“Why are you here?” he muttered, twisting his head in my direction, clearly unable to drop it.
His scent hit me again.
Expensive. Dark. Familiar. For a second, something in my memory tugged loose... then slipped away.
Keeping my attention laser focused ahead, I ignored him. Which was nearly impossible since his mere presence sucked all the air from the room.
“Lexi!” he barked, this time earning the great Killian Davenport a glare from the professor ten rows below.
A hint of crimson burned his cheeks, and I couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry, Professor Kennedy.”
He sat back, crossing his muscled arms over his thick chest. Hell, when had he gotten so built? And why couldn’t I stop staring at him?
Dropping my gaze to my notebook again, I forced myself to focus. Thank God this wasn’t an important class. The professor’s lecture couldn’t keep my attention to save my life right now.Geology. Geology. Geology.
Killian.
Fuck!
I whipped my head around, his dark glare burning a hole into the side of my face. “Stop staring at me! I’m here because I got a scholarship, okay? I had no idea you attended because trust me, you’re the last person I’d ever want to see here. These are supposed to be the greatest years of my life, and your presence just sucked the fun right out of it.”
“At least we can agree on one thing.” He slammed his textbook shut, the crack echoing across the high ceilings of the auditorium. “Fuck this, I’m out of here.”
“That’s right, Kill. I’m sure your step-daddy’s money can buy you a passing grade.”
He shot me a scowl over his shoulder before sprinting down the steps. The entire class spun toward him as he marched out and slammed the heavy metal doors.
Fuck. My. Life.
I folded my arms on the desk and sank my head down. I’d come to Stonewall to escape my past, and in just forty-eight hours, my grisly history had surged to the surface with a vengeance.
CHAPTER 11
SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW
Killian
My fists trembled by my sides as I paced in front of a wrought iron bench near one of Stonewall University’s extravagant fountains. Coins from students’ wishes settled at the bottom, glinting in the afternoon sun. I never bothered with that type of bullshit, but if there was any time I needed a wish, it was now.
Lexi Vega.
How was she here?Whywas she here?
My boots halted on the cement as her blue eyes materialized in my mind, staring at me like she’d seen a ghost. That made two of us. Lexiwasa ghost, and she should have stayed dead and buried.
“Fuck!” It had been hours since I stormed out of class, and I still couldn’t get her out of my mind.
As I whipped around, Lorelei—who’d obviously been cutting a path toward me—froze at my outburst. Something in my expression frightened her because she turned tail and scurried out of my sight.
Thank fuck.
I must have looked scary as hell to send Lorelei Battenberg running. The monster inside of me wouldn’t stay quiet. He rammed against his cage, craving chaos and destruction. He wanted to find Lexi and rip her to pieces like she’d done to my heart.
“You okay, Kill?” Gage appeared out of nowhere, like he often did, his all-black attire, tattoos, piercings, and purple hair out of place among the preppy elite.
“I’m fine.” The words burst between my gritted teeth. “Never better.”
He arched an eyebrow but didn’t call me on my bullshit. “What do you think this meeting is about?”
