Page 11 of Fallen Gods

I smile. “I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

He frowns like he’s confused about where he is. “Right, yeah. I’ll just be more careful while walking.”

“It’s a dangerous sport.”

He laughs and then turns around and immediately trips over his feet.

My father says it’s a gift that people momentarily forget themselves around me, but I always want to ask him howhe’dfeel if he never knew if people genuinely liked him. Of course, he always knows. In what world would they have anything but fear?

“Already making friends?” A familiar voice sounds from behind me. “What’s next? Adopting a puppy so you look approachable, only so you can abandon it later?”

Great.

I don’t even have to turn. “Reeve.”

Aric’s tabloid prince of a brother, born for headlines and allergic to responsibility. The kind of guy who makes parties feel like war zones and somehow always walks away untouched. He isn’t dangerous in the traditional sense—he just doesn’t care who gets burned as long as he stays entertained.

I turn to face him as though I have all the time in the world. His light brown hair is in such disarray, I wonder if it’s just directionally challenged the same way Reeve is. His green eyes zero in on me, and I can’t help but notice the taunting edge to hissmile. He’s begging me for a verbal fight; I can feel it in my soul.

He’s waiting for my answer, so I get in his face. “Boo.”

He chuckles. “Nice try. But nothing’s more terrifying than graduating and getting a real job.” He shoves a hand into his front pocket, his other gripping an iPad, and rocks back on his heels. “You grew into your ears. Good for you.”

I shake my head. “And you’ve sadly failed to grow out of that mouth of yours.”

His grin only widens as if to prove my point. “No complaints.”

“Well, this has been fun, but I need to get moved in. Orientation starts tomorrow. It was nice, though; we should do this again sometime.” I flip my fingers in a careless wave, then sidestep him, dragging my bags with me.

When a whistle goes off, I stop walking and turn.You’ve got to be kidding me. “They gave you a fucking whistle?”

“Life isn’t fair, I know. It was the only way I’d volunteer to help the new students move in.” He puts it between his full lips again in a taunt.

I glare. “Blow. I dare you.”

He takes the whistle out immediately. “Weird. Normally it’s the other way around with this sexy banter, but okay, if you really want me to—”

I groan. “I don’t have time for this.”

Reeve grins and holds up his iPad. “Then let’s get started. Here you are on the list… Welcome to your first year of college, ‘Rey Stjerne.’”

So it’s going to be like this. Great. “You say my name like a curse.”

“Yup.”

“Yours isn’t any better.”

“Pretty sure it is.” He snorts, then taps his iPad screen and begins reading. “At Endir University, we believe the world is our students’ oyster. Your freshman year will take you as far as youare willing to invest in yourself and your future. Note the godlike mountain range, the beautiful forest surrounding the campus, the majestic Lake Stevens—” He pauses to look up at me again. “Do I really have to read this to you? It’s going to be a long day already, and knowing you, this will just make you angrier.”

Well, at least he has some self-preservation. “Please stop.”

“Aw.” He presses a hand to his chest and winks at me. “You learned how to say please. Ithasbeen a while.”

“And you learned to read. We’ve both grown up, made amazing improvements in life. There’s no goal too small, right?”

“Have I ever mentioned how charming you are? No? Well, I’m so glad your murderous father spent a shit ton of money to buy your way into Endir, when there are plenty of schools far, far, far away from us.” He sighs. “How sad, though, that you took a spot here, meaning some poor innocent college student is sitting at home wondering why their straight A’s and volunteer service at the local pet shelter weren’t enough.”

Somewhere deep down, my stomach bottoms out. I’ve never thought of that before. But I can only smirk. “Life’s hard. They’ll save a puppy and get over it.”