“And there’s the most amazing old hallways, and art, and books in the college.”
“Sinful books?” Daisy asks.
Fuck my life, this girl is so screwed up.
“Um, no. I don’t think so. Mostly academic books and the classics.”
“What are the classics?” Daisy asks.
“You know? Hemmingway? Austen? Those sorts of books. Old books.”
“Oh, old books.”
A sudden light fills Camile’s eyes. “Oh, yes, and we have some very old, and rare, religious texts, some of which are English Bibles, in the collection. You need to ask to see them, and they ask you to wear gloves, but maybe you’d like that?”
“The Bible isn’t correct,” Daisy says sternly. “About God and the rules of life, but yes, I’d be interested to see old books.”
“Thank fuck,” I mutter under my breath, earning myself a glare from Cain that screamsdon’t you dare fuck this up.
“Right, then. Let’s go.” Camile claps her hands. “You’ll love the college so much.”
“Now?” Daisy asks uncertainly.
“Well, as soon as you’ve finished your food.” Camile shifts from one foot to the other and lines appear between her eyebrows. “I can come back in thirty minutes.”
“I guess I’m finished.” Daisy looks at her plate as if it’s a mountain she’s about to climb. “I’m too full for much more.”
She’s barely eaten half.
Camile smiles. “Okay, then, so, shall we?”
Daisy doesn’t get up. Her face is pale and pinched. She glances around at the rest of us. “But shouldn’t we be leaving soon to return to the commune? Time is running out, and I’m worried about my family.”
Cain checks his cell. “I’m sorry, Daisy, but I still haven’t heard back from my father. I think he’s in a different time zone. I promise, as soon as we get the okay from him, we’ll get on the road and go to your family. In the meantime, we might as well make use of the time we’ve got.”
Daisy looks to Ophelia, who nods. “Camile is a good friend of mine, and she’ll take care of you. You’ll be okay, Daisy.” Then her face softens, and I see the moment her empathy for her friend has won over her desire to be with us. “I can come if you want.”
My heart sinks, but that seems to reassure Daisy, and she glances at the three of us, then flicks her gaze to Camile. “No. It’s okay, Ophelia. I’ll be fine.” She laughs. “After all, I’ve traveled a lot the past few days on my own.”
“I swear, no one will bother you when you’re with me.” Camile shrugs. “My besties here are with some guys who basically rule the college.”
I don’t bristle at that because I have no desire to rule this fucking place. And she’s not wrong, in their own way, the Devils and the Vipers do rule. In Dom’s case, he very much does now that his father is giving him more responsibility.
“I’ll have you back here before lunch,” Camile says. “I also have some clothes you can borrow if you want. You look about my size.”
“Clothes?” Daisy looks down at the dress of Ophelia’s she’s wearing and smiles. “Like yours?”
Camile grins. “Well, they are mine, so yes. Same style as this, and different, I have all kinds of clothes.”
“Wow. Really? In all colors?”
“Most colors, I think.”
Daisy’s smile is genuine, wide, and it lights up her face. What is it with women and clothes? Even after being hidden away in a cult for years and, I presume, not seeing fashion on television or social media, Daisy still brightens at the idea of getting to wear colorful clothes despite having been told it’s a sin.
“Jewelry, too,” Camile adds. “I don’t mind if you borrow some. You’d look really pretty in one of my necklaces.”
Daisy’s joy evaporates a little. “We’re not supposed to adorn ourselves. It’s sinful to be prideful, but your jewelry does look so pretty.” She sighs.
