“What makes you think he didn’t do it, then?” he insists.
“Why would he come with Hadrian to find me if he had her waiting for him here?” Again, the mere suggestion hurts, and I try my best to keep the pain out of my voice and eyes.
Orion nods. “I guess that’s a fair point.”
“She let herself into the room,” Lex says. “There’s never been an Offering with free rein from day one.”
That is very strange, but so is all of this, and frankly, I don’t care. I don’t want this room or the politics that come with being the Offering. Hell, I don’t even think I hate Bellthorn if I could find another place to stay and let someone else get the heat for taking five dicks all the time.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think Soren brought her here,” Hadrian says. “He’s been at Bellthorn and then with me, and he wasn’t in any kind of shape to mastermind anything. He’s been a wreck. Plus, he didn’t even stay when she showed up. With how much we hate her, you think he would leave us alone with her if he cared?”
“I punched him,” Orion says, like it’s obvious that his strength is enough to chase anyone away. I missed the insane bravado, but I miss his brother too, and I refuse to believe he would hurt me like that, knowing we were all headed back here.
“If he went through the trouble of bringing her here, a punch is enough to make him change his mind?” Hadrian shakes his head, moving away from the entrance. “I don’t think so.”
“We had a long trip back here. I don’t believe he would have done that to me. He wouldn’t have let me come here knowing she was waiting with no warning.” I truly do believe that.
“AndIdidn’t think he would ever fuck her again,” Orion spits in anger, and I yelp, the sound made of pure shocked pain.
“Shut the fuck up, Orion,” Lex says.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs, eyes hitting the floor. I didn’t appreciate it, but I guess it’s worth taking the hit from him too if it gets him to calm the fuck down.
“The founding families have never sent a mid-year replacement for a missing Offering either. What’s so different about this one?” Lex continues.
“Shit,” Orion says. “When you put it like that…”
“When I put it like that, what?” Lex presses.
His hands ball into fists, anger all over his face.
“I fucking did it,” he groans, pinching the skin between his brows.
“You?” Lex asks with a chuckle, dismissing the confession. “You asked for another Offering? Of all people? You carved her name into your skin.”
“Son of a bitch,” Parker says, seeming to understand where Orion is going with this.
“What happened, Orion?” I ask.
He finally meets my eyes, face full of shame. “When you were gone, I trashed my dad’s office and accused him of taking you. He, uh, did not in fact take you,” Orion says, pulling on his collar. “He was really mad.” That sounds like an understatement.
Lex closes his eyes, disappointment radiating off him.
“I was sure it was them,” Orion argues. “The first girl I like disappears out of thin air, and not even her stalker can find her? Damn, only a cult of rich dudes could be responsible for that.”
“That’s not even true, Orion,” Parker says. “I was there. You were having a fucking tantrum, and now look what happened. Told you it was a terrible fucking idea.”
“Does it matter?” I shrug. “I’m not the Offering, and I never actually was, so she might as well be. It’s better if the Bellthorn Bosses aren’t paying attention to me anyway.” This is exactly what I need—for people to stop caring about everything I do and to stop turning my every stumble into news.
“Fuck, baby, don’t say that,” Parker practically begs. I hear the desperation in his voice loud and clear. “I don’t want anyone thinking I’m with anyone else.” His dedication warms my heart, but it’s silly.
“The whole school knows what you guys do every year and that I fuck all five of you. I seriously doubt there’s a soul alive who assumes you guys are loyal to me.” I smile sadly for them, knowing that on some level, they’re all right to think that. Hell, Soren slept with Arabella after all, though he clearly regrets it.
“There’s a difference between them assuming and us telling them, and you know it,” Parker says.
Maybe he’s right, but it doesn’t really matter now. I’ve fought too much, too hard, and I’m not doing it anymore. Without saying anything else to them about it, I head through the bathroom and into the closet to pack up the rest of my trash. She may be a nasty bitch, but I do appreciate her getting out of my hair so I can get my shit. After a few moments, the guys follow me. Quickly flipping through the clothes, I remove some from the hangers and toss them aside while others I leave on.
“Hmm, those clothes are supposed to be cared for gently,” Orion says, watching his hard work hit the floor with obvious stress.
