Page 3 of Crush

“I’m desperate to lock you up, to keep you safe, but I won’t do it. You may go to school tomorrow, but for all that’s holy, stay away from Thorne Briar in any capacity you can. Do not draw his attention any more than you have. I can handle Damion’s wrath, but to have his son go after my only daughter…” Malcolm chokes on his words.

Eyes wide, all I can do is witness his fight against falling apart. I’m unable to process the amount of emotion coming out of him. For the first time, I feel like his daughter, one he’s hopelessly trying to defend. My heart rate kicks up, its efforts to form a bond between him and me taking tangible shape as a shimmering string between our bodies. One that only catches the light if I try to look.

And the slightest fissure occurs, the start of a fraying connection at the thought of how soon I’ll betray his warnings.

As much as Malcolm’s concerns ring true, they’re doing the opposite of what he hopes. I’m beginning to feel rage where there once was numbness. When it comes to Malcolm and Damion’s rivalry, I wasn’t planning on getting involved. I’m here for a year, not the rest of my life, and part of that rested upon never becoming close to Malcolm or desiring anything different than the life he stole me away from. But Malcolm, a man I refused to care about, has become important to me at this moment. The Briars are messing too much with the Weatherbys. They think they’ve beaten, bruised, and broken us. Someone needs to prove them wrong.

Us.

It’s the first time I’ve referred to Malcolm and myself as a unit.

Thorne declared war on me tonight. I’m not about to crouch in the shadows to ensure he never sees me. If I do, it would only be so he doesn’t see me coming.

Lifting my head, I meet Malcolm’s gaze. “Of course. I just want to get through my senior year. I’ll stay far away from the Briars.”

Malcolm’s forehead smooths, and he nods. “You won’t regret it. I’ll leave you to rest, and we’ll talk more in the morning. Good night, Ember. And … I wish tonight had gone differently.”

“Me, too.” And I mean it.

It’s not until Malcolm clicks my door shut behind him that I let my mask fall and the wrath come forth. My features smooth. I can almost feel my bones morph with hatred.

Thorne Briar, the boy who made my emotions spike and swirl, crushed them in his hands. He thinks he’s weakened me with heartbreak.

Arrogant prick.

It only puts me in the perfect position to take away something that matters to him, too.

2

Ember

The next morning, I’m not surprised to spot Aurora in the middle of Winthorpe’s courtyard, gushing over her acceptance into the Marks fellowship.

Her auburn hair sparks with flame as she holds court with her friends, the sun prying through the heavy cloud cover for a few precious seconds before being smothered again.

The urge to avoid Aurora is so strong, it almost steals my breath. I could easily skirt the crowd and take the far pathway under cover of the tangled shrubbery of roses. It’d take longer, but if Aiko were with me, she’d agree that turning invisible was the best option, at least until the pain of Aurora’s acceptance stops being so etched onto my face.

But Aiko’s not around, and there’s not a chance in hell Aurora or anyone else associated with her would deem me invisible.

So, I choose my only other option—drive through the center of them. All I have to do is remember how she got the fellowship, and I’m pissed enough to override my natural instincts and spear forward.

My steps are almost silent on the cobblestones leading directly through her gathering. I hitch my bag up my shoulder, my gaze on Aurora as I pass.

Her eyes slide over me, then dart back, right as she’s in the middle of exclaiming how shocked she was to receive the letter in the mail. She wouldn’t publicly announce she was informed at the Societies’ party. She’s insipid, but she’s not stupid.

“Good morning, Ember!” she calls from her perch on the stone bench. Her gaggle of girlfriends parts slightly at her words, swiveling to follow her line of sight.

I stop at the break in her circle. She regards me with a placid smile, but I’m not about to misread her show of teeth.

“How was your night?” Aurora tilts her head, all innocence.

“Filled with shock and awe.” I move to shoulder past the closest girl, who doesn’t move an inch.

Belle glowers at me, folding her arms like a damn bodyguard and preventing my escape. Delaney mirrors her movements, flanking her right side.

“I’ll assume you mean that in the best way possible.” Aurora’s grin brightens maliciously. “Have you heard the news?”

“That you used your connections to obtain the Marks fellowship? Sure did. Congratulations.”

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