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I don’t even know why I’m fighting him on this but I feel like he’s trying to manipulate me.
“Yeah, you’re right. My head is pounding. I think I should probably go back to bed for a bit.” I get to my feet. “I think I better go. I, uh, have a date to get ready for later so a nap first would be good. Thanks for brinner.”
I have to wait awkwardly for him to let me out from my seat by the wall, but he’s the perfect gentleman and gets straight to his feet to let me pass. As I reach the kitchen door he calls out to me gently. Stopping, I turn around and look back at him. The expression on his handsome face is torn. He scrubs a hand over his jaw and grits his teeth.
“Come by the gym next week and book some one-on-one PT classes with me. I’ll make sure we get a private space and I’ll teach you those self-defence refreshers you’re after.”
“Okay.” I give him a small smile but I’m less keen on the idea than I was before. “Thanks. I’ll see you in the week then.”
“If not sooner.”
“Happy Birthday, Peony!” Zie grins at me.
“Sweet sixteen at last,” Kaiden teases. “Open your gift. It’s from all of us.”
I smile and rip open the delicately wrapped little box. Opening it, I glance at the small tri-coloured band inside.
“What is it?”
“It’s a promise ring,” Axel explains.
“What are you promising me?”
“Forever,” Kaiden adds with a wink.
“I don’t understand.”
“It means, Peony, that you’re ours. And we’re yours too,” Zie says, giving me a massive bear hug.
“No matter what happens, no matter how things seem, we’ve always got your back and your best interests at heart,” Axel finishes.
Carefully, he takes the ring out of the box and I see that it’s actually three interlocking plain bands. One yellow, one white and one rose gold. It’s pretty and delicate. He slides the ring onto my finger and the bands glide over one another seamlessly. It’s a perfect fit.
“It’s lovely. Thank you,” I stammer as my cheeks heat. The guys have never given me jewellery before, and this feels weighty on my finger. Heavy with significance. They’re leaving, but they’re promising not to leave me.
Something has changed. Sure, Peony liked her gift well enough, but I think she missed the meaning behind it. Her smiles didn’t reach her eyes. She’s sad, hurting, and for what feels like the first time, she hasn’t told me why.
Which means that whoever is upsetting her isn’t someone I can kill.
Zie’s acting weird. Kaiden too. Though Kaiden’s been acting pretty weird since the incident. I guess technically dying for a third time does give you the right to be a bit preoccupied, but what’s Zie’s excuse?
Everyone’s acting like it’s a funeral, not a birthday. I know the guys aren’t exactly relishing the idea of leaving next week, but we have to make the most of it. Peony thinks we’re going to Southview U, but really my father has arranged for us to go to Trinity.
All my hard work is coming together now. My father thinks he’s sending us to Trinity to broaden his empire and to take out the competition. What he doesn’t know is that I own the competition and that we’re happy to go to Trinity to build our business, make more allies and grow our defences. Come graduation, we’ll be back to take down our fathers once and for all.
The only part the guys don’t know about is Peony.
