The parking lot is packed, cars everywhere, people streaming toward the entrance in a sea of school colors and excitement. The energy is electric, charged with anticipation for the rivalry game everyone's been waiting for.
Somerset Eagles versus Stormsend Ravens.
The game of the season.
I spot Harper near the entrance and make my way toward her, weaving through the crowd. When she sees me, her expression immediately shifts to concern.
“Tor? What happened? You look?—”
“I need to talk to you,” I cut her off quietly, pulling her aside. “After the game, I have to meet someone.”
Her eyes narrow. “Who?”
I glance around to make sure no one's listening, then lean in close. “Meekan. He's blackmailing me with... something. I have to meet him at the cemetery after the game.”
“What? Toren, what the hell did he?—”
“I can't explain right now,” I whisper urgently. “But I need you to know in case something goes wrong. Only you and Maddison know about this. Don't tell the guys. Not yet.”
Harper looks like she wants to argue, but something in my expression stops her. “Okay. But I'm going with you.”
“No—”
“I'm going with you,” she repeats firmly. “Non-negotiable.”
I don't have the energy to fight her, so I just nod.
We make our way inside the rink, and the moment we step through the doors, the noise hits me like a physical force. The crowd is massive, packed stands, people shouting, the band playing and the tension in the air is thick enough to choke on.
I scan the ice and my breath catches when I spot the team warming up.
And there he is.
My god of darkness.
My devil.
Xaden.
He moves across the ice like a predator, smooth, powerful, completely in control. Even from here, I can feel the intensity radiating off him, the hunger to win burning in every movement. The fact that he isn’t able to play today sucks but it was his punishment for what happened the last game. I heard from Maddy that he has been helping coach his team for this game and he seems to be doing a good job from the way the rest of them are looking as they move around the ice.
I haven't seen him in days.
As if sensing my stare, his head turns and our eyes lock across the distance.
The impact is immediate and devastating. Even with all this space between us, I feel it, that magnetic pull that defies logic,that makes my heart race and my stomach drop and my skin burn with a need I have no right to feel.
His eyes darken, his jaw clenching as he takes me in. Then, deliberately, he turns his back and skates away.
The dismissal shouldn't hurt as much as it does.
Harper tugs on my arm. “Come on. Let's find our seats.”
We make our way toward the stands, but before we can reach our section, a voice cuts through the noise.
“Well, well. Look who decided to show up.”
I turn to find Cas standing there, arms crossed, a smirk playing at his lips. But there's something cold in his eyes that makes my skin crawl.
