Page 41 of A Taste of Torment
Jarron rolls his eyes at his brother. “Don’t sink to their level.”
“Is it not true?” Trevor shrugs.
“It’s none of their business,” he barks.
Trevor nods in my direction. “She seems interested. Maybe you should consider not leaving her in the dark the next time. Learning of this sort of thing in front of enemies is not exactly ideal.”
Jarron turns to me, his expression concerned, then nods. His features smooth into indifference. “Advice taken,” he whispers.
Trevor nods and then turns back to Bea, his nose grazing the side of her neck. Bea giggles.
“Enemies?” I ask.
“There is a fine line between friend and foe, at least in our world,” Manuela says. “Never forget that.”
I consider her words. Not that it’s a stretch for me to say these people are my enemies, but for Trevor to claim them as such did surprise me.
There’s a fine line between friend and foe.
Supernaturals hoard power, apparently even in the form of friends. The more strength your friends have, the more you have. But they are also your competition.
I recall what Jarron said about not trusting that anyone likes him. Is this what he meant? Every friendship, every relationship, is a business transaction. There’s no real comradery or affection.
They care about his strength and nothing more. It makes me reconsider my thoughts on his inner circle.
“Well, this conversation has been very illuminating,” I mutter before taking a sip of my bland soup.
“Learn to read between the lines, little human, and every conversation will be illuminating.” Manuela’s smile exposes her canines.
“Her name is Candice,” Jarron growls. “Use it or leave.”
Manuela holds up her hands, exposing sharp nails. There is no hint of fear in her arrogant smile. “No nick names, got it.”
“Little humanis not a nickname,” he says, voice low with power. “Do not test me.” The warning fills the air like electricity.
The table stills, tension thick. I get the feeling Jarron doesn’t use his magic very often. The hair on my arm rises.
“Except you,” he whispers, the pad of his thumb drifting down my jaw. “You can test me anyway you like.”
My heart pounds like a damn jack rabbit, and I know he can hear it.
His inhuman eyes, narrowed in on me, make my skin crawl. His magic still hovers in the air around his “friends.” And I realize that this is why I’d avoided him for so long.
Because this being next to me is not the Jarron I knew. Not the boy I cared for. I didn’t want my memories ruined by the fear I knew I’d experience.
What I didn’t expect, however, was how much I’d like it.
20
Did the Prince of the Under World Just blush?
Today,when Jarron invites me back to Elite Hall, I take him up on it. Maybe it was the implications during lunch that people are questioning our relationship. We need to be more convincing, right? I shouldn’t keep avoiding hanging out with his people.
I shouldn’t keep avoiding being alone with him.
So, I pass up on the comforting safety of Minor Hall and head into the wolves’ den, where my destiny is hidden in the shadows.
“Look who it is,” a wolf boy with long dreads purrs, but then his lips curl into a grin.
