Page 160 of Glutton for Punishment

Arwen

The bell rings sharp and shrill overhead, releasing us from Professor Tally’s personal torture chamber disguised as Resource Statistics. I shove my notebook into my bag and stand, already scanning the hallway through the open classroom door.

No buzz cut twins?

That’s… suspicious.

After what happened at the Sinful Sinfall Ball, Maddox demanded that his self-appointed bodyguards be planted outside my classroom before the bell even rings. For the past couple of weeks, they’ve been there. Every time. Standing like matching prison wardens and glaring at everyone within a ten-foot radius of me.

Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic. But I’m Wrath at heart, so it irks me even though I know it makes Maddox feel better after my freak out.

I step into the hall cautiously, looking left and right, but there’s no sign of them. Maybe they finally got bored. Or maybe Maddox realized that his bonded is actually capable of destruction with her fists and her powers, and she doesn’t need twenty-four-hour supervision.

A girl can dream.

I barely make it three steps before a slow and lazy whistling creeps down the hall from behind me. I spin to find Maylo Villanox leaning against the wall like he materialized out of the shadows themselves, bright blue eyes glittering beneath messy black hair.

My pulse jumps.

“You,” I accuse.

His grin widens. “Me. Again.”

“Quit leaving creepy messages. And quit popping out of nowhere. And… And… Just how are you getting into my room, anyway?!”

He simply shrugs and says, “No.”

Ugh!

I glance down the hallway. “Where are the twins? I assume you’re responsible for their disappearance.”

He pushes off the wall. “Don’t worry, stormcloud. I only distracted them temporarily. They’re pretty much still breathing.”

“You what? Wait. Pretty much?”

Before I can argue, he catches my wrist and pulls me down a side corridor.

“Maylo—”

He tugs me behind a massive marble statue lining a hallway alcove, shielding us from the view of the people around us going about their day. My back hits cool stone as he steps in front of me, caging me in the narrow space.

His attention sweeps over my face like he’s memorizing it.

“You look tired,” he murmurs, brows scrunching in concern.

“That’s because people keep kidnapping me, stalking me, and sending me deeply concerning gifts.”

His mouth twitches. “But I liked the dress. Even if it was from… unsavory company. "

My stomach drops, but his expression softens. “You were beautiful in it.”

“You weren’t even there!” I hiss. “You cannot keep saying these cryptic comments. You’re bringing me into emotionally unstable territory right along with you.”

“Just because you didn’t see me doesn’t mean I wasn’t there,” he says, running his hand through my hair.

Infuriating.

I slap his hand away. My frustration snaps. “If you care about me so much that you stalk my every move,” I demand, “then why do you keep disappearing on me?”