the book to me, arching a brow as he waves it in the air.

“Can I have that back? The library is closing any second, and I don’t fancy getting on the librarian’s bad side so early on,” I tell him, looking over his broad shoulders to check for the librarian again.

He shakes his head and then nods to the other books that I’m clutching to my chest.

Looking down, I bite my lip and consider telling him to fuck off, but for some reason, I don’t. Instead, I hold the top one out for him, and then the next, setting them back on the floor so he can see. “I’m not from around here,” I explain, pulling my sleeves down to cover the scar on my wrist. “I wanted to learn about the city and the school, since I’m going to be here for four years, you know?” I shrug with an awkward laugh.

Again, he shakes his head, pointing at the title of one of the books with an aggressiveness that shocks me. Black Creek Founders and The Stars That Lead Them Here. I hadn’t gotten through that one yet, but the look in this guy’s eyes tells me I should have started there.

“What are you—“ I stop and sigh, scrubbing a hand through my wild red hair. I take in the animated expression, the way he’s pointing and huffing at the book, and the fact that I haven’t heard him speak a single word. And then I sit back and try something.

Can you sign? I ask with my hands, going slow for good measure.

He blinks a few times, and some of the tension drains from his muscles. With a tired nod, he signs back, These aren’t good entertainment. Take it from someone who’s lived here his whole life. The history of this town is boring and filled with ridiculous conspiracy theories.

A smile tries to tug up my lips, but I hold it back. It’s not often that I can put my signing knowledge to good use, and it gives me a small thrill to have a conversation beyond the basics of class.

I’m a conspiracy theory fanatic, I reply with an arched brow.

He rolls his eyes and stands, taking the books with him. He slots them into the shelves with ease and then turns to me. While he looks down at me, he signs, Leave it. There are better things to learn. And then he turns and walks down the aisle.

I follow with a frustrated exhale. The librarian narrows her eyes at us as we cross through to the doors, and I apologize for being the last ones out. When he gets outside, he slows, a scowl forming on his face as I gesture for his attention.

Maybe since you know so much, you could help me. I chew on my lip, going back and forth with myself, and then decide to just go for it. What harm could it do? My mom went to school here, too. She told me stories of powerful stars underneath the campus. Would you know anything about that? I sign desperately.

All at once, his face shuts down and he shakes his head angrily. Old observatory or something. Not safe, though. Trust me.

Why should I? I counter.

Because not doing so could risk your life, he frantically explains. He gives me a moment for that to sink in, and then he gently wraps one big hand around my arm and leads me away from the front steps of the library.

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