Page 134

His eyes twitch like he’s trying to decipher if I’m telling the truth. “You seem different,” he finally says, as if he’s done assessing me. “More in control, like you finally hit puberty or something.”

I scoff, rise, and grab my drink, pulling on my collar. It still seems strange wearing his clothes. People like him, they respect him. Girls blush when he walks into a room.

People never used to look at me like that.

Never. Not once.

I like how it feels.

“I have all the control, Xander. It’s been a real fucking pleasure seeing you again, but I have to get this thesis done, and I have a faculty event I was invited to at the university.”

“At the university,” he mocks in a frilly voice, leaning back and crossing his arms.

I like this life; I deserve this life with pretty people, the elite, the private functions. I was destined to have this life all along.

He merely scoffs, rises, and walks toward me, and I don’t flinch as he towers over me. I give him this moment of control because I know with a blink of my eye I can make him squirm.

“Try not to kill anyone today, Mikey,” Xander says.

I smirk at him and head to the door, brushing past him. “I’ll do my best.”

“And whatever you’re doing, don’t get caught. There is only so much I can do to protect you. I know somewhere in that empty soul of yours you’re angry, but revenge comes in many forms. You don’t have to kill her; you don’t have to be a part of this.”

Lincoln skims to the surface—what’s left of him, anyway. And for a moment…one moment, my conscience kicks in. The rational part of my brain starts to buzz because I know he’s right. It would be easier not to kill her, to let Xander take what’s his.

But I’m not in love with Summer Landry; I’m obsessed with Summer Landry. And as long as she’s breathing, my urge to kill her will never cease. My desire to own her, love her, manipulate her will consume me until the day I die.

“Whatever I do with Summer Landry is none of your business,” I tell him. “I’ve marked her, so stay the fuck out of it, and I won’t interfere with what you have planned for Dani.”

The same pact we made when we found out about what the Order was. Who we both wanted from the start. Danielle Perri has no idea what she’s in for. She has no idea she caught Xander’s attention a long time ago.

“Enjoy that tight little blonde ass while you have her,” he calls after me.

I arch a brow, then face the door. “Oh, I plan on it.”

I let the double doors slam behind me.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

SUMMER

Almost two full weeks have passed since Mikael fucked me in his office. Thirteen days of pretending it didn’t happen; thirteen days of cold icy silence from me as mid-October blends into the final days of the month.

Thirteen days since Mikael left me drenched with his cum clinging to my sanity, bringing out my raw emotions. Since then, I’ve kept myself busy and have clung to Dani for comfort, which has brought us closer again.

I spent my weekends staying in with Dani as much as I could, never straying alone. I lock my window and door at night and have even been sleeping with a knife under my mattress.

I have nowhere to run, and I’m hoping I can last out the semester because he hasn’t contacted me since we spoke on the phone nearly a week ago.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the day of the ReBirth Ceremony, where Mikael will ascend and become a Shadow. He will gain access to their power, their wealth, and money. He will keep this tradition—this ritual—this evil alive for the next generation with me as their golden sacrifice. If he can find me.

I’m hoping his silence means he’s moved on from this psychotic plan.

“How did you do on last week’s assignment?” Dani asks as we settle into psychology class. “Let me guess, Lincoln gave you an A?” She runs her hand down her loose braid and Misty comes to sit on the opposite side of her without looking at me.

This is how it is now. Misty and I ignore each other, leaving Dani in the middle. Misty obviously has a crush, and my confusing actions and hatred of her have driven a wedge between us. I’ve decided she can have him. He seems to like blondes, so she’s a perfect stand in. Maybe he’ll kill her instead.