Page 33 of Divine Oaths

Her words caught me off guard. Here was another secret Jojo had kept from me. Here were more of his lies unraveling.

“I’d thought Jojo and I would be together forever,” Honey continued. “Our parents and the board of trustees did too. That’s why Kasem called me Jojo’s ‘ex-intended’ back in the maze—Jojo and I had been expected to marry after we’d both graduated from Westfield. But then that horrible campus audition fire happened a few years back and, well, he didn’t end up inheriting Westfield, and things changed between us all.”

The mention of the fire and how casually Honey referenced it was a knife to my chest. I tried to calm the anxiety knotting through me, even though my voice trembled when I spoke. “I don’t think I understand.”

At the time of my audition, I hadn’t known much about the politics of Westfield. All I’d known was it was the music program of my dreams. And then, suddenly, my dream had become a nightmare.

Honey seemed surprised by my confusion. “Jojo didn’t tell you that he was going to inherit Westfield first?” I shook my head, and to my relief, Honey explained without being condescending. “Well, that year, he was supposed to inherit the Westfield estate. He’d been managing all of these things on behalf of the board of trustees to prove that, outside of his blood claim to the inheritance, he’d be competent enough to actually run the estate. One of his responsibilities was running enrollment activities, like the auditions for new music students. Obviously, the fire wasn’t his fault, but after that, his mother and the Board changed the line of inheritance. Kasem was there that day too, and he’d helped people evacuate during the fire, while Jojo just sort of crumbled under the pressure and chaos—not just that day, but for weeks after. They stripped him of his title, made Kasem the new heir, and it was like Jojo just disappeared.”

I took a seat, finding it hard to breathe when my world was unraveling. Honey sat too, patting my thigh. I’m sure she thought I was reeling from the fact that Jojo had been engaged to someone else, when, in reality, that paled in comparison with this revelation.

Jojo was supposed to inherit Westfield. Jojo was there the day of the fire.

“Obviously, our parents ended the engagement they’d planned for me and Jojo,” she said. “But Kasem refused to be part of any such agreement. He never really played by the Board’s rules. When I found out Jojo had agreed to take the job offer from Alaster and come back this year, I was shocked. I don’t know how he accepted it after the way the school treated him when things went wrong.”

I pressed my bag closer to me, taking in everything Honey had told me even as another crack formed in the image I’d created of Jojo. I hadn’t known him at all. And Kasem, he’d been there at Westfield on the worst day of my life. Both of them had. For so long, our lives had been entwined, and it was only now that I was untangling the threads that bound us.

“So you and Alaster have an arrangement?” I asked. As much as I wanted to uncover Jojo and Kasem’s past, I needed to learn about Alaster too. If he was part of this, then having information on him would help me piece everything together.

Honey nodded, though her expression was restrained. “My parents want it. The Board wants it. So, they turn the other way.”

“And you’re okay with that? I mean, this isn’t the 1800s.”

“That’s just the thing about free will. Everyone thinks they have it, until they realize they never did.” Honey laughed. “If you’re asking if I’m choosing to be with Alaster, I am. But do I want to be? Well, why wouldn’t I? He’s a Saint James, after all. My parents and the Board want to strengthen our ties to their family. So, I guess Alaster will do.”

At my silence, Honey tried to lighten the mood.

“Enough about me. There’s another reason I was looking for you.”

She reached into a designer bag and handed me a flyer. It had Greek letters along with birds—crows, I wagered—drawn across the letterhead.

“My sisterhood, Theta Omicron Delta, is throwing a party on the eighth for those interested in rushing. It’s a joint event with our brother fraternity. Vivian told me your birthday is the day after. She said she overheard someone mention it.”

I sighed. I’d have to talk to Vivian about eavesdropping on conversations that had nothing to do with her.

“Anyway,” she said, “it’s open to anyone interested in rushing. You should come—both of you—and we’ll celebrate.”

“That’s not really my scene.”

“Think about it. You might change your mind. And even if you don’t want to rush, it’s a great way to meet people. And cute guys. Not that you seem to have any trouble with that.” She glanced at the bracelet with a knowing smile. “You know, I’ve never been able to get either of them to let me wear that. Not even when Jojo and I were supposed to be together. And obviously Kasem is a nonstarter. It’s cute that he let you wear it, though. And I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made those assumptions about you and him in the maze.”

Instinctively, I shifted my sleeve to cover it.

“Sounds like you’re still making them,” I said. “And Kasem and I are…” I searched for words, but the only thing between me and Kasem was the memory of the night in the alleyway and the hours before at Gus’s shop; moments too fleeting to mean anything beyond the circumstances we’d gotten caught up in. “We’re nothing.”

Honey nodded, as if that was the answer she’d been expecting.

“That’s what he told me when I asked, though he did call you a little bit of a stalker.”

“He said what?” I spat, heat burning against my cheeks.

Honey laughed, neither confirming nor denying the accusation. “It’s okay. Who among us hasn’t stalked a Saint James brother? It’s, like, a rite of passage here at Westfield.” She shoved the flyer in my hands. “Which is why you should definitely, totally come to the party and find other Sigma guys to obsess over.”

I didn’t know if it was the embarrassment or guilt swirling through my chest. But I took the flyer. Maybe just to spite Kasem.

“Fine,” I said. “I might make an appearance.”

Thankfully, that placated her. But by the time Honey left and I found the right lecture hall in the Music Department, class had begun.