Marcus lets out a low growl as the other alpha approach and Luca stops, raising his hands in surrender and lingering back a few paces from the walkway. “You’re okay.” He squeezes his pale green eyes shut. “I had to see for myself.”
“No thanks to you and not that it’s any of your fucking business after… after—” No, I won’t relive the moment my fingers closed around molded leather. Not for the alpha who lied to me. I turn back toward the quad and stalk away.
He follows at a distance. “Please, princess. Can’t we talk?”
Saints, just a few words could change everything. An explanation for the mask, for the lies.The mask was planted in my trunk. That’s all it’d take for me to be back in his arms, in his bed. If only they were true. But somehow, deep down, I know they wouldn’t be. Just more hollow words, more cutting lies. I turn on him, hoping and praying. Already knowing his answer.
“Tell me one thing. Was it yours?”
“Yes,” he utters, head hung. “But it’s—”
My heart breaks all over again, all the mending cracks tearing back open, reducing my tenderest parts to shards. “Then there’s nothing you can say that will change things.”
The crunch of his footsteps on the frosted grass ceases, and just like that, he lets me walk away.
* * *
>
Simon’s text pings through to my phone the moment I reach the quad, so Marcus and I make for the library. In truth, I’m shaken from seeing Luca and don’t feel like diving into spellwork just yet. I rub at my teary eyes with gloved fists and take the stairs down to the basement, Marcus at my heels.
Simon triumphantly holds up a cookies-and-cream frappe, three Pepero sticks of the same flavor and far too many milk chocolate curls adorning it. “Look what I bribed Ellie into making! Whoa, hey. That’s not the face of someone about to down an Oreo masterpiece. What’s going on, kit-kat?”
I give Ellie a quick wave and then hop up onto one of the stools at the closest café table.
“Bumped into Luca,” I sigh. “After everything… I just didn’t have it in me to face him. He wants to talk.”
“You could let him?” Simon takes the stool next to mine while Marcus takes my other side.
“How would I know if any of it was true, though?”
“You’d know,” Simon assures me.
“Simon, he lied to me formonthsand I had no idea.” No idea other than the mask I saw in place of his motorcycle helmet when we reached Saint Guinnette’s Cove and he turned back to me.
“I just don’t get it,” Simon admits. “I thought you two were solid.”
“So did I,” I say quietly, fiddling with the paper straw in my drink. “And I’m just… I’m exhausted.”
“Why don’t you go back to your cottage and get some rest then?”
“I need to be anywhere but the omega residences for a little while.”
“Well, we don’t have to head to the practice rooms today. You need a break from studying and working so hard. Kinda seems like you could use some actual fun.”
“Flashcards are fun,” I yawn.
“Yeah? Well, I’m about to knock your flashcards right off. I’ve just had abrilliantidea. Hey, Belly!”
“Ugh, Simon,” Ellie grouses from behind the bar and sticks her tongue out at him. “You promised you wouldn’t call me that at school.”
“I lied. What time do you get off work?”
“Noon, why?”
“Okay, after lunch, we’re meeting on the quad. Drag Bitsy away from whatever trouble she’s getting into. Find Alyssa and Darika. We’re doing a scavenger hunt.” He looks at her sternly. “Honor guards required. Sorry not sorry, Jace.”
Jace looks up from his phone and sends Simon an exasperated shake of his head.
