“We don’t have time to argue semantics,” he snaps, pure fury radiating off him in waves. He doesn’t touch me, doesn’t get any closer, but his heat seeps into me like a bloodstain, and I press myself to the wall, trying to make sense of its direction. “You’re lucky I got to you before they could actually force you into one of their rituals.”
“Rituals?”
“Yes. Death’s Teeth is more than just some vigilante student organization. There are expectations. Roles to be played. I can’t—I have to go figure out how to keep them off your back now that I’ve publicly offered to claim a Maiden.”
“A Maiden?”
“Nobody saw your face, so that should be an advantage,” he says, though as he pulls back a little, rubbing his chin, it seems more like he’s talking to himself than me. “Do you know who the other offering was?”
“Sabrina.”
His jaw clenches. The anger is so unlike what I’ve been getting from him lately that I’m not sure what to do with it. Not sure how to defuse it.
“All right. I will fix it. Somehow. Just promise me you’ll leave here and go straight to your dorm.”
“I’m not?—”
“I will explain everything later,” he says, urgency straining his features. “Please, Elle.”
Even though I want to keep needling him for answers, I relent, acknowledging the desperation in his voice.
For a second, he looks me over, and something softens slightly in his gaze. But he doesn’t give me any time to ask morequestions before he slides my mask back into place and stalks out of the room.
The redhead from before comes back and grabs my wrist, leading me to the area we originally came through. A still-masked Sabrina throws her arms around me as we’re joined by Jean-Louis, and she lets out a shaky sob.
She’s unsteady, slurring her words, and I can’t help wondering what the fuck they did while I was gone. There’s a deep gash pouring blood on the back of her shoulder, and I pull away as my fingers slip through the liquid, glaring at Jean-Louis.
He shrugs, hands in the pockets of his suit. “I said I’d bring you back. I never said in what condition.”
“And what exactly did you do?” I demand. “Does your son know you did this?”
“My son,” he repeats, scoffing. “Does he know aboutyou? Shall I be the one to enlighten him?” As we continue walking, he sighs, tearing the masks from our faces. “What a disappointing evening this turned out to be. I was hoping for more blood and sex.”
I don’t say anything, balling my hands into fists. I’m not sure what’s going on or how important he is to this organization, so getting into an altercation likely wouldn’t end well for me.
Jean-Louis grabs my shoulder, hauling me through the tunnel. I drag Sabrina along, tripping over her every other step, but heave a sigh of relief when Lexington and Percy come into view.
The men from earlier are still holding them at bay, but they step back once Jean-Louis gives them the all clear.
Percy runs over, taking a partially unconscious Sabrina from me. Lexington stays where he’s at, eyeing Jean-Louis, whose hand remains on my shoulder.
“My offer from before remains,” Jean-Louis says in a low, malicious voice.His offer from last summer.“You’d be better off fucking me than Incarnate.”
“Still not interested,” I reply.
“You’ve no idea what you’re doing. What you’re inviting. When they realize he potentially picked an Anderson to be the Maiden, you’ll be torn to shreds. Literally.”
I twist out of his hold, glaring. “Who’s fault would that be? You dragged me in there.”
His eyes crinkle under the mask. Like he’s smiling. “I was hoping you’d be the sacrifice.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Whatsacrifice?”
“I’m sure he’ll fill you in soon.”
With that, Jean-Louis spins and stalks off, the click of his heels against the ground loud in the tunnel as my heart races, confusion mounting.
Lexington comes over then, frowning. He grabs my jaw, inspecting my face. “What the fuck wasthat?” he whispers, checking me over and over.
