Page 28 of River of Deceit

Asch preens, lifting his shirt to show a hint of those abs. “Kappa Alpha Omega Sigma does do a lot with Nu Upsilon Chi,” he says amiably. “I guess I could be the poster boy.” He glances at me again. “Are you looking to become a Nyxie, Pandora?”

“How closely do you two work together?” I ask, still smiling. “Does Nyx supply women for your wild parties?”

Jasmine sneers at me. “Excuse me? We don’tsupplywomen. If some of our sisters decide to party, that’s on them, but we’re an academically minded sorority—nota party sorority. Also, Asch, don’t call us Nyxies unless you like us calling you Chaotics.”

That’s funny, since they’re the ones who co-sponsored the ‘wild’ party I’d met Blaze and Asch at.

No wonder D-I-K suggested I join up with them.

“Maybe you’ll come to the next party and see how courteous we can be. Or…” Asch smiles back at me. “Maybe we could hang out outside of the parties.”

He lets the ‘again’ hang in the air between us.

Blaze nods along. “It’s not all fun and games at Kappa Alpha either, of course. We take academics very seriously.”

I glance between them. “Really? What are you studying?”

“I’m a business major,” Blaze says. “And Asch does econ. For you… let me guess, women’s studies?”

I laugh in disbelief. “You’re stereotyping me based on the fact that I think roofieing women is wrong?”

“Maybe I’m stereotyping you because you’re thefree lovetype,” Blaze suggests. “Women should be allowed to sleep around if they want.” He licks his lips suggestively.

It’s the type of stupid joke I would have made to rile up Mama, and now I’m torn between amusement and being mad that he made it first.

“I’m willing to bet she’s here for pre-law,” Asch says. “Or something equally ambitious.”

I ignore Jasmine’s annoyed huff behind me, and I get closer to Asch. I place my hand along the wound I’d left him, and he tenses. “I’m actually doing biology. I’m setting myself up for a medical degree.”

“Like I said, something ambitious,” he says, his voice friendly even though his eyes aren’t as he looks at me.

“I can’t wait to get to the autopsy classes,” I say as I rub my thumb along the cut. I smile up at him and lick my lips. “Have you ever seen the inside of a person, Asch?”

He quirks a brow. “Can’t say that I have. Haveyou?”

Yes, but I have just enough wherewithal to not say that out loud in front of the sorority recruitment table.

Blaze places his hand on my wrist and draws it away from Asch’s arm. “I’d rather feelinsidesomething warm and tight,” he says with an edge to his voice.

His grip is tight enough that it hurts, and I flex to feel more of that pain.

“Oh my god,” Jasmine mutters. “Go away, all three of you. You’re scaring off potential pledges.”

“I’ll be back to help later,” Asch promises with a boyish smile. “You know you want me to.” He turns his attention back to me. “How about we get a drink? On Blaze. It’s the least he can do for the affront.”

“Would the drinks also come with free roofies?” I ask with a sweet smile when Jasmine turns her attention to potential new recruits instead of us.

Blaze wraps his arm around my shoulder and draws me away from the recruitment tables. “Why would I need any of that? You’ll already do anything Asch and I ask—if you don’t want to ruin your academic career before it’s even started.”

The line is so brazen that I want to stab him.

Does he threaten every woman he wants to bed?

Was Rachel trapped by a man who held her future in his hands?

No. Rachel liked whoever it was she met with here. I know that much.

Unfortunately, I also know that guys like Blaze can be all the right sorts of charming.