Page 17 of Pretty Secrets

Fuck this bastard.

I glare daggers into the back of Barclay’s head. What a simpering idiot.

Actually,I’mthe simpering idiot. I thought by hiding the Knight’s note detailing where to meet tonight that I would be saving Eden from everything. If she didn’t show up, she’d be out.

Butthisasshole had to ruin everything.

From where I stand, she can’t win. She either finds out the Knights killed her sister and can do fuck all about it or this is all a big waste of time and Delilah really did die an accidental death—no conspiracy, no murder. Either way, she’s uprooted her life for nothing.

I peek toward Edie who’s raptly watching the professor. Jealousy sinks its nasty claws into me. Eden’s an open book and always has been. I can tell she’s got a thing for this guy already. Her lips are slightly parted. Lust practically wafts off her. When you’ve known someone for so long, it’s not difficult to tell when they’re interested, especially when you wish that look was focused on you.

Throwing her over my shoulder and taking her away from here is sounding better and better. And not just because I’m in love with a girl who doesn’t love me. If she finds out I stole that note, she’ll— Well, she’ll fucking kick my arse. She’ll hate me. For a little while anyway. I’d rather that than watch the woman I love join a secret society that may have murdered her sister. If Edie’s right, there’s no reason to believe she won’t be next.

Around me, everyone else starts gathering their things. I missed the entire class. It’s a good thing I don’t need a certificate from Carnegie University, anyway.

I nod toward her as she stands to wait for me. “I’ll catch up with you,” I tell her.

She gives me a funny look, but shrugs and heads out.

After everyone files out of the classroom, I stand, slipping the empty notebook back into my bag. Barclay peers over his shoulder and smirks. “Oliver…Smith is it?”

I curl my lip. I certainly couldn’t use my real last name. It’s pretty recognizable. “Yeah, that’s me.” I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, but this guy needs to know Eden’s my priority. He’s a Knight, and Knights can’t be trusted. It’s suspicious as fuck that he would track Eden down to make sure she would be at the meeting tonight. Isn’t part of pledging testing that the Pledges can follow directions? If we don’t show up, we’re out. There are no second chances.

“What can I help you with?” he asks, finally giving me his full attention. “Surely the content of this class isn’t already too much for you? If you want to drop, just head to the registrar.”

Pompous asshole.

“Funny,” I respond humorlessly. Eden and I hate this world for the same reasons. Everyone thinks they’re the smartest, funniest, arsehole there is. “I want to talk about Eden Astor…and the Knights.”

Barclay’s face hardens, brows lowering over his eyes as he glares at me. He pulls at the bottom of his shirt, then stalks toward the classroom door to close it. “That was unwise, Prince Oliver. Just because you’re semi-royalty doesn’t mean you won’t be held to our standards. Secrecy is everything. I’m sure you’re aware.”

I match his thin-lipped smile. The rich fucks on this side of the pond don’t scare me. They’re nothing like the family I grew up in. I care about the Knights because of Eden. That’s it. “Very. Which is why I’m curious why you cornered Eden outside the building to discuss Knights business within earshot of other students.”

The professor grins before leaning against his desk. “What’s the actual problem here, Oliver?”

I shrug. “You’re the one calling me out for secrecy when I simply followed your lead.”

He steps closer, smirk flatlining. “Pretty ballsy of you to talk back to a full-fledged Knight, Pledge. Helpful advice? The Knights don’t care who you’re related to. You’ll be treated the same as everyone else.”

“Wouldn’t want it any other way. Neither does Eden.” It’s the best I can do without telling him directly to back the fuck off or threaten to take down the Knights for good while describing in detail how I will make them all suffer if they fuck with Eden Astor. That would basically destroy any chance Eden or I have in joining the group.

I step around him and head toward the door. Barclay speaks up as soon as I twist the doorknob. “You know what’s funny? Eden didn’t seem to know about the meeting tonight. Odd considering I personally delivered all of the invitations, so I know it was there when I left it outside her door.”

I swallow hard at his insinuation. “I guess you should be more careful next time,” I tell him before closing the door behind me and heading back toward the dorm.

Let him try to pit Eden and I against each other. It’ll take a lot more than that.

* * *

The moon hangsheavy in the sky. The day’s heat clings to the grass in droplets of dew as the night ushers in the chillier air.

I’m on red alert, searching the shadows as if something’s going to jump out at any moment and take Eden away. I don’t trust anything about tonight. Even if the Knights didn’t kill Delilah, that doesn’t make them angels. Corporate servitude to the Knights of Arcadia can be a dangerous game in and of itself. Members asking for favors, rubbing your back just so you can rub theirs.

Since my grandmother is the queen of an entire country, I have to watch what favors I give up. I’m so protective of who I let into my life for that reason. People see me as an easy in to the royal family. My black mark a vulnerability, a chink in my armor. I see it differently, but that doesn’t keep people from attempting to use me.

My voice as I speak to Edie hides my concerns, though. “Palm trees. Sand. Frozen drinks that slide down so easily you’ll soon forget who you are.”

She chuckles. “All of that sounds like heaven, but no. I have a purpose here.”

---