Page 163 of Ruthless Chaos

There is no harm in taking her advice, though. She’s older, wiser and she is my friend.

“Oh,” I say. “Clear your schedule for the weekend. Alexander is taking me along on a Kingmaker Council Trip this weekend and you’re my plus one.”

Tara grins. “Sounds fun,” she says. “I’ll wear my good clothes.”

THIRTY-NINE

ALIZE

Alexander istrue to his word about giving me a few days off.

Apart from a few passing conversations when we run into each other on campus and a few phone calls, I see little of him until Friday evening. He drives Tara and me to the airport. From there, we’ll take Vance’s jet to our destination.

I can’t keep my eyes off Alexander.

“Close your mouth. You’re about to drool,” Tara teases.

She has my arm interlocked with hers as we walk through the sliding glass doors of the small private airport. Alexander is ahead of us, carrying our suitcases.

“Is it that bad?” I ask, covering my mouth in mock horror.

Tara laughs. “It’s pretty obvious, yes.”

The airport is little more than a departure lounge, with angular leather seats, modern impressionist art and a small cafe inside. Another huge glass door opens onto the tarmac, and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows give us a 360-degree view of the outdoors.

Ezra, Vance, and Nya are already inside.

Nya’s face lights up when she sees us, and she bounds over. The girl with Ezra smiles and waves in our direction. So does the girl sitting beside the Council member with olive skin and dark hair. I can’t remember his name.

There’s only one person missing.

Though I didn’t share my unease with Alexander, my real reason for needing reinforcements on this trip had everything to do with Liam Keller. It’s not that I don’t think Alexander can protect me.

It’s just that I’ll need all the support I can get to make it through this.

The handful of times I’ve seen him on campus since he attacked me have been traumatic. I always end up having to run away to catch my breath and talk myself out of a panic attack.

At least with Tara here, I won’t ever be alone.

I take a seat beside Nya, and Tara sits beside me. Alexander doesn’t sit, only stands with his arms akimbo and his eyes glued to the door. He’s doing an awful job of hiding how annoyed he is. I see the muscles working in his jaw.

“Just like that motherfucker to be late,” he mutters, looking at his watch.

I feel compelled to comfort him, like hug him or something. But I don’t. Should I do something like that in a place this public?

It is Ezra who replies to him. “You know he likes to make an entrance.” His tone is light, but there’s an edge to his words. He probably hates Liam too and just does a better job of hiding it.

Alexander folds his arms. “If he doesn’t get here in the next ten minutes, we’re leaving without him.” Though he’s talking to Ezra, he has his gaze firmly fixed on me.

There’s heat and desire in his expression, and if we weren’t in a room full of people, I would jump on him then and there. I can’t get enough of him.

We pass the next few minutes in tense silence.

Little pockets of conversation crop up within the group. Tara and Nya talk about someone from one of their classes. Vance, Ezra and the guy who I’ve come to realize is named Cesare talk about the season the Saint Frederic Devils are having.

Alexander alternates between staring at the door and pinning me with that hungry stare of his. It feels so intimate, the emotions we’re able to share with just a look. The moment his gaze meets mine, I know exactly what he’s thinking.

Right now, he wants to devour me.