Evie tugs on a hat and swirls in a circle. “I’ll catch you later, Scoutie.”
And just like she appears? She vanishes into the dark.
“So, confess.” I avoid a patch of ice on the sidewalk. “Who’s your appointed? Your soon-to-be victorious Viscount?”
Ellis sighs and stares forward. With a grimace, she finally says, “Rowan Greaves.”
My eyes grow wide. “Wow! Didnotsee that coming.”
Her head drops, and I understand why she’d be devastated.
Ellis sighs as if she’s releasing centuries of pent-up smoke from her lungs. The air crystallizes around us as we stroll towardOmegaHouse.
“Rowan’s not that bad.”
Her eyes bug out. “You can’t be serious. He’s a menace. And…” She glances behind us, her eyebrows lowering. “Don’ttell him I said this. But I think he’s gay.”
“Me, too!”
“Shh!” She stops and spins around.
“What? Is he here?” I ask, looking in the same direction. The cemetery behind the Cathedral of Seven Moons, where we have our appointed ceremonies, is dark.Verydark. “I don’t?—”
I freeze.
Cold strikes my skin like knives.
A shadow flutters in the January midnight breeze, long fabric whispering once before it vanishes.
“Who was that?” Ellis whispers.
My heart pounds hard against my ribs, and I answer her with honesty.
“I havenoidea.”
ten
Monday afternoon,I skip business ethics so I can prepare for the meeting with the president. And yes, I understand skipping ethics class is ironic. But I need to press my other suit and spend some time to look presentable.
Hair styled in place. Cologne sprayed on heavy. Shoes polished black as pitch. Cufflinks I found at the end of sophomore year inThetaManor? Pinned to my shirt. No tie, so I can say it’scasual, but serious.
When I slip one arm into my suit coat, I freeze. There’s a dark stain on the elbow. Probably some oil from my bike.
Shit!I can’t afford to dry clean this thing. And not in ten minutes. Hurrying to my bathroom, I use a toothbrush and water. It stays like it lives there now.
I’ll have to wear it anyway and hope the president doesn’t look at my back.
Before I leave, I snap on my gold watch. Valen insisted on giving me hisoldRolex for my birthday just before the semester started. I’d eyed it for way too long, but never said aword. The day I got back to my room, there it was. Poorly wrapped. No note. But lying on my bed.
I went down the hall to thank him, but he just held up his hand and waved me off.
Now, I wear it everywhere. Wouldn’t take it off to sleep, except it’s so heavy, it’s a workout just to roll over onto my opposite side.
Despite the freezing temperatures, I make the trek toward the president’s house without a coat. Don’t want to cover up my pristine outfit. And I want to show her the respect she deserves.
At the door, I’m greeted by a couple of the new Amethyst Order, enforcers of the university rules. They used to operate under the direction of the Board of Trustees. But I heard Leigh Damon bypassed them when she took office after the last president suddenly died.
I’m escorted into a stuffy waiting room in front of the president’s office. Inside are all the fraternity officers, minus Aiden Cardell, president ofTheta Rho Zeta. And Nicky, who couldn’t get out of his class. I’m the onlyDelta. And I feel exposed.
