Page 82 of Pretty Secrets

“Or never. Whichever works.”

“Or never,” I agree. I bite my lip as I think back on my encounter with Alaric, second-guessing it all. He definitely didn’t make me get under that desk. That was all me. But he refused to lock the door. He laid me out over his desk in view of everyone or anything.

What if he did it on purpose?

32

Leo

Ipretend I’m not looking out for them as Barclay and I wait for the two Pledges on the front stoop of Jarvis Hall. He sent them a text fifteen minutes ago, but what I don’t expect is for them to show up together…in Eden’s Jeep. Smiling.

I’ve always been an irrational hot head, but she’s pushed me to new heights. Got me walking around like a pubescent virgin. After she called me out earlier, I went to my local haunts to find someone else to fuck Eden Astor’s face out of my brain, but it didn’t work. They’re all just slobbering juveniles, only wanting the same thing I want.

Which usually would be fine with me, but not today. The truth is, Eden was right. This is bigger than fucking her. My grandfather left me a threatening voicemail, asking me to check in. The old fuck is getting suspicious, and I’m not sure how long I can hold him off by saying this chick is boring.

He wants me to dive deeper. He wants me to get in her head, make her open up to me. If she has secrets, he wants to know them.

I’m the muscle, not the therapist. How in the fuck do I get her to open up to me? She looks at me like she expects more than I’m willing to give, and it’s been a long time since someone has done that.A hell of a long time.

They walk toward us, and Barclay breathes a sigh of relief. Easy for him to do, he got some this morning.

I mentally punch myself in the face. There I go, thinking with my cock. Then again, I do my best thinking when I’m satisfied instead of salivating for it. She’s got me all tied up in knots.

Barclay kicks off the door. “We ready for this?” He’s all business, taking over like he’s the leader of our little group. I don’t care that he holds the coveted, full Knight title and we’re all just lowly fucks compared to him, I bow to no one. Especially since it pisses me off that I can’t tell whether or not he’s another plant from a Knight. If he is, I’m going to murder his ass for taking advantage of Eden like that. Manipulation. Mind warp. Whatever it was, I will end him.

I glare at Oliver. A Mini Cooper stopped in front of Kennedy Hall earlier, dropping off a very unsteady Keegan Forbes who had to be helped to his residence hall by a bunch of English servants. Coincidence? No way.

What I’m not going to do is ask them in front of the Knight standing next to me. If he’s feeding things up the line to my grandfather, I don’t need him finding something like this out. Keegan was Delilah’s fiancé. It’s obvious why Eden would want to speak with him, even if the Knights had nothing to do with her sister’s murder.

I’d also really love to know whose house they were in. The tracker I put on Eden’s phone led me right to her. I suppose I’m watching her for two different reasons now.

But the tracker was for keeping tabs on her in case the Knights tried some shit. I was never going to let that happen again. Clearly, I didn’t tell her about the secret app I sideloaded. She would be irate about the fact that I’ve basically microchipped her like a dog.

It could be worse. I could have put it subdermal. It would be foolproof that way.

I lag behind, watching the three of them as they walk across campus toward the Knights building. Oliver and Eden stand close together, leaving room between her and Barclay.

Maybe he was a terrible lay and she’s trying to send him a message? I doubt that’s it. Bitches in this world talk, and I’ve heard plenty of stories about Alaric Barclay, the charming seducer.

When we arrive at the Knights of Arcadia, Keegan isn’t outside this time. He’s likely sleeping off whatever happened at that house they had him in. I have to hand it to them, I didn’t think either one had it in them. Then again, someone with royalty reach has people in their back pocket to do shit like that. He probably didn’t even have to lift a finger.

Eden eyes me, and I swallow at the way her gaze penetrates my thick skin as if she can see right through me to what I’m thinking. In a way, I wish she could. Get all this shit over with because when she finds out I’ve been sent here to watch her for my grandfather, she’s going to hate me. I thought I’d have a little fun first. Use her. Abuse her. But it’s turned out to be more serious than that.

A Knight standing just inside the door sees us walk in and peers down at a paper in his hands. He’s a low-level Fledgling, which is why he got stuck with the shit job, but I bet he’s just excited to even be here. “Eden, Oliver, you’re in room six.”

My mind whirs, trying to remember my own Trials when they split the Pledges up. There was one particularly hellacious interrogation that lasted forty-eight hours that I don’t want to repeat. My skin buzzes. Fuck that. I’m not leaving her side. They can try to keep her starving, dying of thirst, and sleep deprived, but I won’t let them.

Barclay leads the way, and we find another Fledgling posted in front of room six. It’s too late to give Eden pointers now. Too many eyes and ears.

“Just the two Pledges,” the Fledgling says, barely looking up from his phone.

“Don’t think so,” I counter. “She’s my charge, and I’m going in with her.”

The Fledgling glances up, eyes widening when he spots me in front of them. “I was told only them.”

“Then physically remove us,” I bark, before stepping past a surprised Eden and opening the door.

“Hey!” the Fledgling protests.

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