Page 19 of Sinful Storms

INTERLUDE

With the cloak safely stowed away in the back of their wardrobe, the student made their way through the quiet corridors of Hatherley Hall, quickly and silently, alert for any noises that would result in discovery.

Entering the wing where the Epicurus house students had their dorms, the student glanced around again and then curled their fingers around the door handle, easing it open.

The room was shrouded in darkness, and they waited for a moment, allowing their eyes time to adjust. Four beds. Four sleeping bodies. It was imperative that the missive was delivered to the correct recipient, undiscovered by the other students in the room.

The student stepped across the threshold on silent feet, remaining undetected as they reached the desk belonging to their target. A pile of heavy textbooks lay next to a notebook on the worn wooden surface, and after a moment’s thought, the student slid the parchment inside the notebook, where it would be easily discovered by the recipient.

The task was complete. Now, all they had to do was wait.

10

ARIA

Istopped dead, my mouth falling open for a few agonising seconds before I snapped it shut.

Tristan Chamberlain-Smith, in the literal flesh. Barefoot, in a pair of loose, low-slung grey joggers, his torso bare, roughly towelling his hair dry as he strolled into his bedroom from his en suite.

His bedroom.

Where I was.

Shit.

I dived for the floor behind his huge bed, my heart pounding and my mind racing. I’d thought he was going to be out somewhere with Roman. I was positive that was what Knox had said. How was I supposed to investigate now?

Peering around the edge of the bed, I watched as Tristan crossed to the sliding doors that led to his dressing room. I deliberately averted my gaze when I realised I was noticing the ripple of his muscles. I wanted to throw up inside my mouth.

He didn’t appear to be putting on more clothes, either, reappearing a few moments later with his phone clasped in his hand. As he dropped onto his bed, I flattened myself against thefloor, holding my breath. I should never have come in here. I didn’t even know why I’d come in here, really.

Okay, that was a lie.

Maybe it was because I wanted to know if Tristan had any information on what I’d discovered. If he’d been hiding information about my family from me all this time…

I sucked in a shuddering breath, clamping my hand over my mouth instantly to hide any noise I might accidentally make. As much as I hated to admit it, to know he’d hidden this from me would hurt so much. It was stupid of me to think that way because he owed me nothing, and I didn’t really even know anything about the situation other than what I’d gleaned from the notebook.

Even so. My brain was not rational. Was anyone’s?

I wasn’t sure how long I lay there, breathing in a million dust mites while Tristan relaxed on his luxurious bed, but eventually, he sighed loudly and then rolled off the bed. From my restricted viewpoint, I could see his feet as he padded over to his dressing room.

The second his feet disappeared from view, I ran for it.

That was my plan, anyway.

A hand shot out and yanked me backwards into a hard chest.

A hard, bare chest.

“What are you doing sneaking around my room, little scorpion?”

Oh, shit.

“Tristan! My favourite godbrother.” I leaned back against him, easily ignoring the solid warmth of his body pressed against my back because my heart was pounding so hard with sudden panic I was surprised it wasn’t audible. “What a coincidence. I was just coming to find you—your iPad.”

“Mmm, yeah, because it would make so much sense for me to hide it under my bed instead of in my desk drawer, where I always keep it.”

“How would I know where you keep it? It’s not like I’m a frequent visitor to your bedroom.”

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