AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Mia?” Annabel frowns and I blink at her. “Is everything okay?”
“Sorry, I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well.”
“Still stressed over this thing with Cade?”
“Wouldn’t you be?” It comes out harsher than intended.
“I… don’t know. I mean, it’s Cade.” She leans in, lowering her voice. “He’s practically one of the most powerful guys in Gravestone.”
“I didn’t take you for some shallow—"
“Mia, it’s not like that, and you know it.” Her tongue slips between her teeth. “All I’m saying is, is it so awful being with him?”
Yes, yes it is, I want to scream. But I swallow the words.
“I just want to carve my own path,” I say. “Is that too much to ask?”
But as we approach the student union and silence settles over us, we both know the answer.
In a place like Gravestone, freedom is the worst thing you can ask for.
I manage to avoid Cade and the rest of the Electi for the remainder of the day. I want to believe that luck is on my side, but by my last class, I can’t help but wonder if they’re even in school today. I haven’t seen so much as a glimpse of them.
No text messages from Cade.
No narrowed stares from Ashton.
No remorseful smiles from Channing.
There’s been nothing, which only sets alarm bells ringing.
News about the fight at the party Friday has been travelling through campus quicker than wildfire. I see the way the outsiders watch Bexley, wondering what he did to piss off Cade. Of course, no one whispers the truth: that they were forced to partake in some archaic ritual called Caedes.
A small, derisive sound crawls up my throat as I approach my dorm building. It’s late, a little after six thirty, but I wanted to visit the library and get ahead on some course assignments. Something tells me if I want to survive freshman year as Cade’s prosapia, I’m going to need all the distractions I can get. And since I actually want to make something with my life, studying seems like the obvious choice.
A couple of girls give me a wide berth as I reach the dorm building. They watch me like a hawk, and I can practically hear their thoughts.
What does Cade see in her?
He could have anyone, yet he chose her.
Maybe she’s bribing him.
Maybe it’s a game.
“I bet she doesn’t know what to do with a guy like Cade. I heard he likes it rough,” I hear one of them whisper, and the two of them break out in fits of giggles.
I glance over my shoulder and arch a brow. “Sorry, did you need something?”
“I… we were just—"
“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Shaking my head, I shoulder the door and slip inside.
I can take their whispers and stares. I have bigger problems to deal with.
By the time I reach my room, my skin tingles with irritation. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of it. But here I am, because I was born in some fucked-up town where your name and blood means more than your own dreams and desires.
Stomping inside, I drop my bag down by my desk and kick off my pumps while I switch on the lamp. My side of the building doesn’t get the sun, thanks to the huge cypress trees outside.
