Page 66 of Saint

“And I always mean it.” Teal frowns at me. “But in this case, I need to be wrong if I want the chance to go to Paris.”

Every year, the school sends a few students to the West Coast Collegiate Art Festival to represent Briar Academy’s art program. This year’s event will be in Paris, and Teal has been losing sleep trying to make it onto the list.

“You’ve got this.” I squeeze her arm. “You’re even using purple again.”

As evidenced by the dried ridge of violet paint under her fingernails. Teal is specific when it comes to colors. She uses them to represent people and emotions. And at times, she refuses to use certain ones for reasons she’ll rarely talk about. Lately, it’s been purple.

She curls her fingers and looks down at them. “I have.”

Her eyes dart to me, and I can’t explain why I get a sudden chill. How she seems to send a message without saying anything.

“Well, this is me.” Teal points to the left and dips away, leaving me with an unsettling feeling in my gut.

“She’s been off lately, right?” Mila leans in as we watch Teal disappear into the art and music hall.

“Definitely.”

“Not that you’re one to talk.” She nudges my arm.

I glare at her. “Would you like to talk about Marco while we’re bringing up people’s secrets and flaws?”

Mila rolls her eyes, clutching her books to her chest. “No comment.”

“Exactly.”

Her eyes cut to the left. “Speaking of secrets.”

“What?”

But instead of answering, Mila dips away, smiling. And before I can yell for her to come back, I’m overwhelmed by the scent of pepper and spice. My arms prickle, and the hair on the back of my neck stand on its ends.

“You smell nice, kitten.” Kole presses close behind me.

He brushes my hair off my neck, pulling it to one side and leaning to bring his mouth to my temple.

I spin around to face him, holding my bag tighter to my chest.

The sun draws out the copper in his hair and makes his dark eyes seem brighter. His ever-cool expression is passive as always, and he’s wearing a simple black hoodie and jeans. Understated.

A killer hiding in plain sight.

And I hate that something as simple as him towering over me—his body heat so close I feel it on a chilly winter day—is enough to make my core clench.

“What do you want?” I ask him, tipping my chin up.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I turn and begin walking, even if I already know it’s no use, as he follows me.

“Why are you lying to me, Violet?” Kole grabs my arm and pulls me into the gap between the science hall and library.

I try to step away, but he backs me against the brick.

“Why can’t you leave me alone?”

“Why would I?” He plants a hand on the wall above my head and tips my chin up with his index finger. It’s gentle and confusing. “You’re mine now.”

“Really? Because I haven’t seen you in three days.”

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