Page 9 of Dark Little Game

I wish I could say my attitude was just meant to be light banter, but I’m not about to show Briar how deep my darkness goes.

My tragic life isn’t exactly good conversation.

Not for someone I just met.

Not for anyone.

Because poor Hunter Knox has a sad, ugly little story.

When my sister Lune died, many years ago, it left adeeper wound than any of my others. But sometimes it felt like I was destined for darkness anyway, since the day I was born. Before I lost Lune, my parents made life bad enough for me and Weston anyway.

I didn’t ask for darkness.

It just always found me.

“Thanks,” I tell Briar, ignoring the iceberg of trauma that exists below the surface of my mind.

“Come grab a drink with me?” Briar asks.

Maybe she reallydoeswant to fuck.

“What kind of drink?”

She gives me a look. “Not trying to get you in bed. I don’t swing your way, no matter how pretty you are. But maybe you can help me find a nice girl to bring home?”

I nod.

Better than heading to that stupid fucking Stone and Flame party.

I was supposed to show up at the Onyx Society house last night. I opted to sleep in my car instead, because I couldn’t stomach seeing my brother yet.

Apparently, some former Onyx member had been attacked last night.

I didn’t want to deal with my brother’s reaction to that. Weston is particularly insufferable when he’s in a terrible mood.

But tonight I finally had to show up.

I was only allowed into Onyx with a stipulation: I had to attend all society events, otherwise I’d be removed.

The Stone and Flame party was the first ofmanyevents I’d need to attend.

Roman Petrov, the heavily tattooed senior Onyx member who pulled strings to let me in, had that stipulation.

So I’m going to show up at the party.

Wearing red.

Because that’s another one of their stupid fucking rules.

Rayne Colson will be there, too.

Something heats in my chest as I think about seeing Rayne for the first time in two years.

Rayne used to come over to our house a lot after school.

Used to love trying to fight me.

Like hecravedlosing.