Page 108 of Cruel Destinies

“No, especially not when they’re sucking your neck and dry humping you,” Caesar barked.

I winced, uninvited shame seeping into me like poison at his slight.

“Hey, leave her alone,” Julian defended, dropping the cat and coming to kneel beside me again. “I did that, not her. If you’re going to be mad at anyone, you should be mad at me.”

“Oh, trust me, I am furious with you,” Caesar seethed, scowling at Julian. “Why the fuck are you pursuing her anyway? Isn’t she supposed to be helping you resurrect your dead wife? Or did you just think you could use her to get your rocks off in the meantime?”

Julian returned the scowl, his eyes glowing red as he leaned toward Caesar. “You think I intended for any of this to happen? I didn’t want to want Shea. I tried everything I couldto resist her. And you’re one to talk. You’ve been fucking a girl the same age as your students. A girl, I might add, who you’re also supposed to be working toward actually making one of your students.”

“You ba—” Caesar began to curse, but I cut him off.

“Enough!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, the effort making my still-dry throat sting. “You’re both acting like a couple of macho assholes, treating me like I’m some witless pawn between you. I played the same role in all of this as both of you. How dare either of you think you get to speak for me. And, guess what, for some insane reason, I wantbothof you! Equally! But if you’re going to fight over me like two dogs over a bone, then fuck both of you.”

I climbed to my wobbly feet, stumbling against Caesar and gripping his shoulder to steady my footing.

“What are you doing?” Caesar asked, taking my hand as he got to his feet as well.

I jerked it out of his hold. “I’m leaving.”

“The hell you are.” Julian was suddenly standing in front of me, blocking my way to the door. “You just got attacked by a vampire, and you think either of us is going to let you back onto the streets?”

“Let?” I hissed. “There’s noletgoing on here. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and I’m. Going. Home! Gram will be worried sick about me by now, and I’d like to avoid a lifetime sentence of being grounded. Though, at this point, I’m probably better off not seeing either of you, at least until you get your heads out of your asses.”

“At least let us escort you home,” Caesar implored, the hostility and possession in his tone replaced with a cowed sentimentality.

A knock came at the door, which then fell forward into the living room, crashing to the floor with a loudbang. I jumped at the sound, blinking at the tall blonde woman who looked equally rattled as she stood in the hall.

“Sorry,” she said, wincing.

“It’s okay, I’ll fix it later,” Julian said, moving to pick up the door and prop it against the wall.

The woman, who I assumed was the aforementioned Piper, came in, holding up a brown paper bag as she approached me. “The only place I found still open was Raja’s Palace. I hope you like Indian food.”

The bitter smell of curry twisted my already uneasy stomach, but I accepted the bag anyway. “Thank you. I’ll actually take it to go.”

“Oh,” she said, frowning.

“Please don’t leave like this,” Caesar begged, putting a hand on my shoulder as he came around to face me. “I’m sorry for lashing out. I’m just so terrified of anything happening to you. You’re incredibly important to me.”

“To both of us,” Julian added, coming to stand in front of me as well.

They both looked at me with pleading, stupidly alluring expressions, which was making it incredibly difficult for me to storm out the way I wanted to.

“Well, that’s all well and good, but honestly, this whole thing is exhausting,” I said with a huffed sigh. “I’m tired of being your dirty little secret, Caesar. And Julian, I’m tired of competing with the love you still hold onto for Alice. I refuse to be the one who has to make the tough choices. So when either of you figures out your shit, come find me. Until then, kindly fuck off.”

I pushed between the two of them, heading for the open doorway. “Piper, will you escort me home?”

The woman blinked at me, looking over at Julian, who nodded his ascent. “Oh, um, okay. Sure.”

And without any further argument from my two unlikely suitors, I strode out the door.

Not that whatever they decided mattered because Gram was going to kill me.

Chapter 35

Tobias

Christmas at the Dome was normally quiet. Most students would spend the holiday with their families, and the halls and common rooms would be empty until the New Year’s Eve ball.

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