Page 23 of Handsome Devil
I pinched my lips together. I wasn’t going to sob.
“You lost.” Andrin grabbed the back of my hair, wrenching me up. “On your feet, Boy.”
I scrambled to stand up, ripping the handkerchief from my eyes. Blinking, I handed him back the piece of cloth. It was soaked with tears. I was nauseous with shame.
“Boy.” Andrin crouched to meet my gaze, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Losing has consequences. You do realize that, right?”
I nodded, bracing myself for his fist.
Andrin always hit me under the collarbone to avoid bruises in exposed areas and questions from his superiors.
“And you couldn’t escape me. What kind of mentor would I be if I don’t punish you for not practicing your survivor skills?” His eyes crinkled in fake sympathy.
I didn’t answer.
“You will get your punishment, but not tonight. Tonight is your birthday. Go to bed.”
I hesitated. Andrin never postponed a punishment. He always took great pleasure in delivering it.
But…he just stood there, waiting for me to leave.
So eventually, I did.
I ran the length of the woods back to the boarding school. Into my room.
I closed the door, fell to my bed, and cried myself to sleep like a little pussy.
The tears were fast and hot, and I went down like a brick.
The next morning, when I woke up, Ares wasn’t there.
Shit. I forgot to open the window for him.
I stood up quickly, pacing toward the window, yanking it open.
My whole body was sore, my shins and knees caked with dried blood.
“Ares!” I called out. “Come in. I’m sorry I—”
The rest died in my throat.
Ares was splayed across my windowsill.
Limp and dead.
A small note was tucked under his lifeless body.
Happy Birthday, Boy.
Iwaited until Gia left before heading into my office. Shivers rippled across my skin. I was in the dark woods again.
Cold. Naked. Nauseous with adrenaline.
Finally, I was alone.
Here, behind my closed doors, I stripped myself of the veneer of civility. Of composure.
I ripped the bow tie off. Kicked off my shoes. Squirted six pumps of hand sanitizer. Read a favorite line inAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
