The breath utters out of me.
My insides are pulling down and down, the dread weighing too much—because I had no idea anyone saw us at the park.
The museum makes more sense, I guess, and I didn’t notice anyone familiar. But I’m recognisable amongst the other faces of the Videralli.
The museum isn’t so bad.
The park…
I don’t know what was seen, or what whispers have come from that sighting, whispers that might be too close to the truth.
Oliver’s grip on my arm remains firm. “Now I know Dray won’t react well to that if he believes it to be true. And we both know it is. Whatever happened between you and Harling, it’s over, do you understand?”
I jerk my arm back, but his grip doesn’t loosen.
“If Dray does suspect anything, he hasn’t acted on it. He only told me to not talk to Eric. Nothing more.”
His lashes lower, turning his eyes molten. “Yet.”
“Gods, Oliver. You all fuck around here like common whores—andI’min trouble for maybe seeing Eric in London one time?”
“That doesn’t apply to you.” His eyes are blazing now. “Deadblood or not, you are my sister, and I won’t stand for common men between your legs—am I clear?” His teeth grit around the words.
I sink into the wall, as though it’ll cave and swallow me whole.
It doesn’t.
“You have no idea what is at stake here, Liv. If Dray does give credit to these rumours, he could change his mind, he could demand tests—”
“Tests?”
“Pregnancy tests, STDs, tests to determine if you’ve ever had a termination or a miscarriage. If he suspects you are tainted, he can drag you through every test on the market.”
I lift my chin. “My blood tests are done.”
Oliver’s jaw tightens. “Much can happen in some weeks. Just ask Asta.” He arches a brow, a patronising look aimed down at me. “Asta has heard these rumours—and she has grilled us all. Dray might not believe them as easily as she does, maybe he gives you the benefit of the doubt, or perhaps he just doesn’t want to accept it. But I heard that last night, the moment he realised you left the mess hall, he abandoned the buffet and went after you. I’m sure he isn’t so keen to let you out of his sight on a Friday night with Harling lurking around.”
“Yeah, he followed me.” I shrug. “So what? He didn’t do anything.”
Except torment me with old memories, a stab at me as punishment for talking to Eric, but I don’t need to mention that.
“Dray has been—” sticking to his end of the deal “—better this semester. He’s distracted by the exams and trying to court me in his way.”
Oliver’s smile drips with derision. “Dray is better this semester… because you are.”
My face crumples at the cut. “I’ve never earned the way he’s treated me. Nothing I’ve done has warranted that.”
His scoff catches in his chest. “Stop thinking in black and white, in what’s fair and unequal. You’re not a child anymore, Liv. Dray leaves you alone, you ignore him. He is civil, or even kind, and you ignore him. If he needs you to look at him, to see him, even if it’s with hate in your heart, what do you think he will do?”
Oliver steadies his gaze with mine—then tugs my hair.
My wince is a hiss that he speaks over, “He willmakeyou look at him. He will make you look only at him.” Oliver draws back a step. “Play your cards right—for once.”
“You give me whiplash,” I hiss and run my hands down my face. “You want to throw me into the arms of evil, tell me to behave for him, won’t let anyone else show interest in me, but it’s okay as long as it’s Dray, right? But when I tell you I don’t want you in my life anymore, that I don’t want you to be my brother—you lose your fucking mind.”
His jaw feathers, his eyes flare, and he’s swept back to the hotel in Monte Carlo, when I made sure he knew I meant to marry away from him, outside of his reach, and that I wouldn’t be his sister anymore.
“For someone who says they care, you have a fucked-up way of showing it.”
