Page 175 of The Blairville Legacies

At some point, Nash would have to pass the alpha trial, and that wouldn’t be a piece of cake for my brother.

Anyway, Alarik had also turned and beaten my stubborn brother in a heated duel.

It reminded me of when Nash had fought with Kieran and Julian and not Alarik when all four of us had roamed the woods.

And there they were again: The thoughts of someone I should let go of. And I didn’t mean my best friend, who was currently spending time in the US and who I had reached by phone this morning.

Again, I tried to focus on my brother, who had arrived on campus and was walking to our spot under the oak tree with his gym bag draped over his free torso. This time, though, at a human pace.

“Nash, honestly. We have a much bigger problem now.”

I had caught up with him by now.

“Hey, Nash!”

Two pretty dressed-up blondes walked past us and waved at my brother.

I would have loved to hit them, because I was getting really annoyed at how all these human girls were glued to my brother 24/7. As if it wasn’t enough withMadyback then.

“And wear a T-shirt next time, for fuck’s sake,” I added with anger as three more girls walked past us and waved at Nash.

Nash didn’t seem to notice any of this. He was just staring at the screen of his cell phone, as usual.

“Nash, what’s wrong?” I pulled him by the arm and stopped.

“Nothing, Emy, okay?”

“We have to...”

“That’s the problem. You always want todosomething.Yes, someone’s been murdered andyes, those bastards are probably behind it.” He pointed across the campus to the DeLoughreys’ still empty parking spaces. “But it’s enough to make Father go nuts already.” His jaw ground against the taut skin of his face. “At least keep your cool and wait until Father has spoken to Alarik.”

Father had indeed lost it. I had arrived at his office, where he had been pacing around in a state of complete agitation, and had suddenly knocked over his chessboard. He had cursed, loudly, so that Nash and Finn had also come into the office.

Now, Nash tore himself away from me and went to the guys, where his mood seemed to change abruptly when the Jones brothers,HarryandHunter, greeted him.

Sometimes I really didn’t understand him. How could he ask me to keep my cool when Father obviously needed help?

Thoughtfully, I shook my head and turned toward the parking lot, where I had intended to go. I caught sight of my target. Of course, he was there early, and he seemed to be waiting for someone.

I gritted my teeth with suspicion.

This weird witch girlwasn’t with him.Good for her.

Determined, I set off to catch him before he could notice me and quickly disappear.

He stood there like a lone wolf, watching the growing stream of students as if he had nothing better to do.

“Julian...” I called out loudly, and my brother must have heard me because I felt his gaze on the back of my neck.

“Ems,” Julian said, looking past me to Nash.

I had been right.

“Your brother seems to have a problem with you talking to me.”

I gave Nash a look of mock annoyance.

“Although, he probably has his reasons,” Julian continued with a grin, and I automatically grinned back. I tucked my loose dark hair behind my ears, feeling sheepish.