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Okay, more than a little, but it’s important.

“Meet me at the library after classes,” I say. “We’ll start with whatever they’ve got on the founder and the campus plans. And if there’s nothing at all, fine. At least we’ll know we tried. I’d rather do that than wait around for the next invitation to show up in my room.”

“Okay, but you’re buying us coffee.”

“Deal.” A smile spreads across my lips.

Huh. That was easy. I kind of thought he’d complain, but maybe he likes spending time with me, or what do I know? But if we can get into the tunnels, maybe I can find out why the society picked me and who the mystery member from my family is. Or there might be something even more useful. The kind of info that could get the society off my back forever.

It would be nice. And Jayden and who he turns into when he wants something... Yeah, I’ll try not to think about that.

Chapter 25

JAYDEN

AFTER I WATCH VERONICA leave, I can’t believe we just spent hours at the library, going through most boring shit. She got a bunch of notes and a whole list of things she wants to check next, while I turned pages and stared at her for too long, completely forgetting what we were even doing and that I was supposed to stop her investigation.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and it’s Montoya asking if I’ll be back for the next game or if my ankle’s still bad. I type that it’s getting better. I’ve been skipping practice way too much, and yet, I don’t really care.

Something’s wrong with me. I’ve only had one plan since the day I enrolled here, and everything I’ve ever done at Blackerville was for the same cause. Now I spend my day obsessing over Veronica and spending my time in all the wrong places.

Girls have been around me my whole life, and yet, Veronica is the only one in my head, even when she’s nowhere near me. And it’s not only the sex, even though I’d take her right now if I could. So what the fuck is happening to me?

I even promised her I’d look for other ways into the tunnels, which is not something I should be doing. Sure, I should probably lie, but I don’t like it. Still, she’s thinking about the whole thing just as I would.

When I first got to Blackerville, I thought about slipping into the tunnels at night with a flashlight or something. But I gave up on the idea in about a week, because even if I’d found my way in, I wouldn’t have known what I was looking for down there and someone could’ve caught me, and then it would’ve all been over. Joining seemed smarter and faster. Do what they ask, climb in ranks, and they’ll let you in.

But that takes time and patience, and I have no idea if I’m going to make it, especially with Veronica acting the way she does. Hell, I thought she’d slap me when I said what I said while I fucked her, but she didn’t. I don’t even know where all that had come from, but when I’m with her, I just don’t think. It’s all pure instinct. But maybe I can use this situation.

As I get to my room, I throw myself on my bed. I could go to Supreme and say Veronica needs to see something real before she gives him what he wants, and I could bring her down to the tunnels and show her a few things. He’d probably like it, since he’s been telling me to move faster, and her interest is a good thing. And I’d get permission to snoop around too.

Except, he’d probably want to know which parts I plan on showing her, and he’d send someone to make sure I don’t wander, because he never lets anyone go anywhere down there without a guard. And if I tried something, everything could go to hell. Worse, Supreme might decide it’s the wrong move or that she’s poking around too much, which means she’s far from broken, and then he might give someone else the task.

So no asking. There has to be another way. During my first months in the society, I was on guard duty too. Two of us would watch the tunnels together, near the entrance. We had to stay there for hours and report anything strange. They put the newest members on it because it’s boring and because it’s the only job where you can’t mess up too much.

I haven’t seen any cameras, though, even though I was inspecting every corner. They don’t want any proof of what they’re doing. If footage from the tunnels got into the wrong hands, there’d be tons of trouble and the whole society would be put at risk.

Huh, maybe I could find something out from the current guards. The new guys never question anything from someone ranked above them, and I sure didn’t when I was like them. Some masked guy would tell me when and where to be, and that was all.

And there’s no list or schedule anywhere, so someone would have to tell them about a change if there was one. I could say I want to see Supreme, because I know at what hours he probably won’t be there, and get an excuse to be in the tunnels. Then I could lie to the guys on duty about a schedule change, and no one would know anything, especially if I chose the entrance no one ever uses. There’d be no guards for Veronica and me.

If someone catches us down there, I can say Veronica found a way in by herself and I went after her to get her out before she saw too much. It would make me look good. Yeah, that’s not a bad plan, but I have to make sure nothing goes wrong.

EVERYONE’S AT PRACTICE or in a lecture or eating as I head toward the tunnels, and Supreme almost never comes down before evening, so if anyone stops me, I’ll say I was told to come see him, and if he isn’t there, then I’ll come back later like a good little member.

I get my robe and pull the mask over my face. As I get closer to the guards, I hear their voices, and my lips spread into a smile because I recognize them. Bernardo’s mask is halfway up when I come closer, and he quickly adjusts it. Marc tugs at the collar of his robe.

“Hey, how long have you two been on duty?” I ask.

“Ugh, too long,” Marc says. “Two hours to go, but it’s so fucking boring. The most interesting thing was a butterfly that somehow got in.”

Bernardo lets out a snort. He was in one of my lectures last year, and I know Marc from the dining hall, because he’s always loud.

“I did months of this, so I know what it’s like,” I say.

Bernardo gasps. “Months?”

I cross my arms, as if I’ve got nowhere to be. “Well, at least you don’t have to be here tomorrow.”