Page 42 of Coveted

The same hands that warmed my skin through the glass table just now. A tremor travels through my body at the thought.

And that freak says he can protect me from Parker’s killer. What a joke.

I should’ve asked what he had in mind. Lucan’s idea of protection probably involves chaining me up like a pet beagle.

He’s just trying to draw me into his orbit, to play with his food before he eats it, and I can’t let him.

Somewhere ahead, I hear a car door close.

Despite being broke, I decide to treat myself to a ride-share back to Darkbloom.

I’m desperate for a shower to wash off my shame from tonight. The slickness between my legs is still present. A filthy reminder of taking an order from him.

Reaching into my bag, I stop on the empty sidewalk. Fingers searching every crevice inside the bag, I grab at nothing.

“What?” I mutter. “How is that possible?”

My phone’s not there.

It must’ve slipped out when I snatched my bag in such a hurry, making it fall between seat cushions.

Either that or Lucan took my phone. Too bad for him if he did, because it’s locked.

Groaning, I weigh my options.

If I return to Altar, I risk seeing Lucan again.

But without a phone, I’d have to walk back to campus with no freaking underwear on. And I’d still have to collect my phone tomorrow anyway.

Screw it. I’ll get the phone now. The bouncer can retrieve it while I stay outside.

I’ve only taken a few steps when I hear soft scuffing behind me. In the reflection of a shopfront, a dark shape moves fast toward me.

Adrenaline dumps into my bloodstream in the split second I realize I’m about to be attacked.

There’s no time to run, because he snuck up on me too quick. I have to fight.

Turning fast, I swing my bag at him. He ducks out of the way, grabbing me before I can try again.

His arm is a steel band around my ribcage and his gloved hand clamps over my mouth. In the store window, his face is hidden, but his hoodie and sweatpants are black.

Exactly like Lucan’s hoodie at the Founder’s Run.

Panic rises in me. Is this his payback for running out on him? Or for denying his offer of protection?

Half-carrying and half-dragging me, he takes me down a side street. I scream into his palm and kick with my legs, but his grip only digs deeper.

Lucan’s a stalker. I should’ve known he would escalate to something heinous.

A low voice growls in my ear. “You saw me in the forest. I’m going to make you beg like Hannah did.”

My panic ramps up to fever pitch as I realize the man dragging me isn’t Lucan, but someone even worse. It’s the killer, and he wants to silence me forever.

Wrenching one arm from his grip, I claw at his face, but he latches onto my wrist and twists my arm hard. I moan in pain, stars appearing in my vision.

While I buck and struggle, he suddenly stops dragging me. He goes perfectly still, like a fox caught in a henhouse.

He’s noticed something I haven’t.