Page 4

A shift in the air.

Damian turns. Slowly. His bright eyes catch mine, and he smiles.

Something about his expression makes the anxiety in my chest burn like rage. He looks so satisfied with himself. Like the whole world is designed for his amusement.

When I don’t smile back, something flickers behind his eyes. Something dark. Not anger. Not irritation.

Excitement.

The back of my neck prickles, but there’s a tingle of something else too, isn’t there? A tug in my belly.

No. I’m not attracted to him. I’m not the type of person who ignores a threat just because it smiles at her. And as I stare into those ice-blue eyes, I’m certain of what was only an inkling before.

Damian Cross is dangerous.

I don’t slow down until I reach Sienna’s dorm. I knock twice before pushing it open. Sienna never locks it when she’s in.

The string lights along the walls give the room a soft glow, calming my pounding heart. I love her room. It’s so cozy and warm, just like her. I thought I was blessed by God when my two closest friends in the world got into the same prestigious university I did. What are the odds? But things changed when we got here. Sienna and I are as close as ever, but Rhett has gotten…distant.

And I’m going to figure out why.

I’m determined.

Sienna is curled up on her bed, her laptop balanced on her knees. The second she sees me, she sits up, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you. I’m going to the festival—frat party thing—with Rhett this weekend.”

Sienna blinks at me. Then she narrows her eyes. “Why? Does this have something to do with Ben Cartwright?”

“Yes.” I cross my arms. “I’m worried about Rhett.”

She shuts her laptop. “Finally. I’ve been worried about him ever since he pledged.” Her jaw clenches. “I don’t want to have to worry about you too.”

I sigh. I knew she’d react like this. Sienna has always believed the cult rumors. More than that—she expects them to be true. She doesn’t find them far-fetched. In her mind, this is exactly how the world works. Because she knows on a very deep level how rich people use their power to exploit.

“What do you hope to get out of this?” she asks.

I lean back in the chair. “I just want to check it out to ease my mind. If the cult is real, I’ll know. I’ll be able to…find something. Some kind of evidence. I really don’t think it is. It’s just too…” I shake my head. “It requires too many explanations. But I have a bad feeling, and I need to make it go away. This is the only thing that will help.”

“Find some kind of evidence,” Sienna scoffs. “Do you think you’re going to stumble upon an orgy where everyone is wearing Guy Fawkes masks?”

“That’s not even far-fetched. A cult run by rich frat boys would probably be dumb and theatrical. Like they’re playing pretend. But that’s still dangerous. Who knows how far they take their play?”

Sienna frowns. “If you just want to see something secret, we can take a tour of Thornecroft. You don’t need to go to one of their creepy frat parties.”

I shake my head. “They wouldn’t play cult games around tourists. Why are you okay with Rhett practically living there, but not me going to one party? I’m not a baby, Sienna.”

Her face falls. “I’m not trying to baby you. I just love you. I love Rhett too, but—” she raises her chin “—he made a choice. I didn’t like it, and I told him.”

My chest grows heavy. “I wish I had told him.”

“What are you going to do if your fears are confirmed? What if after one party, you know for sure it’s a cult?

I take a deep breath. “Then I’ll get him out of it.”

Her expression clouds over. “What if you can’t?”

My stomach hollows out. Leave it to Sienna to voice my deepest, most secret fear. Maybe it really is a cult, and maybe Rhett is already in too deep for me to help him.