I run through Crimson Keep, my heavy steps pounding against the hard stone floors, echoing off the bare walls. Candlesflicker in the sconces, dancing shadows reaching out for me. I make my way to the large portrait of the five founders, following the directions on the parchment. Looking around to make sure no one is watching, I push on the left side of the frame, finding a narrow stone archway. Knowing I can’t get caught, I quickly step in, the frame falling back in place with a loud crank.
Nerves scatter and slither down my spine as I follow the steps down into the catacombs under Crimson Keep. I’ve heard about them before but never ventured to find my way into them. Dimly lit candles flicker as I walk farther into the heart of the school.
The end of the stairs opens up into a chamber with several narrow alcoves off each one. Voices carry on the air, and I follow them, leading me into a gorgeous open room. The floor is carved stone, the walls match, and ornate sconces seem to be built into the stones, each one holding a large candle. I would expect a place that gets no fresh air to smell of musk, aged leather, or books, but there seems to be no scent at all.
I spot Leo Ashcroft standing off to the side of a group of people, his arms crossed at his chest, his shoulder leaning against the rough stone wall. His hair is perfectly pitch black and reminds me of the ravens that flock at Corvus. It’s styled expertly, pushed up out of his eyes, and I can’t help but wonder what he’d look like mussed and rumpled. He’s wearing a pair of grey sweatpants, and based on the way they hug his crotch, I wonder if he’s going commando under there. It’s hot as hell, and my eyes linger on his bulge longer than they should. He’s got a plain Corvus College hoodie on with a pair of black Chuck Taylors. Leo has mastered the whole looking hot without trying thing, and I hate him for it.
Ever since our little run-in outside his residence hall, I’ve kept my distance, not wanting to upset Mia. But seeing him all riled up like he was definitely did something to me, my cock responded right away, perking up like it was eager as fuck to meet him. I went right home and jerked off on my bed to images of him bent over in front of me. There’s something about getting him all irritated and possessive of Mia that does it for me.
My eyes scan the rest of the ten or so students, hoping for a familiar face and coming up short. I huff out an annoyed breath. It’s probably better to go through initiation with someone on your side than alone, but no one seems familiar to me. As far as I know, none of us know what to expect. Unless their parents passed along that bit of information to prepare them, something I’m seriously considering as a strong possibility as I look around and see hownotfreaked out everyone looks.
Fuck.
Resigned, I lazily head Leo’s way, stopping next to him. His scent immediately engulfs my senses, and I don’t hate it. All leather and spice. He doesn’t acknowledge my presence, just continues to brood, staring off into space. God forbid he makes this easy.
“You seem about as happy as I do about being here.”
“Don’t come over here and suddenly act like you give a shit, Parker. Fuck off.”
“Just saying, I figured with your last name and all you’d be thrilled as shit. Legacy and all that.”
“Fuck legacy. And what about you, where do you fit here? It’s clear where I do. ‘We’re Ashcrofts, don’t you dare disappoint us, son. You’ll take your position in the Veil when the time comes, and our legacy will continue,’” Leo surprises me by saying in a deep, mocking voice. Damn. I know I hit the jackpot with the whole adoption thing; my parents are incredibly supportive of me, but the alternative of being raised by parents connected to Corvus and Crimson Veil really sounds grim if they’re all like Leo’s.
“I’m here, aren’t I? Clearly, I have some descendants somewhere.”Like, my biological parents.
“Whatever, Parker. Just fuck off. Let’s stay out of each other’s way and survive this. It’s one year.”
I scoff, rocking back on my heels and crossing my arms. “One year? You’re joking, right? Once we take our vows, this is it for life. Us, our children, our grandchildren, every generation after that.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Trust me, I know it more than anyone. Just go stand over there or something. I don’t need people thinking we’re friends.”
“Oh, ’cause that would be the worst thing in your life right now. Right, buddy? I got it.” I shake my head as I walk away from him, choosing to stand on the opposite side. The group waits impatiently, wondering when someone will show themselves and explain what the fuck this all means and what’s actually going on.Unless I’m the only dumbass standing here, clueless as fuck.
