Page 60 of Barinov

Ezekiel Malik Cassi—

No!

Blackwood.

“Just one thing,” I say, forcing myself to pull back smoothly before it can deepen. I keep my expression cool and casual. “I had to tell her I was moving into her room.”

Luca’s eyes darken. His grip on my jaw tightens until I’m sure it’ll bruise. “You what?” he snaps.

I shrug it off, try and act as nonchalant as I can. “Just like Miami.”

“I’m not a fan of that,” Luca pouts.

“You’ll live,” I laugh.

“Doubtful.”

“You’re the one that said whatever it takes,” I say, picking at my eggs.

We eat a few bites in a peaceful silence.

“What is it?” he asks.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

“The next trial.” I say, still moving my eggs aimlessly around my plate.

“What about it?” I can see his patience thinning as he taps his fingers on the counter.

“It’s just,” I exhale. “Are you sure about The Red Hour?”

“It’s poetic,” he says, taking a bite.

My brows pinch. “How?”

“Because.” He swallows. “I had to do it.”

“You had to fight in The Red Hour?” I say, dropping my fork with a clank. “You’re not a fighter.”

A laugh escapes my throat. I can’t help it. The thought of him trying to fight a man twice his size… now that’s fucking poetic.

“Well aware,” he says. “And it’s not that funny.”

“It’s a little funny.”

He sets his fork down and leans back. “You don’t get a choice when you pledge loyalty to them. They throw you in The Pit and pin you against their biggest monsters.”

Luca pauses and narrows his eyes on me.

“Ever wonder why there are only just a few Hollow Kings at a time?”

I stare at him, entirely unimpressed with wherever this story is going. I release a long sigh. “Is that rhetorical? Or are you looking for an answer because I have no clue on all the university history. You grabbed my ass before I could enroll for classes, remember?”

He rolls his eyes. “It’s because the whole damn thing’s staged. The brotherhood they preach, the loyalty they drill into your skull, all of it’s a lie. And Izzy fell for it. Fell for him.”

He looks off for a second, shoulders dropping.