Page 36 of Seren

I tensed, the sound of Seren’s voice sending a cold shiver skimming down my spine. He was on the bench by the door, his elbows on his thighs and his hands linked in front of him. He looked like any other hot guy. So athletic. So good-looking. So normal. But Seren Grayson was anything but normal.

“I didn’t tell your school you lived here,” he explained.

My head hitched back, confused by his sudden confession. “Who did?”

He shrugged. “Maybe some of those people you call friends back home.”

“They wouldn’t do that.”

“Assholes don’t only live in this town.”

I crossed my arms, not sure what else to do.

Seren stood up and ticked his head toward the back lawn. “Walk with me.”

My forehead creased. “Why?”

“Because I want to talk.”

I scoffed. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t owe you,” I said.

“Owe me?”

“Isn’t that why you yelled at everyone?”

“So, you’d owe me,” he repeated for clarification.

“Yes,” I said.

“You’ve got nothing I want,” he said, his dismissive tone reminding me why I hated him so much.

“Well, if I’ve got nothing you want, there’s no need for me to go anywhere with you.” I turned and began walking toward the manor.He had some freaking nerve.

“Please, Grace,” he said, his voice low and regretful. “Don’t go.”

CHAPTER 20

Grace

I made it three steps before Seren’s words stopped me in my tracks. It was the first time I’d heard Seren beg anyone for anything.

His footsteps moved closer until he stepped beside me. “Just give me a few minutes.”

“Why should I?”

“Because I need to talk to you,” he said.

I didn’t want to walk with him. I didn’t want to spend time with him at all. He’d made my life miserable from day one. But, if I didn’t listen to him, I’d always wonder. And who knew? Maybe we’d somehow come to a compromise, and I’d be able to finish school without any more issues. I relented on a sigh. “Fine.”

He didn’t give me a chance to change my mind. He took off toward the back lawn. He was taller than me by a foot, but I managed to keep pace with his long strides. We walked down the brick path. Beautiful pink flowering bushes encased us on either side. I expected him to stop in the pool area or at the pool house, but he kept walking past them. Our footsteps were the only sounds as we ventured further away from the manor. When he took a turn at the edge of the property where the beautifully manicured lawn met the dirt of the bordering woods, I realized where he’d taken me.

“Wow,” I said, stopping and tipping my head back so I could admire the well-constructed treehouse up in one of the massive trees. “Did you build this?”

“With my dad.”

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