Page 17 of Fallen Gods

I go completely still. I can’t breathe.

He rushes on to add with a sloppy grin, “Anyway, it’s kind of terrifying waiting for the quiet ones to snap. Am I right?”

I force a smile, then open room 209 and push my bags inside. “On that happy thought…”

He salutes me with his middle finger, then pulls up his iPad and clears his throat like he’s about to get professional. “We at Endir acknowledge that you could have chosen any university program. We’re delighted that you chose us and promise to exceed your expectations in—”

I take two steps back and grab the door, slowly shutting it in his face.

It closes with a soft click. “Wasn’t done!”

“Yeah, you were!” I call back with a small smile. He might be annoying, but at least he’s entertaining.

With a deep breath, I turn to take in my new home.

The room is furnished. Built-in cabinets, bookshelves, and desks span the right wall, windows straight ahead, beds to my left, and, judging by the fact there’s two of everything, clearly this room is intended for more than one person. Not that I’ll have to share; my father would’ve made sure of that. Fewerwitnesses and whatnot. I wasn’t expecting to be placed right next to my target, though.

Thanks, Dad.

But finding a six-foot-six Frost Giant on campus was never going to be the hard part.

Getting close enough to finish what I came here to do without losing myself in the process?

That’s the part that might kill me.

Chapter Eight

Aric

I had to leave. The air was soaked with her scent, which is weird to say even in my own head. Fuck, I really am losing it.

When I know the coast is clear, I go back to my room and down some of my meds, then stare at myself in the sink. My eyes are clear but lifeless. Looks about right.

I grip the sides of the sink and try to take some long, deep breaths.

Everything is going to be fine.

I just need to survive withhernext door to me, moving around, breathing, existing, making noise, annoying the shit out of me.

I know the walls are thin.

Just like I know both of our beds are pressed against the same shared wall.

Inches.

Our bodies will be inches from each other, guarded by nothing other than some ancient stone wall that could crumble at any moment. God, I hope there’s not an earthquake, not because I don’t want to die under a pile of rubble but because I don’t want my last moments to be spent lying next to her in that pile of rubble.

She smells sharp—cool air and wildflowers crushed underfoot. Like rain just before it hits. Clean. Disruptive. Familiar in a way that puts me on edge.

A soft knock sounds at my door.

“Yeah,” I rasp.

Reeve waltzes in. “So…this should be interesting.”

I curse and toss my meds back into the drawer. “You think?”

He eyes the drawer, then me. “You feeling okay?”