Page 10

T he bass thrum vibrates through the floor as I weave through the mass of writhing bodies, an amused smirk on my lips. Heads bob and forms grind together in a blur of lust and sin, the air thick with sweat, alcohol, and hormones. Classic Ashtiroch—going all out for this first bash to set the tone for the year.

Between two giggling students dry humping each other, I keep scanning the packed parlour, hunting for that defiant spark of fire I’ve been tasked to handle. There, out on the terrace through the French doors, I spot a flash of sleek blonde hair glowing under the patio lanterns.

My stride slows, eyes narrowing at the scene before me. She’s not alone, of course—these birds of paradise flock together, don’t they? Some skinny bint stands beside her, plastic cup dangling from her fingers as she laughs at whatever shite her friend is spouting. And then there’s the third wheel: an overeager Initiate with a too-bright smile and overly coiffed hair, nearly buzzing with eagerness as he crowds into Briar’s space. New money. And not nearly privileged enough to have his eyes set on West.

The sneer on my face kicks up a notch as I watch the little pissant’s gaze fall to the vee of Briar’s cleavage, damn near salivating over the creamy skin peeking out. His tongue wets his lips, not even trying to hide the blatant lust in his hooded eyes.

Christ, I should rip the wanker’s peacocking balls clean off for daring to eye up one of my mates’ conquests so shamelessly. Squaring my shoulders, I stalk over, intent on royally fucking this up for the upstart.

“Hello, ladies,” I purr, swooping in from behind with a wolfish grin. The poor sod startles like a gazelle, whipping around with wide eyes and flushed cheeks at my arrival. “Having a grand time mingling at our little party so far, I hope?”

All three turn but it’s Briar’s cool blue stare that snags my focus. Even with the deafening noise, her mouth quirks in a self-assured half-smirk, derision rolling off her in waves.

“Just peachy over here, ,” she drawls, sizing me up with clear scepticism. That posh mouth twists further as she glances at the bloke beside her, annoyed by his smarmy attempts to insert himself into her space. “Though I’m rapidly losing interest in whatever pathetic lines this one’s pitching.”

The poor bastard deflates, dread glazing his pretty-boy face. Classic fucking knob, overcompensating with delusions of grandeur, I’d bet—rich kids seem to breed ‘em in droves. No wonder Arius sent me to ensure Briar stayed… undistracted tonight.

“Let me guess, he was regaling you with sordid tales of his sexual prowess?” I arch a brow, lips curling wickedly. “Surely you weren’t gullible enough to buy his exaggerated cockmanship? From what I hear, our friend here is painfully underwhelming, with all the stamina and skill of a randy puppy slobbering on itself.”

The words are out before I can bite them back, my lack of filters on full display tonight. Briar’s brows shoot up, shocked by the crass insult—but there’s a glimmer of amusement in her flinty gaze, a hint of respect for my gall shining through that gruff mask. Her friend simply blinks at my blunt taunt, lips parting to protest before snapping shut.

The blighter himself has gone scarlet around the neck—a stark contrast to the pallid hue rapidly draining his pinched face. His Adam’s apple bobs as he gulps, eyes haunted as they dart between me and Briar. Clearly unprepared for our tried and true scare tactics to chase off riffraff sniffing around our spoils, bless his sheltered heart.

“I… I should go,” he mutters, shuffling backwards with a comically stricken look before whirling and fleeing through the patio doors like a scalded cat.

Heavy silence descends in his wake, all three of us watching him vanish into the gyrating crowd. Briar recovers first, swivelling to pin me with an exasperated glare.

“What the fuck was that about?” she demands, her friend nodding in fervent agreement.

“Yeah, I think we’d love to hear this arsehole’s excuse for being a colossal git,” the girl chimes in, swirling her drink as she appraises me. Not an Initiate, then—that sneer is too artfully done. Second or third year, maybe? Definitely one of the wayward harpies who is more aware of our collective standing than most, nonetheless.

I shrug, undeterred by their twin scowls. Pushing off the rail, I drape an arm over Briar’s shoulders, ignoring how she tenses beneath my touch. Defiance sparks in her eyes, daring me to try more, as if her stubborn prickle alone could make me back off.

“Surely you’re both intimately familiar with dear Garrett by now,” I murmur, saccharine amusement dripping from my tone. The other woman’s sceptically arched brows prove my suspicions right—she has to be wise to our fraternal games and the pawns we use as cannon fodder. “Trust me, I’m sparing you the embarrassment of discovering his… shortcomings after he plied you with enough flattery to inflate those pearly egos.”

Briar scoffs, twisting to dislodge my overly familiar hold as she glares. “You’re a fucking liar, ,” she accuses, all bristling fury and disdain. “I expected better than immature bullshite from you, not some bruised ego peacocking like a schoolboy. Was all that polite charm this morning a false mask then?”

Chuckling, I relax back against the stone bannister, hands raised in mock surrender. “Guilty as charged, darling—I am talking absolute shite. Though we’ll never know the disappointing depths of Garrett’s ineptitude now, will we?” Winking, I trail my stare over her friend in a blatant perusal. “Unless your delightful mate here fancies enlightening us on the regrettable limits of his stamina and… proportions?”

