Page 25 of Touched By Darkness

“You do. As long as you keep your wings shut, you’ll be fine. Did I mention they’re huge?”

“Once or twice.”

We turn a corner, and Dmitriy slaps his hand on a locker. “This one is yours.”

I’m not even surprised it’s not right next to Daemon’s again. Why would it be? I’m a stranger now. It still makes my chest throb with an unrelenting ache. I peer to my left. At least I can see their lockers from here. It could be worse.

“Why are you looking so doom and gloom?”

After inputting my combination code, I yank the locker open with too much force. It’s empty of books and devoid of my past. I shut it again and lean back against it. “You don’t believe me anyway.”

“Of course I don’t. But try me anyway.”

I look away from his dark eyes that remind me so much of Daemon’s, but also not. “I don’t know what I’m doing here. I came back for Daemon, Alaric, and Ronan… even Dariana.”

“Dariana?” Now he sounds even more intrigued. Perhaps a little amused, too.

“It doesn’t matter,” I whisper regretfully, “since none of them know me anymore.”

“Surely you can joggle their memory or something?”

“I don’t seem to be able to joggle yours, and we f—” I slap a hand over my mouth. Shit, I don’t want to tell him that part. Let’s leave the past behind.

He looks confused. “We what?”

“Nothing.” I straighten up, craning my neck. Daemon and Alaric are over by the lockers across the hall. They’re impossible to miss with their intimidating builds and booming voices. Ronan joins them too, and grabs Alaric in a headlock.

I watch them tussle, with my heart in my throat. The sheer longing I feel hurts. Before I can stop myself or think it through, I push off the locker and walk up to them.

Ronan lets go of Alaric when he spots me, then nudges Daemon with his elbow, who looks at him questioningly before following his line of sight.

He dismisses me just as fast.

And to think that, for one brief second, I thought he might just recognize me.

I stop in front of them and nervously clear my throat. Now that I’m here, I don’t know what to say.

“Are you lost, new girl?” Ronan asks with a flirty smile. But it’s the kind of smile that tells me he would fuck me in the bathroom and then never talk to me again.

I refuse to be invisible to these guys. I’m not a fucking booty call.

“Daemon?” My voice shakes, and he slowly turns, then frowns. Without another word, he shoulders past me, causing me to stumble back.

Alaric smirks, and then he’s gone, too. Ronan lingers for a beat, watching me. “My advice, new girl. Do yourself a favor and look for someone in your own league.”

I rear back, but before I can reply, he’s gone.

Someone in my own league? What the fuck does that mean? I’m not stupid; I know Daemon is royalty in these woods. But to call me out of his league…

My blood boils.

“Not gonna lie. That was painful to watch,” Dmitriy says, shattering my thoughts.

My teeth grind until I’m convinced they’re about to pulverize.

“Let’s entertain the idea that you spoke the truth earlier. How did you capture his interest the first time around?”

“I didn’t. He kidnapped me.”

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