Page 20

After the rough start to the welcome party and the non-alcoholic party becoming a booze fest, thanks to whoever spiked the punch, they’d received three more applications—Amanda Hugnkiss being her favorite.

“There are a couple of letters in here for you, Bell. Both are from the school.” Hayden handed her the envelopes. “Are they what I think they are?”

She nodded. “I am sure it’s about our pledges not being up to par. I got one the week after the games, so it makes sense after our party debacle.” The letters explained the situation and reminded her how long she had left to find more members before her charter was suspended.Talk about pressure.

Hayden frowned. “We’re going to get those pledges. I know it. We’ve worked too hard not to.” A knock came at the door. “You read the letter. I’ll go answer the door.”

Bell nodded, opening the envelope in her hand. Second notice. Not enough pledges. Twenty-five days to fill her ranks. Blah, blah, blah. She groaned. The words blurred together. How in the world would she find twenty-eight more pledges when they’d only collected two and a handful of fake pledges?

“Welcome, Shelly, to Sigma Epsilon Xi,” Hayden announced. “Let me introduce you to Bell, the president of our sorority.”

Hayden guided the girl into the kitchen beside her. Their arms were linked, and Hayden had a brilliant smile on her face as they stopped in front of Bell. At first, she thought it had been some sick joke. The girl wore rainbow suspenders over a plain, white T-shirt with an iron-on unicorn patch. Her brilliant orange-red hair lay, or rather stuck out, in a mass of tangled curls. Big, bug-eyed glasses sat on the bridge of her narrow nose. Her large, gray eyes, made bigger by the lens of her glasses, stared at Bell through strawberry lashes, while a smattering of freckles dotted her cheeks and arms. She wore skinny jeans a little too short for Bell’s comfort and a little too tight, along with low-top Converse. Bell sniffed the air, trying to figure out if she was human or other. When she got no discernable scent, she frowned.

“Hey, Shelly. Welcome to our home.” She glanced at Hayden, who shrugged. “What brought you here today?”

The girl fished her application out of her pink-and-purple trapper keeper and handed it to Bell. “I thought I’d try to pledge.”

Her husky, almost wild tone of voice intrigued Bell. “I’m sorry. I must ask. What kind of shifter are you?”

The girl glanced between them and licked her lips. “Promise you won’t laugh?”

“We promise we won’t laugh.” Bell straightened her shoulders, curious about the girl who tried to hide behind weird clothes and goofy glasses.

“I’m a unicorn.”

Hayden scrunched up her nose and shook her head. “One of the famed mythical creatures who were slaughtered on the banks of the river Suir?”

“Yep.” The girl nodded. “That’s me or well, us.”

“And your family escaped?” Bell arched a brow, unsure how to take the girl standing before her. Her gut told her to send the shifter away—the whole thing had to be a cruel and unusual joke. But if she sent her away and Shelly told the truth, then what? “They’d have to be thousands of years old. You don’t look a day over eighteen or nineteen.”

A flush crept into her cheeks as she stared at Bell. “Yes. With a little help. It’s a big, complicated story. One I’d love to tell you sometime because it’s epic. However, I really need some place to live. I need family and friends. I’ve got a 3.82 G.P.A, and I’m studying Comparative Literature and Latin. You’re my last hope of joining a sorority. I saw you and you”—she pointed to Hayden— “at the games. Your champions are amazing and dreamy.” A wistful sigh passed her lips. “I wanted to be a part of that.”

Bell glanced at Hayden who bounced on her toes, something she’d done for as long as Bell had known her, when she got excited. Bell took in Shelly’s appearance. Yes, she was intrigued. Of what she knew about the unicorn, they lived in secret. In herds and nowhere near civilization. In fact, she could have sworn they were all in Ireland or near about. Yet, when Shelly spoke, she didn’t hear an accent. “We’re not the best sorority at the school. We might lose our charter too. Are you sure this is what you want?” She couldn’t let the girl be alone. She also didn’t like the fact every other sorority had turned her away. Which meant Zoe did the same.I am so kicking her ass!

“Yes,” Shelly answered. “I understand the issues you’re having. I don’t mind.”

Bell wrapped her arm around the newest member of their family. “Well welcome home, Shelly. Would you like to meet the others?”

Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”

Bell laughed. “Yes, seriously. Raquel. Joy. Could you come down here for a minute?”

The girls appeared seconds later at the foot of the staircase. They reminded Bell of that Christmas program she loved to watch. The one with the island of misfit toys in it. The moniker fit them. “Joy, Raquel, this is Shelly. She’s our newest sister.”

Shelly gave a shy little wave while hanging onto her notebook in a death grip. “Hi.”

Raquel stepped forward first. “I love your suspenders. I’ve been looking for a pair for forever.”

“Your shirt is so pretty. I love the sparkles. Sparkles are my favorite. It makes everything prettier,” Joy added. “Would you like to see your room?”

Shelly nodded. “Yes, please.” She hurried up the stairs behind Raquel and Joy.

“Three down, twenty-seven to go.” Hayden buffed her nails on the shoulder of her shirt. “When you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”

“Don’t get too cocky, Miss Thang. We got another notice for pledges.” She handed over the letter, then grabbed the one she had yet to open.

“This is bullshit, Bell. How many other sororities aren’t at full capacity?” Hayden slammed the paper down on the counter. God love her cousin. She’d do anything to defend Bell, which made Bell love Hayden even more. “We have to do something.”