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SIX

KAI

“ Y ou could have told me you were friends with Silas.” Her voice teetering on the edge of pissed off, her arms crossed defensively over her chest. Sable’s been quiet most of the walk back to her dorm, but I knew it was only a matter of time before the floodgates opened. I could have stopped and offered to take her back by car or bike, but that would’ve only made things worse. No need to escalate this more than necessary.

At least walking gave us both time to sober up, time for me to think through what the hell is going on between her, Silas, and Dayton.

“I didn’t lie,” I say, hands shoved deep in my jean pockets, trying to keep a respectful distance between us.

She scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, but that’s pertinent information, Kai.”

“Didn’t seem to matter before,” I mutter.

The silence is broken by a buzz in my pocket. I pull out my phone.

Levi

Are you okay?

Me

Yeah. I’m delivering a package.

Levi

K.

I shove my phone back, rubbing my face with my hand. I’m not even sure what to make of this situation anymore. Sable kicks a loose pebble on the path, muttering to herself. “He’s so fucking infuriating.”

I stop dead in my tracks, the weight of the night crashing down on me. “Are you not the least bit concerned that someone just DIED?” The words come out harsher than I intend, but it takes her a moment to realize I’ve stopped walking. She spins around, arms still crossed, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and defiance.

Of course, it’s always defiance to her.

It was someone in my brotherhood that just died. In the woods. And his last fucking memory is probably getting sucked off by some mediocre alt chick. And instead of being with my brothers, processing what the hell just happened, I’m out here babysitting her. Listening to her whine about a boy who is really sucking at trying to win her over. Or whatever the fuck he is trying to accomplish here.

“Would it make a difference if I was?” Her head tilts.

“Guess not.” I rush past her, but not before grabbing her wrist and dragging her along with me. Her skin is soft, smooth under my fingers, and she doesn’t resist. Good. At least we don’t have to waste more time here.

The rest of the walk is silent, punctuated only by the occasional shouts from other students partying around the quad. When we finally reach Cromwell Hall, the lobby is alive with students playing cards and chatting. They glance at us curiously as we pass, but I don’t bother acknowledging them. I head straight to the elevator, pulling her inside. She yanks her wrist free from my grasp, crossing her arms again, eyes fixed on the floor like it’s the most fascinating thing in the world.

“Why does it even matter?” I ask as the elevator begins its ascent. “Silas is a friend. He doesn’t define me. How do you know I didn’t just see you in class and think you were hot?”

She scoffs, the sound sharp, bitter. “So, are you saying you didn’t know who I was before you talked to me after class?” Her eyes flash with irritation. “I hate dishonesty, Kai.”

I let out a sigh, leaning against the cold metal of the elevator wall. “No, I knew who you were.”

“Exactly,” she says. The elevator dings, doors sliding open with perfect timing, and she storms out without looking back. I follow her, each one of her little stomps echoing down the hallway as she makes her way to her dorm.

I follow after her, but not without the disgruntled soundtrack of each one of her little stomps. When we reach her door, she turns to face me, fire in her eyes. “I don’t need you to tuck me in or anything.”

“Oh, because you want Dayton to do that for you instead?”

She looks at me, stunned, almost reared by my comment. “Nothing happened.”

“Really?” I step closer, my voice lowering as I close the space between us. “So the fact that you both reeked of sex, and he had a hard-on the size of the fucking Empire State Building, wasn’t a coincidence?” Her back hits the door, and I take the opportunity to cage her in, my hands on either side of her, the scent of her arousal still lingering in the air between us. It clouds my judgment, makes me say things I wouldn’t normally say. My gaze locks onto hers, holding her there. “Tell me, mahal,” I murmur, my voice gravelly, intimate. “Did you let Dayton finger-fuck you just to make Silas jealous?”

Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her lips parting as she struggles to hold on to the bravado. “Silas had his chance,” she whispers, her voice softer now, shaky, as if admitting something she’s been holding in.

I lean in closer, our faces just inches apart, her breath mingling with mine. “Keep thinking like that,” I say, my tone dark, dangerous. “And stay the fuck away from all of us. For your own sake.” My hand twists the door handle, letting the door swing open. The sudden movement sends her stumbling into her dorm room, barely catching herself before she hits the floor.

She regains her balance quickly, turning back to look at me, her eyes wide and slightly glassy. For a moment, neither of us says anything, the tension between us still there. Her mouth slightly open, like she wants to say something, but can’t find the words.

I turn on my heel, leaving her there, my steps heavy as I stalk down the hallway. Part of me wishes the words I just said to her— stay away —would actually sink into my own thick skull, too. But the truth is, I’m drawn to her just like Dayton is, just like Silas is. No matter how hard I try to distance myself from this mess, it keeps pulling me back in.