Page 26 of Eternal

As much as I despise Declan, I’ve always been transfixed by his icy eyes. Eyes shouldn’t be allowed to be that intense. They’re bright and gray and borderline iridescent. And this close, I spot rivers of blue running through them. Faint slivers of color that thread through and draw me in.

It’s distracting, and when he nudges me forward, my body can’t help but obey him.

Declan keeps me close to his side as we make our way up the steps, and as we do, a shiver runs down my spine.He must notice because he flattens his palm on my back and rubs it.

I expected him to whisper evil nothings in my ear all night long; instead, he’s holding me to him. I’m glued to his side, and the way his touch is gentle almost feels protective. It’s confusing, to say the least.

Declan has been my enemy for my entire life. My bully. My least favorite person. Yet, somehow tonight, there’s security in walking through these doors beside him.

He’s the devil I know, I guess.

The foyer of my parents’ house is packed with people. They spill into the three separate living rooms, filling every inch. The moment we step inside, Declan transforms into the beast his father created. Smiling, engaging in small talk, and putting on a show like he’s good at.

He’s the opposite of me.

While crowds like this draw Declan out, they make me want to crawl into my shell. Which is why I instinctively grab Declan tighter as he guides me through the mass of people.

If he notices, he doesn’t say anything. He barely even looks at me. But he doesn’t let me go either. Holding me at the waist or slipping his pinkie around mine.

And while I’ve never liked these events, having Declan at my side draws everyone’s attention off me. Compared to him, I’m unimportant and not worth paying attention to.

“Champagne.” A waiter holds out a tray, and Declan takes one.

“A water for Teal.”

The waiter nods, and I scowl at Declan. “You’re the only one allowed to drink?”

“Last I checked, I’m the only one of us who is twenty-one.” He takes a sip. “But besides that, we both know why you can’t drink.”

Declan narrows his eyes, and even ifI knowI’m not supposed to mix alcohol with my medication, I hate that he has that ammunition to use against me.

Rolling my shoulders back, I snatch the water glass from the waiter as he circles back around.

“Worried I won’t hold my tongue?” I jut my chin up at Declan as the waiter disappears. “Or are you afraid I’ll accidentally overdose?”

I lift the water to take a sip, but it splashes on my lips when Declan grabs my arm and pulls me to a quiet corner. His eyes burn with anger, and I don’t know where it came from.

“New rule…” He cages me against the wall. “You’re going to stop doing that.”

“Doing what?”

Declan grips my chin, forcing me to face him. “Constantly threatening me with how you’re going to kill yourself.”

“They’re just jokes.”Kind of.

His grip tightens. “Well, it’s not fucking funny.”

“Why not?” I tip my chin up in defiance. “I figured, if anything, you’d like the thought of me making your life easier. As you so clearly point out on a daily basis,I don’t matter. So, who cares what happens to me?”

Declan’s square jaw tenses, and all amusement drains from his expression. He’s never sweet or nice when it comes to me, but for the first time, I sense untethered rage radiating from him.

“I never said you don’t matter.” His tone is ice cold. “Not once. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

“Why are you so defensive all of a sudden?”

“Why are you so anxious to always off yourself?” His body tenses. “You’re so fucking lost in your own head you’re blind to everything outside of it. You can’t even see what’s right in front of you.”

“What’s there to see?”