Page 30 of Deadly Sacrifice

Creed kisses me once more and then slides me down his body until my feet hit the floor. “I better get you back home. But…” he trails off, studying me for a moment with those fucking eyes. “Tonight was fun. You’re more than I expected,” he finishes, lacing his fingers with mine and starting the journey back.

I feel the heat rising in my cheeks, even though I should be well past getting shy around this guy. He literally just had his hand down my pants. Tucking my hair behind my ear, I smile and say, “You’re welcome.”

He looks down at me with an amused expression. “I don’t recall thanking you.”

I shrug, nudging his shoulder with mine as we walk. “I know. But I gave you a chance, even though I’m firmly not dating, and you had a good time. We both did. So you’re welcome,“ I explain, giving him a cocky grin.

Creed laughs, bringing our joined hands up to his lips and kissing my knuckles. “Alright, sure, thanks.” We walk in comfortable silence the rest of the way, but when we reach the front door of the A.Chi.O. house, he turns me to face him and says, “By the way, Ember, you’re definitely dating now. I’m not done with you yet.” He cups my face in his warm hands and backs me up against the door before kissing me, dominating me, until my lungs scream for air. And then he winks and turns around, heading to the frat house across the street.

17

Prudence

It’s been a couple of days since my date with Creed, and I still feel like I’m walking in a lust fog. As far as first times in any area go, he far exceeded any expectation I ever had. I had no idea that a man could do the same thing I do to myself, and somehow make it a thousand times more intense. He’s ruined me in one night. I crave him in ways I really shouldn’t.

Now my heart and head are at war.

My heart — and my pussy, who am I kidding? — wants to chase that high Creed gave me. I want to spend my nights with him, throwing axes in the woods and kissing until my lungs explode. I want to be backed up against a tree, feel the rough bark on my skin and the heat from his hands as they explore. I want to experience anything and everything he can show me while I have the chance.

My head, though, it’s been screaming at me since that night. I shouldn’t have been so stupid, so predictable. I shouldn’t have fallen for his husky, needy voice or the things he could do with those skilled fingers. College isn’t about living out my wildest dreams and adding some notches to my belt. Maybe for every other student at B.U., but not for me.

I’m here for answers.

With that sobering thought, I head straight to the library after class today. I have a stack of books to get through, and if those don’t turn up anything useful, then I’ll hit the computers next. And if that doesn’t work… I’ll need to get creative.

I take my time wandering up and down each aisle, inhaling the rich smell of old books and trailing my finger along the worn spines. This place is my second favorite on campus, after the cafeteria. Although, with Asher’s demand that I sit with them every day, he’s quickly spoiling that spot for me.

But the library is quiet and safe. It’s like the equivalent of curling up with a large blanket on a rainy day. Nothing about this massive building makes me uneasy, and that’s pretty rare for me these days. I may just bring a sleeping bag and bribe the old librarian to let me sleep between the stacks. Better a hard floor than my room back at the A.Chi.O. house where it’s a fifty-fifty chance that I’ll get turned away when Mark is there.

His stupid face pops up in my mind and I scowl at some poor, unassuming book about plants. Just a few weeks in that house, and already, I’ve had to crash on the couch in the spacious living room several times because he likes to screw his girlfriend well into the night.

You know what’s even more irritating?

Annie told me he’s a Beta Epsilon Rho; the same frat that Creed, Asher, and Griffin are in. Like… right across the fucking street. And since he’s a second year, he likely doesn’t share a room with anyone. Only new members in Greek life have to slum it on the bottom floor with roommates; once they’ve initiated, if there’s enough space, they usually get a single room. Meaning Annie and Mark could fuck like rabbits over there all they want and leave me alone in my room.

I try to shake off my rising frustration before things can get out of hand, but it lingers like gum on the bottom of my shoe. Annoying and disgusting. When I grab one of the books I need off the shelf, I’m gripping it so tight that my knuckles turn white. I roll my eyes at myself and this shitty situation I wound up in, shifting the book to my other arm, where I cradle it against my chest. After I blow out a slow, calming breath, I continue down the stacks and grab a few more books.

Once I’ve got five options — and my arms scream with the weight — I leave the stacks and find an empty table along the back wall, against the windows. Then I get to work, flipping through countless pages with my left hand and jotting down anything that could be useful with my right.

Last time I was in here, I was nervous and shifty, worried someone might catch me and somehow know exactly what I was looking for. I spent more time looking around the library to ensure nobody was sneaking up on me than I did actually reading through these thick texts. Tonight, however, I barely lift my head for over an hour.

I learn that the town of Black Creek was founded in 1853 after a group of men and their families followed some constellation here. Apparently, half of them were then deemed insane a few years later when they started talking about the stars asking for favors and granting wealth and power in exchange.

I pause there, blowing out a hard breath while I will my heart rate to slow. That hits a little too close to home for me, so once I’ve composed myself, I flip the page without finishing.

Blackwood University was founded twenty years after the town itself, by the remaining members of the original settlement. The star theme carried on, with Lunar Hall as the main building, and a world class observatory being the primary focus on campus. The university was private for the first fifty years, only allowing male students from affluent families in.

The first female student admitted in 1923 was the only heir of a founding member, thus the exception was made. Once she graduated, she took over a chair on the school board and rallied for the school to open its doors for females from that point forward. There’s not much more information about her, but seeing as how I’m sitting here right now, obviously she won that fight.

I flip the page, and then another and another, but this book only goes on to talk about Black Creek over the years, as people moved in from all over and the local businesses boomed. None of it is helpful.

Setting that book aside, I reach for the next, only to realize I’ve gone through all five already. I lean back in my chair, rolling my eyes up to the ceiling as I sigh. I had hoped to glean a bit more information than what I’ve found.

Closing my eyes, I try to bring back every little scrap of information my mom has given me over the years. She never spoke about her time here at B.U. when she was stable, only when she was in the midst of an episode, so half of it didn’t ever make much sense.

With my head tipped back and my eyes closed in frustration, I don’t notice anyone approaching until there’s a tap on my shoulder. I’m pretty sure I almost piss my pants, gasping as I jerk upright in my seat. When my eyes can finally focus, I glare up at Griffin. He’s standing a foot from me, holding his hands up in innocence, lips pressed together as if he’s desperately holding in a laugh.

“Oh yeah, real funny,” I say, positive my cheeks are cherry red.

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