Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
I chew my lower lip. I thought she annoyed him. Is he just bored? Maybe that’s how he’s getting rid of all his stress—it would make sense.
“Yeah, I never really pay attention to gossip when it comes to Rowen. People always make up stuff on account of him being alarmingly gorgeous.” I shake off the uneasy feeling in my stomach and keep talking. “Anyway, Rowen’s probably bored, plus his job as a security guard is to fight off people, so it’s not super surprising he’d want to bulk up.”
Not completely, but I make a mental note to ask him later. It’s tiny details like this that I’m missing out on. He wasn’t drinking protein shakes back at home. Is he really trying to put on more muscle? Just how deep has he gotten into Father’s business dealings? And why haven’t I seen it before?
I hate the feeling that I may not know him as well as I think I do.
We all have our secrets, and I can’t sit on my high horse and say I don’t have mine. I’ve left out a lot of details when giving Rowen intel.
We’re all just trying to survive, right?
I eye Reeve making his way back down the hall toward Aric’s room. Didn’t he just leave?
“I don’t suppose you feel like being my bodyguard tonight, in case that one flies off the rails?” I ask her.
“No can do.” Ziva does a little dance in front of me. “I have a date tonight. He’s a freshman, a Virgo, likes board games, and plays a mean game of frisbee golf. We might go to a poetry slam, or I might stick my tongue down his throat to forget about all the losers I’ve already kissed in my life. Oh, hey, Reeve.”
He stops in front of my door. “I’ve been standing here at least five seconds and heard every word, you know.”
She shrugs. “Whoops?”
He mimics her innocent stance, then stares me down. “Sorry about the door. Too bad the whole ‘die bitch die’ thing didn’t work out.”
Wow, someone’s in a mood. What did Aric tell him?
“I bet you are.”
“There’s always next time, eh?” His eyes flash like he wants to fight me.
I flinch. “That’s low, even for an Erikson.”
We’re chest to chest when Ziva moves between us. “Guys, stop, you’re ruining my pre-date buzz.”
“Right, sorry.” Reeve runs his hands through his hair. “I’m tired. Sorry, Rey.” He turns on his heel and starts walking away, lights flickering overhead. “I’ll call maintenance again.”
Ziva stares after him. “He’s acting weirder than usual.”
He and Aric fought. I know it.
Guilt assaults me.
It wasn’t supposed to be this hard.
Aric was supposed to be so hateful I’d smile while drawing blood—but he’s not. The game’s changed, and I barely recognize my place in it.
Ziva’s checking the time on her phone. “Gotta run. Stay safe, maybe indoors for the rest of the night?”
Message received. “Yeah, I’m tired anyway.” I groan, unlock my door, and stumble in.
“You’ve been busy today.” Rowen’s voice comes from a corner of the room, causing me to jump about a mile.
“What the hell, Rowen! Did you sneak in here through my window?”
“You know, you really should be more careful with how blatant you are when you leave campus with Aric,” he continues, ignoring my question. “That is, unless your plan was for the entire school to think you’re dating and have the information reach Odin. Risky, even for you.”
I flop onto my bed. “Are you here to remind me that my father’s going to kill both me and Laufey if I don’t wake up Aric and find the damn hammer, or was there something else? Because I’m not being careless. I’m getting close to the enemy based on his instructions.”
“Right.” Rowen lets out a sigh. “But it’s my job to tell him when I think you’re in too deep, and I think screwing him for sport probably wasn’t on your dad’s list of bright ideas.”
I jolt up. “Are you kidding me right now? First of all, what right do you have to even assume that? And second of all, even if I was, who cares? It’s just a job.”
Even I don’t believe my own lies anymore.
He sighs. I know he doesn’t want to argue any more than I do. “I see the way Aric looks at you, and I can tell he’s already partially awake. The guy’s terrible at hiding the frost. Plus, I know you well—you know exactly how to finish the job, don’t you?”
Two more runes.
I nod my head slowly. “It might kill him. You don’t see what happens when I start waking him. It looks like it’s painful. Every single time, his eyes turn white, like he can barely control the power bursting from inside of him.”
I notice Rowen moving from one foot to the other. He’s restless. He wants to fight but can’t. Why? A chill runs down my spine.