Page 85 of Crush

“If they wanted to kill you, you’d be dead.” Jaxon’s tone is so flat, I have to look twice at him. “That was a warning. One I’m here to ensure you listen to. These girls?” He motions in their direction. “They’re nothing but noise. They can’t do to you what the ones in charge will if you give them any more motivation. Stop distracting yourself with them.”

The bell tower tolls, signaling the start of class. Students huddled in the courtyard make their way to the steps, forcing Aurora, Belle, and Delaney to step inside and disappear into the crowd. Jaxon, however, grabs my elbow and drags me to the side.

“Where’s Thorne?” I ask Jaxon as we huddle near the stone fencing.

“You shouldn’t care where he is.” But at my determined glare, he sighs. “He’s at home and hasn’t been to school for about as long as you have.”

A gnawing unease settles against my shoulders. I’d assumed he was part of my demise, not that he could’ve received his own type of punishment, too. “Is he okay?”

“Don’t worry about him. He can handle himself in ways you can’t. Although you’ve proven you have a little darkness in you, you twisty vixen.” He gestures to the spot Aurora vacated. “I didn’t think you had it in you to throw her down the stairs.” Jaxon stares off above my head as if recalling an image of his best friend, then shrugs and comes back to me. “We have an important meeting to attend tonight with the rest of the Nobles. I’ll see him then.”

I nod, forced to be content with that small piece of information.

“You’re set for a challenge tonight, as well.”

My eyes return to his. “So soon? Why does Damion even want me to continue as a member?”

“I wish I could tell you. Actually, no, I don’t. I’d rather not know. Just be at the school by midnight, yes? I’ll meet you at these doors.”

A warning rings out from the bell tower—three ominous clangs to get to class. Everyone’s filtered out of the front, leaving Jaxon and me alone.

“Am I allowed to say no?”

Jaxon laughs. “After what you pulled with Aurora and her crew just now, all big-time, no-fear, Imma-kick-some-ass? Come on, follow it up with something. Prove to the members that a Weatherby belongs with the elite. Don’t let a little attempted murder scare you off.”

I tug at my ponytail, staring out into the grounds, internally hedging my bets and chances. Does this give me a way to sabotage either Thorne or Damion? Depending on where the challenge is, I could glean more information about the Nobles and Virtues and how they work. Maybe see what Savannah saw. “Let me do one better. I’ll prove a Beckett should be there, too.”

Jaxon cocks a brow. “Okay, then. See you tonight, Ember Beckett.”

A cool wind brushes against the side of my cheek, the wind free to chill my skin once Jaxon turns for the doors.

I’m about to do the same until a shadow catches my eye near the roundabout where cars drop off students.

The form is obscured by distance, but I would recognize the set of his shoulders, his dominant posture, and his confident stance even if an entire football field were between us.

“Thorne?” I say it too low for him to ever hear me, but his head tilts as if he does.

Then he spins and walks down the drive.

My knees bend, the instinctive need to chase after him almost making me take the steps and start sprinting.

My better judgment takes hold. Thorne may have saved me in the pool, but he went against me as soon as he could. Jeopardizing my future again. Taking away my chances at fixing my life again.

I don’t wait for him to fade from view.

I turn around and disappear first.

34

Thorne

At nine thirty at night, Winthorpe Academy should be deserted.

Not so when it comes to the orders of the Noble king.

Many of us drove our cars tonight, parking in Winthorpe’s staff lot behind the school and replacing the beat-up Chevys and Buicks during the day with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and 7-series.

The high school is lit up like a European cathedral, a golden luminescence creeping through the greenery and cascading across the stone walls. Most of us walk with our cloaks hanging over our arms. No need to dress in costume until we’re inside.

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