The redhead snorts but smirks, not above harmless innuendo even if she stays mum on details. Briar simply glowers in stony disapproval.

“Leave Sid out of your twisted mind games,” she growls, bodily shielding the other woman as if protecting her from my lecherous wiles. Ever the fierce lioness—either she has no clue who she’s dealing with or that lone wolf persona is even more ingrained than I thought. “Not everyone here is a perverted deviant like you randy pricks.”

I can’t help laughing, the sound bubbling up from deep in my chest at her almost comical self-righteousness. How deliciously naive these doe-eyed innocents remain, wandering blissfully towards the wolves already stalking them. No notion of the predators circling their flock…

“Again, guilty as charged, sweetheart,” I agree with an easy grin. “Although I’m certainly not the only one with a few delightfully deviant proclivities… am I?”

Briar’s cheeks flood with colour, chest heaving with indignation. But it’s Sid who breaks the weighted silence with an unladylike snort and barking laugh, shattering the charged tension. Her glassy eyes gleam with mirth, bouncing between us.

“Christ, all this macho posturing is positively parching me,” she sighs, dramatically rolling her eyes. Tipping back her drink in several rapid swallows, she crushes the cup and lobs it into a nearby bin. “What say we find something more enticing to quench this dry spell, Bri? And where might a couple thirsty birds acquire… refreshment of a stronger persuasion?”

The pointed arch of one sculpted brow as her stare fixes on me leaves little to interpretation. The sly fox clearly comes from money, judging by that subtle yet artful air—even if she doesn’t flaunt it. Chuckling low in my throat, I nod to to sangria pitcher sweating beneath the patio lamp in silent invitation.

“Well, when gorgeous young things make a request so politely, who am I to deny giving proper hospitality?” I quip with an easy smirk, shrugging out of my blazer and tossing it aside. Reaching into the breast pocket, my fingers curl around the small baggie nestled there, withdrawing it with a dramatic flourish. A playful brow raise broadcasts the offer as I work the clasp open. “Though I’d say a toast is overdue to kick this party into high gear, wouldn’t you? Lucky for you, I always come prepared.”

The baggie dangles from my fingertips like a tantalising promise as I brandish it towards them. Briar’s gaze narrows, stormy blues flashing with disapproval even as Sid grins in delight.

“Whoa, hang on a bloody minute,” Briar snaps, pressing a palm to Sid’s shoulder to halt her companion’s eager lean in. She swivels to pin the other woman with a scathing look etched in the tight lines around that lush mouth. “Didn’t you just warn me about steering clear of Arius’ arrogant, entitled clique?”

An accusing finger jabs my way, eyes sparking fury. “And now you’re about to snort whatever dodgy shite this wanker has stashed in that battered baggie? After all your so-called ‘advice?’”

Sid huffs in exasperation, all melodramatic eye rolls and teenage petulance. “Honestly, Bri—chill the fuck out. It’s just a bit of something to smooth the rough edges and get this bash properly popping. Who gives a shite where it came from when it’s free? Besides, we don’t have to stick around this wanker and wait for his ‘alpha’ to show up.”

A rich chuckle tumbles from my chest, the rumbling amusement drawing narrowed gazes back to me. “Ouch. I take strong offence at being lumped in with those insufferable pricks as nothing but hired muscle. ‘Specially after being blatantly told that I’m being used right now. Far be it for me to ruin the ladies’ night, though,” I retort with a cocky smirk.

Tutting another throaty chuckle, I tear my heavy-lidded stare from hers, refocusing on pouring Sid a new drink from the pitcher and extracting one of the small pills from the crinkled baggie in my palm. Sid’s eyes track my movements with undisguised hunger as the capsule lands in her cocktail dregs, fizzing and dissolving into a frothy pink swirl as I pass it over to her waiting palm.

“As for you,” I murmur, pinning Briar with a heated look brimming with challenge and a blatant dare as I withdraw a second tablet, holding it up in silent inquiry. A muscle ticks sharply in her jaw, glaring at me for several weighted heartbeats before huffing resigned disdain.

Shoving her cup at me, she bites out a terse, “Just get on with it.”

The second pill plunks into her plastic tumbler, instantly dissolving with rapid fizzes into the shallow pool of mixed liquor. Sloshing the murky drink to distribute lingering powder, I lean in close enough for them to feel my breath on their cheeks as I drop to a confidential murmur.

“Now then, with those delectable little treats getting to work loosening you up properly…” My tongue swipes my lower lip in a deliberately provocative gesture, holding each set of eyes in turn. “Perhaps you ought to seek out more private accommodations to sample whatever sinful delights the night has in store, hmm?”

Briar blinks rapidly, struggling to maintain her scathing glower under the weight of my blatant intent. High cheekbones flush a fetching carnation that only enhances her flustered allure. Yet still, that stubborn chin juts forward in subtle defiance, stormy eyes narrowing until she finally breaks our locked stare with a dismissive eye roll.

Fuck, she’s exquisite. And she hasn’t the faintest clue how thoroughly she’s about to be ruined for every other man on this campus once Arius gets his claws in her…