Page 30 of The Revenge

“Don’t you think a better accessory would have been a fucking diamond?” Syn asks through gritted teeth. “Put the fucking things away before I use one to chain you to—”

“I think they’re perfect,” I say loudly as I turn to look at Syn.

There’s a vein pulsing at his temple, and he really looks ready to carry out his threat on me.

I don’t care.

I know he’s not going to wear it, but just the idea—

“Not a chance,” he hisses under his breath.

I’m not sure what we’re saying is loud enough for the whole dining hall to hear, but I know everyone’s attention hasn’t left us since we walked in, and even if they can’t hear us, it’s pretty obvious what’s happening.

For some reason, Syn doesn’t seem to be focused on anyone but me.

I snatch one of the chains from Gemini’s hand. “I’m not joking,” I tell Syn.

“Neither am I.”

Without further hesitation, I reach up and clip the leash to his collar with a soft click. The noise seems to echo around the room, but when I glance over, I realize from the number of open mouths, the sound is a collective gasp.

Feeling emboldened while holding tightly to Syn’s leash, I turn back to Gemini and Royal. Gemini already has the chain connected to his collar and is offering the end to me, while Royal is in the process of attaching his. With my head held high, and the three leashes in my right hand, I stride towards the exit like I’m on a catwalk.

Over the last few years, I feel like I’ve changed and evolved so many times that I’m not sure who I really am anymore. While I don’t feel like this behavior is completely true to me, I can’t say I don’t enjoy the power—even if it is fleeting.

The moment we’re outside, Syn jerks his leash out of my hands, unclipping it before I can turn around. “Don’teverdo that again.”

Before I can respond, another voice joins the conversation.

“Considering the recent events on this campus, I find it hard to believe you consider this type of behavior acceptable.”

The statement doesn’t come from one of the three guys in front of me, but from the professor behind me.

“And here I was, worried that the student who died was my own T.A., considering she neither turned up for her office hours, nor had the decency to inform me she was… ill?” As usual, Payne’s dark eyes are filled with a combination of anger and contempt—the usual expression he has when he looks at me.

“It’s exam week,” Syn says. His tone seems lazy, but his eyes are already narrowed.

“Lectures may have finished for the semester, but as my T.A., Miss Reynolds’ employment still stands. Not that you’d know much about work.” Payne folds his arms as he gives Syn a cold smile.

“Just because you think a white-collar job is an aspiration doesn’t mean you have any authority over what work looks like.” Syn lets out an exasperated sigh as he looks away.

“I’ll be there at our usual time,” I hurriedly tell Payne. I give the leashes a gentle tug. “We should go. You have exams to study for,” I tell the men, even though they’ve probably got someone handling their final grades for them.

Despite Syn’s announcement at breakfast, I’m surprised when he doesn’t stop me from going to Dr. Wright’s office instead of dinner… Until we reach the path that branches off from the dining hall.

As Syn stops, I stick my hands deep into my coat pockets and glare at him. “If I don’t go to Dr. Wright’s office, he will come to Denali House.”

Syn tilts his head. “If he wants to keep his job, he won’t.”

As I let out an exasperated sigh, he just shrugs.

“I’m not stopping you. We’re walking with you to the Sterling building.”

“You think your threats weren’t enough?” I ask, glancing at Royal and Gemini.

“Not if someone only has a double-digit IQ,” Gemini mutters.

“We told everyone you’re ours…” Royal shifts his weight to his other foot, folding his arms. “Ourequal. As well as telling everyone we’d destroy anyone who tries to hurt you. Don’t you think it would look suspicious if we didn’t accompany you everywhere?”

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