Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 98580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
“Fuck you.” I go to walk away from him, but he blocks my path.
My eyes flick over his shoulder, which is hard to do since he’s literally a foot and some taller than me, towering and caging in my small frame like a beast would his next meal. His posse stands behind him, two with dark hair and unnaturally pale skin like his, and one with the oddest shade of silver I’ve ever seen. They almost feel unnatural. Their energy is unreadable.
My eyes catch on the broody looking one to his left for a moment. When he shifts closer, his darker blue eyes narrow accusingly, and a look of frustration draws his features tight the longer he stares into mine. When his lip curls cruelly, I cave, bringing my attention back to the guy before me.
“What is it?” I pop a brow. “You guys want to gloat? Maybe rub it in that I, the female, was the desperate one? I was drunk, and if you want to get real here, the kiss was purely a game piece that I needed to get someone off my back.”
“Yeah, because that was it…” he answers blandly. “What’s your name?”
A scoffed laugh leaves me, but when his glare only sharpens, I clear my throat, and this time, when I try to shoulder past him, he lets me.
A little more rattled than I’d like to admit, I grab my phone and wallet, heading out the front door to wait for Justice. Fuck those guys. No matter how hot he is…
No matter how hot they all are.
The doors open again, and I stand up straighter, expecting to see them walk out, but Justice is running his hand through his hair, the wrinkle lines between his eyes deep. “I’ve gotta go back to work. I’ll walk you back to campus if you want?”
“I can walk, Jus. Everything okay?”
He stays on his phone, the worry lines getting deeper. “Not really. Hey!” He shoves it into his pocket, his demeanor changing. Bringing me in closer, he presses his lips to my forehead. “I’ll call you, okay?”
“Sure!” I watch as he walks the opposite way, running across the road and looking over his shoulder every two seconds.
As if someone was chasing him.
Or stalking him…
Starved since we didn’t get to eat after all, I drag my cranky ass back to campus.
When I get home, I kick the front door closed, unbutton my jacket, and toss it onto the small table in the lounge when a small envelope falls out. Our room is one of the smaller ones offered here on campus, but it was the only one available in the coed dorms. We weren’t about to complain. There was no way in hell Ben and I would be separated again, even if it was only by a few hundred feet or so. We’re all each other has.
I lean down and pick up the envelope, tossing it onto the table and kicking off my shoes. I fall down onto the sofa, resting my head against the edge when my phone starts blaring in my pocket. I swipe to answer it when I see Ben’s name flash over the screen and the first selfie we took with each other. His pierced tongue is out, his dimples sinking into each side of his cheeks, and his honey brown eyes glistening with mischief.
“Yes?”
“Did Justice tell you about his party?”
“He did.” I stand, making my way to my bedroom to gather everything for a shower. Fatigue has long since poisoned my muscles, and as every second passes, I feel myself fading. Damn. “Are we going?”
“Definitely.” That’s code for he has found someone to get with while he’s there.
“Mmmm. And what’s her name?” I ask, picking up my belongings and making my way out our door to the showers. We could have lived off campus, but neither of us could really afford it right now, which is another reason we settled for a two-bedroom dorm. It’s nice enough to call home.
“Ahhh, you will have to wait until the weekend because she’s coming with us.”
I drop my shit on the counter and shuffle out of my clothes. “Fine. Are you finished? I need to shower.”
“No! What do you want for dinner? That’s why I called. It’s my turn to cook, but I can’t be fucked.”
“Anything. I’m not that hungry tonight. More tired.”
“Oh?” he asks, and I know I’m not getting rid of him anytime soon, so I switch ears and make my way to the showers.
“It’s no big… it’s just—” Do I tell him? My best friend who can read me like the fucking alphabet? He’s going to see my lies all over my face when he digs, so maybe I can give him a ploy for now. I don’t think I’m ready to admit that a certain someone is occupying all my damn time. “—nothing. I’m due for my period, so I’m being extra sensitive.”