Page 41 of Pretty Secrets

Iprocrastinate upstairs in my room—even though I’m sure everyone is downstairs, waiting to leave for today’s classes—my mind too filled with recent events to face the world just yet. The clear goal I had coming into Carnegie is getting blurry. My sheets smell like my professor. I’ve confirmed the glint of hardware on Leo’s dick, considering it was right in my face last night.

They’re Knights. I should despise them, but what scares me the most is how badly I wanted to reach out with my tongue to play with Leo’s cock piercing. How intoxicating the moment was. Right up until he said I’d never satisfy him. Honestly, that sounds like a challenge I’m willing to take on, but with all the other things piling on my plate, I’m not sure I can—or should—tackle Leonardo Jarvis right now. The grumpy, moody-as-fuck asshole. I don’t care if he’s the reason they found me.

After one last check in the mirror, I pull my big girl panties on and head downstairs. Before I hit the last step, I glance toward the foyer where I was down on my knees in front of Leo less than eight hours ago.

“Here she is,” Oliver greets when he sees me. He holds a mug of something steaming out to me, and I grin at him. “My lady.”

I take it from him gratefully, still guilty that I turned him away last night. He’s another one where it seems like the lines are fraying. There’s a strict friendship line drawn with Oliver, even with the agreement in place that we might sometimes use each other to feel good. Friends with benefits, that’s it. We’re scuffing the line, though, and I’m not sure that should happen.

“Good. We need to sit down and discuss things,” Alaric notes, pulling out his professor voice. I try not to let it show how much I like that demanding tenor. Instead, when I peer over at him, I’m reminded of last night. How he came into my room without permission because he knew I would need someone. He carried me to the bed and hugged me to his body.

I just can’t fucking figure out why.

The small kitchenette in Jarvis Hall isn’t that big. It’s enough for a bit of countertop space, a fridge, microwave, cupboards, and a peninsula with bar stools on the other side of it. Oliver and Leo are inside the kitchen while Alaric and I sit on the stools sipping our drinks.

Neither Leo nor Alaric has met my gaze, so I concentrate on Oliver, who’s inspecting me as if I’ll break. He’s leaning across the peninsula, so I reach out to grab his hand and squeeze. Oliver’s my partner in crime, always will be. The other two, we’ll just deal with until I get into the Knights of Arcadia. Then, Oliver and I can do what we came here to do. I keep my hand in his, drawing on his strength. When Leo turns, he gives our entwined hands a cruel smirk, then leans against the wall, separate from the rest of us. “Let’s get this over with.”

Alaric doesn’t pay his attitude any mind. He launches into a plan. “It’s obvious the Elders will try to fuck with the groupings they made. They were successful once, which means they’ll likely try it again.”

Oliver clasps my hand more firmly in his grip.

“I’ve got an alarm company coming in to set up a security system.”

Leo snorts. “You think I leavemyhall unprotected?” We all turn to look at him, but he’s glaring at me. “There are exterior and interior cameras, and I can set the window and door alarms to alert.”

“You have cameras in here?” Surprise colors my tone as I blink at him.

“Of course I do. I protect what’s my family’s. Want to see what the foyer camera caught yesterday?” He pulls out his phone and starts pressing on the screen. I think he’s only trying to scare me, but when I hear my voice come through the speaker, my stomach plummets.

Reaching out, I snatch the device away from him as he’ s turning it around to show everyone. I throw it, not aiming at anything in particular, but it sails all the way into the living room and hits the opposite wall.

Leo’s face turns ruddy. “If that’s broken, you’ll pay. And not in money, sweetheart.”

Alaric sighs at the two of us. “Do you have feeds anywhere else besides your phone?”

“The basement,” Leo states, still fixing me with a hard stare. I can’t take my eyes off him. I want to scratch his eyes out. One, for playing games, and two, attempting to show the others.

“Can I trust you to arrange all that? I’ll cancel the guys I have coming.”

Leo only shifts his death glare to Alaric, so I guess we’re all just assuming that’s a yes from him.

“Someone needs to be with Eden every second of every day. If we get caught again, it could mean she and Oliver don’t make it to Fledglings—and who knows what might happen to us.”

This would usually be the time I give my two cents about being smothered, but instead, I stew inside at the Knights for putting me in this situation. The truth is, Alaric is right. The Knights will keep trying to ruin us, and the only thing that matters is that I make it to Fledgling. If that means I have to spend time with my hot professor and the dickhead, then so be it. This particular torture is temporary. Not knowing what happened to Dee is a life sentence I don’t want to serve.

Leo seems like he’d be the last person to agree to this, though. I lift my stare to inspect him. Day-old stubble moves with the tightening of his jaw. He locks eyes with me, and my heart makes a solid thump in my chest at the dangerous look I find there. I’m simultaneously afraidanddrawn to him, a treacherous combo. “I can babysit the princess. No problem.”

Oliver breaks his silence. “That’s what I’m here for,” he simply states. When I peer over, I realize I’m no longer squeezing his hand. He’s backed up all the way to the refrigerator with his arms crossed over his chest.

He avoids my gaze, and after we finish our drinks, Alaric gives us tasks. The main priority is to watch out for any Knight and steer clear until the next Trial. I’m too tired to ask what that could be.

Afterward, Oliver and I leave for class. Alaric and Leo stay behind, probably discussing security measures, like they think the Knights could sneak into my room and grab me. And who knows, maybe they would.

Around campus, I spot the other female Pledges being closely followed by at least one or two of the men they’re grouped with. Anne-Marie is eating the attention up, strutting to class as if she’s a celebrity being followed by paparazzi. She turns straight toward us where the sidewalks cross, and I brace for her bitchiness. She’s always disliked Delilah and I, even though we were often forced together at parties. Her bright red lips pull apart into a grin. “Heard we beat you the other night. Looks like my guys are better at taking care of me than yours.”

I walk right past because I don’t have time for her Barbie bullshit. Determination threads through me, though. I’ve always had a competitive nature and beating her at the Knights’ game would be both satisfying and rewarding.

“Wouldn’t it be something if I got in and you didn’t?” she calls out, still trying to bait me.

---