"Hey, Elias!" Rhys yells over the music. "Did you know your fucking stepsister is over here?"
His eyes meet mine. I hate that alcohol turns me into an angry crier. And I'm angry. I'm so fucking angry, I can't hold it in anymore. Thick tears roll down my cheeks, and he gets to see it.
Ireallyhate that he gets to see it.
"Oh, my god, she's crying!" one of the girls says before they all laugh. I shove my way through the crowd until Dax steps in front of me.
"Nuh-uh," he says. "Where are you going?"
He places a hand on either side of my face, wiping away my tears with his thumbs while looking down at me through thick dark lashes.
"I just want to go to bed."
"You're tougher than that, Ripley. You're a killer, for fuck's sake."
"Jesus, Dax…don't say that." I quickly look around to see if anyone may have overheard, but even if they did, they would never take it seriously. "And you know what? Iamtougher than that. I just don't want to be tough at a fucking house party. It's tiring, and I'm over it. It's not like I even want to be here in the first place."
"That hurts."
"Oh, please. You don't have to act like you care; that's not what this is. In fact, I'd prefer if you didn't."
"Don't be like that, Saige." Dax presses his lips to mine, but I don't kiss him back. "Am I wearing your lipstick again?" he asks, smiling.
I shake my head. "I don't—"
"Hey, Saige!"
Elias.Fuck.
I turn around, and Dax throws his arm around me, pulling me into his side.
"They're fucking leaving. Is there anyone else here you want to leave?" he shouts.
"Um…I don't think so."
He turns back to Oliver and his crew. "Get the fuck out."
The crowd parts, and the four of them make their way toward the front door. I steel my spine, preparing for another showdown, but I don't get one. They keep their eyes down until they leave, and once the door closes, Elias cuts the music while climbing onto the staircase.
"Can I get everyone's attention for a minute?!" he shouts. "See that girl right there in the plaid skirt with Dax? Unless you live in this house, don't fuck with her and don't fucking touch her—inanyway. Hell, don't even look at her. She's off fucking limits for you, and everyone else on this campus. Don't piss me off. Got it?"
There's something of a mumble of agreement from the room before Elias turns the music up again, rejoining the party without even looking at me.
"Told you we were a team," Dax says, running his hand over my backside. "See how much your big brother loves you?"
"Don't call him that," I say, but it comes out weaker than usual. Because I'm a little confused—and worried—about the context of Elias's little warning.
Because he just claimed me…publicly…for all three of them. And if Eliasisthe same person here as he was back home—no one will ever go near me again.
No one will want me. No one will touch me.
He just made my cage a little smaller.
"Do you need anything, Saige?" Dax asks.
You,I think.I need you to stay close to me.And I need to turn it off. I can do that.
"No," I say instead.