Fuck Leo. Fuck Crimson Veil. Fuck all of this.
Chapter 7
Leo
Iknew this fucking day would come. No matter how much time passed, no matter how hard I tried to push it from my mind, it stayed there, a lingering presence hovering, waiting. My father’s lineage is a direct line to Isabel Ashcroft; of course it would come, and no amount of willing it away would prevent it from happening. You’d think we were fucking Targaryens, minus the incestuous relationships, with the way my dad treats us. From the moment I was born, there were expectations, which is probably why I’m such an uptight asshole most of the time.
I never wanted to attend Corvus College, and I sure as shit never wanted to major in political relations and affairs, like my father did. I wanted to go to a college outside of Massachusetts and study art. The one perk that’s come out of attending here is Mia. And I can’t even have her all to myself. Nothing can be simple.
The room hushes within a split moment, and my head jerks to one of the carved arches off to the side of the room just as TheKeepers of the Veil enter in a single file line, their dark crimson cloaks covering their bodies, hoods pulled up over their heads, concealing their faces. God forbid we know the identity of these fuckers.
Five of them walk in, not a single step to be heard, not a whoosh of their cloaks, only the flicker of candles sitting in their sconces. Complete silence falls over the room, and I swear, if someone swallowed, you’d be able to hear it. They take their places at the head of a stone altar that sits in the center of the room, one standing at the head, two flanking either side of them. It takes everything I have not to roll my eyes to the back of my head at the spectacle.
“If you’re standing here today, it is not by accident, nor by chance or search, but by blood. It’s your inheritance, a privilege unlike anything you’ll ever receive again. You are the blood-bound descendants of the five founders of Crimson Veil. Abel Thorne, Edmund Mortwood, Francis Harrow, Isabel Ashcroft, and Cecelia Grimsley. For generations, Crimson Veil has endured in silence, hidden among the shadowed halls and candlelit chambers, watching, manipulating, guarding. Our founders swore that their descendants would one day return when called, and we have maintained that vow since the beginning. Now, that call has reached you. Time tries to erase all, but it’s failed to erase the names etched in blood into the very ground we stand upon. They may have long left this world, but you walk it still, their legacy that’s been sleeping in your veins, finally being called forward.Sanguis vocat ubi verba silent.”The blood calls where words fall silent. Peachy. Because blood is everything. Fuck, this is insane.
“You will undergo a series of trials that will test your commitment to the Veil. Those who pass will present themselves forinitiation. Your trials are an obligation owed to those whose names are carved into the first stones of this society, to the blood that flows through your veins.”
Parker and I look at each other at the same time, our eyes meeting over the altar in the center of the room. I knew these were coming, and I have a good grasp on the possibilities that could come my way. I may be in competition with Parker for Mia, but I’ve got this shit in the bag. Game on, motherfucker. Game on.
The keeper continues to talk, but my eyes dart back to Parker, and I can’t help but notice how uncomfortable he looks. His hands are shoved into his pockets, and he stands off to the side by himself. I don’t revel in the fact that he looks out of place here. Hell, if he looked like he fit, I’d question how Mia could be in love with us both. Even if he drives me nuts.
I had no idea he was related to one of the families. Not that we’ve had many getting-to-know-you sessions. In fact, Parker and I seem to do our best to pretend like the other doesn’t exist. We’re standing in each other’s way of what we really want, with Mia rotating us around like stars in her orbit. Now that I think of it, I don’t know a single thing about him other than he was dating Mia for a long-ass time before I came into the picture, and he lives here at Crimson Keep, which means he’s some type of literature major. Also surprising, now that I’m processing that information.
The candles go out suddenly, all at once, cloaking us in complete darkness.“Sub velo rubro, veritas dormit,”they say in unison. Under the red veil, truth sleeps. Thank fuck I’ve stayed on top of my Latin, something my dad required me to study growing up, knowing it would serve me here at Corvus and when the Veil called.
