“A ball.”
I scrunch my nose. “That doesn’t sound pretentious at all.”
“It’s a waste of time, but it’s mandatory.”
“For brides too?”
“I don’t know since I don’t have one.”
I avert my gaze at the bitterness in his tone. However, my next words are more acidic than his. “Why didn’t Xavier tell me?”
Ben tosses an arm over my shoulders and pulls me close, pressing me against his side. “X doesn’t do anything without a reason. Whether it’s a good or bad one, I can’t tell you.”
As we continue walking, my thoughts spiral into a pool of hurt and suspicion. Is Xavier trying to keep me off the Order’s radar? Although possible, I highly doubt it. The secret society already knows about me and every detail of my life, so my attendance at a formal event shouldn’t matter to them.
Xavier’s world is polished and sophisticated, just like the women in his social circles. I’m nothing like them. Xavier, with his commanding presence and undeniable allure, could be accustomed to a certain type of woman, one who’s elegant, composed, and knows how to handle herself with grace.
Is he ashamed to be with me in public because he thinks I’ll embarrass him?
The idea festers, growing with every moment that passes. I know for sure that Xavier cares about me, but he and I come from different backgrounds, each one on the opposite ends of the wealth spectrum. Suddenly, this gap between us feels insurmountable.
“You okay?” Ben asks, interrupting my thoughts.
I paste a smile on my face and take a step back, dislodging his arm. “Yeah. I was just surprised, but I’m over it.”
“You don’t have to pretend with me, Lilah. If you want to go to the ball, I’ll take you.”
“I’m good,” I say with a shrug. “I’ll see you later.”
Ben leans down and places a kiss on my cheek. It’s a sweet gesture meant as a sign of affection, but I stand there with my mouth open in shock when he doesn’t pull away, letting his lips linger on my skin a beat longer than he should. Or am I imagining things?
My discomfort only reinforces the fact that I’m not attracted to my foster brother. Ben is my best friend and confidant, but the spark isn’t there and will never be, on my end.
I spin away from him and stride toward the double doors before he can say anything to me. Anything that’ll make things more awkward.
Or make Xavier want to kill him.
I glance at Ben over my shoulder and give him a stiff wave like I’m having a seizure. “Bye!”
He lifts his chin in acknowledgment, but it’s the longing in his eyes that guts me. I can’t do anything about it. Not unless I want to ruin a lifetime of friendship and hurt him.
More than I already have.
Chapter 17
XAVIER
Istare down at my phone, squeezing the device so hard the screen cracks. Watching Benjamin put his fucking mouth on my girl’s skin is enough to send me into a rage. I know my unhinged thoughts of dismemberment and death are born out of jealousy, but I don’t give a fuck.
Delilah is mine, and I won’t share the pleasure of touching her with another man.
My professor continues his lecture, and the students around me listen, completely unaware that I’m close to going on a murdering rampage.
I pull in a deep breath and uncurl my fingers from my cell phone to set it on my desk. The object sits there, mocking me with its cracked screen, the fracture snaking along the edge and distorting the image of my little raptor.
Although no imperfection could ruin the perfection of Delilah.
She whirls away from Benjamin and disappears inside the building, removing herself from the camera’s view. It’s just one of the many scattered around campus. Someone’s got to keep an eye on Delilah when I’m not with her.
