I frowned. “What’s the Dionysus Club? A fraternity?”
She glanced at me for a beat, brows knitted like she was unsure if I was serious or not. “Kind of, but not really,” she finally said, shrugging. “It’s a secret society. You know, like Skull and Bones at Yale?”
My brows rose. My sister had never mentioned anything about secret societies at BHU. Then again, maybe she hadn’t known about them, given the whole ‘secret’ part of their deal.
“I’ve never heard of it before,” I said, head shaking. “I mean, I’ve heard of Skull and Bones. But not the Dionysus Club.”
“Well, us normies don’t know a ton about them, for obvious reasons, but we do know that it’s men-only.” Allegra rolled her eyes. “Totally sexist, right? But I guess they have their reasons, with the Selection and all.”
Allegra didn’t elaborate on whatever the Selection was, so I could only assume that it was something related to the club’s recruitment strategy.
Half an hour later, the tour was complete. “Do you need help getting back to your dorm?” Allegra asked, pointedly looking at her watch. “Or are you good with that?”
I gave her a small smile. “I think I can find my way back. Thanks again for the tour.”
Unfortunately, I was wrong about finding my own way back. Only five minutes after Allegra hurried away from me, I found myself lost in the heart of BHU, surrounded by unfamiliar buildings. This place was too damn big.
With a sigh, I pulled out my phone to check the map I’d saved earlier, and then I took off down a covered walkway lined by fluted columns. This seemed like the right way. Probably.
As I walked, the wind whistled through the open archways, scattering dead leaves across the stone-tiled floor. Halfway down, I froze. Loud male voices were echoing from somewhere up ahead, and judging by the tone, it sounded like an argument was taking place.
I slowed my pace, trying to pinpoint exactly where the men were standing. It sounded like they were just beyond the end of the walkway, on the right. Close enough that if I kept walking, I’d have to pass right by them.
Awkward.
I hated walking by people who were in the middle of some sort of conflict, so I decided I’d wait for them to be done before I continued on my way. I lingered a few steps back in the shadows between the columns, pretending to check my phone again.
“Just stay the hell away from him, okay?” the first voice said, practically spitting out the words.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” the second guy replied. He didn’t really sound angry. Just bored. But still, something about his deep voice made my skin prickle. “I’m not a Dionysus member, and I don’t know your brother.”
“Oh, cut the shit! We all know you’re a member, and you knowexactlywho Daniel is. So if he applies, make sure he’s rejected. That’s the least you can do, given what you assholes have taken from me and my friends.”
“Listen, Jeremiah. If I was actually a member, I’d tell you that the club doesn’t take applications,” the other guy replied. “They choose their recruits. At least that’s what I’ve heard.”
“Then make sure he’s not fucking chosen!”
My foot slipped slightly, hitting a crunchy leaf, and the angry guy spoke up again. “Shit, I think someone’s coming.”
“If you didn’t want us to be overheard, then why did you decide to accost me out here in public?” the second guy replied, voice tinged with amusement now.
“Oh, fuck you, man.”
Now that the guys knew someone was close, I couldn’t remain idle in the walkway, because then they’d know for sure I was eavesdropping, even if that wasn’t my initial intention.
I fumbled in my coat pocket for my black earbuds and put them in before I started walking again. That way, I could pretend I’d been listening to music and was blissfully ignorant of the dispute up ahead.
I headed to the end of the walkway and turned left into the quad, keeping my eyes fixed on the path so I could pretend I hadn’t noticed the guys at all, let alone overheard their heated conversation. I could feel their heavy gazes on me, though, and they remained quiet until I was a couple of yards past them.
“I’m serious, Valcourt,” the angry one finally said as I walked away, presumably assuming I couldn’t hear because of my earbuds. “Keep whatever shit you’ve got going on away from my brother.”
The other guy simply chuckled.
After that, I heard the angry one storm away, his rapid footsteps pounding against the cobblestones as he headed in the same direction as me. I didn’t dare look back. Just waited for him to pass me with bated breath.
A second later, something solid slammed into my shoulder. My handbag jerked out of my grip, and everything inside went flying—phone, keys, lip balm, and several stray pens that clattered and rolled away. At the same time, one of my earbuds flew out too, seemingly vanishing before my very eyes.
“Hey!” I snapped as I regained my balance and turned around to glare at the guy who’d just slammed into me. “Watch where you’re going, asshole!”
