Page 23 of Eternal

“He’s the same as always.” Patience laces her fingers together on the table. “Fine, I guess.”

“He’s writing again,” Mila jumps in, and Patience glares at her. “That’s progress.”

“He’s still not saying anything.”

Mila shrugs. Patience refuses to accept anything as a good sign when it comes to her brother, and Mila’s optimism doesn’t help.

“Well, at least he’s doing good.” Violet’s gaze darts over my shoulder, and her cheeks rush with color. “Kole.”

Her voice pitches with his name, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see the Kings of Hell walking toward us. Declan, Kole, and Maddox make their way through the library, commanding attention with every step.

While Declan is the president of Sigma House, all of them together make up Sigma Sin. And when they aren’t ditching class or throwing parties, they can usually be found breaking the innocent and sending souls to hell.

Kole’s attention is locked on Violet as he walks up. He pulls her from her seat, only to tug her onto his lap the moment he sits in her chair. While Maddox beelines for a girl reaching for a book on a top shelf nearby.

Declan is watching me, a few paces behind the rest of them, closing in.

“I forgot I need another book,” I lie, shoving my books into my bag before Declan reaches us. “I’ll catch you guys after class.”

I rush away from the table as fast as I can because I have no idea how far Declan is willing to take this, and I’m not ready to explain anything to my friends. It’s one thing to fake a relationship in front of my father, but Mila, Patience, and Violet know how much I despise Declan. They won’t buy our fake arrangement for a second.

Glancing over my shoulder, I hope Declan will have taken the hint. But that’s dashed when I see him following me. He smirks when our gazes meet.

I dip into an empty aisle of encyclopedias, hoping they’ll hide me from view. I might not be able to outrun Declan without giving myself away, but I can at least make our confrontation private.

Spinning to face the books, I pretend to be looking for something when Declan rounds the stacks.

From the corner of my eye, I see him slow his pace. His hands are tucked in his pockets, and he’s wearing his usual black-on-black outfit. His dark T-shirt hugs his chest, and I hate that my heart races at the sight of him.

Declan’s black hair is messy, with a few pieces falling over his eyes. Still, the bright, iridescent glow of his stare cuts through when he stops inches from me.

Leaning down, he whispers in my ear, “Boo.”

“That’s a lame attempt at sneaking up on someone.” I grit my teeth. “Especially considering I’m not scared of you.”

“Oh really?” He plants his hand over the spine of the book I’m staring at, leaning in closer. “Then why’d you run the second you saw me?”

“Not everything is about you, Declan. Shocking, I know.” I narrow my eyes. “I’m looking for a book. I didn’t know I needed to greet you first.”

“A book, huh?” His fingers skim the selection beside us. “Pretty sure none of this is on your American Colonization final.”

“How do you even know that’s what I’m studying for?”

“I know everything, Teal.” His cool-gray eyes are icy as he watches me.

“You’re insufferable.”

“Is that any way to talk to your boyfriend?”

I spin to face him fully, my arms crossed over my chest. “You’re not my boyfriend here.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He grabs my chin so hard that there’s nothing sweet about it. “I’m your boyfriendeverywhere. You’re mine now, Teal. Remember? You should really start acting like it.”

“We had a deal to put on a show for my dad. But I’m not lying to my friends.”

“You’ll lie to whoever I tell you to lie to.” He steps closer so his lips are nearly brushing mine. “And you’ll do as I say.”

My stomach churns at his words. Worse, my fingers itch to reach out to him. My entire life, I’ve craved the only thing I’m capable of feeling through the numbness—pain. And that’s what Declan is. A searing iron.Sharp and angry and hot. He burns straight through the blurry fog I exist in.