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There’s a rumble in his chest. “Is that a threat or a promise?”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and Alexander’s eyes track my hands as I reach for it. He snatches my wrist, going for it himself. There’s a new dimension of anger in his eyes. Is it because he’s scared? Part of me wishes I actuallydidhave someone else, just to see him lose his mind over it.
He visibly relaxes when he reads whatever’s on the screen.
Alexander turns the phone toward me a second later. It’s a notification from the SFU app.
Following a thorough investigation by the Executive Body, Miss Alize Moreau was found to be the fiancée of Mr. Alexander Duke. We apologize for the inconvenience. In the future, investigations will take place before bulletins are posted.
Now the whole school knows about this fucked up ‘engagement.’
Alexander looks pleased with himself, and that’s all the motivation I need to remind myself to never fall into his trap. He may know his way around my body, but I can still protect my heart. This won’t change anything between us. I want my own space in the world—I’m tired of being at the mercy of the powerful men in my life.
I’m not sure what I want yet, but I do know what I am not.
I’m not his.
EIGHT
ALIZE
Alexander insistson walking me back to Hemlock House.
The walk is quiet and tense as he forcibly holds my hand the entire way. It’s way too romantic for my liking—and reminds me of the times I actually enjoyed doing this with him—but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t at least grateful that he came with me.
Not for his company, but the message his presence sends.
As we walk along the paved walkway, there are groups of students bundled together at every turn, watching us. There’s hatred in their eyes, their bodies coiled like jaguars waiting to strike.
They were prepared to kill me, and now they can’t.
Some of them whisper as we pass, pointing at us when they think we aren’t looking. Alexander’s grip on my hand tightens, but he doesn’t even spare them a cursory glance. But me, I’m memorizing all their faces. All these students—some of them I even share classes with—are my enemies now too.
This is different from when I first got here and they picked on me because I was different. Now, it feels rooted in something else, something more insidious.To them, I’ve broken their most sacred rule and flouted the punishment. I’ve robbed them of the chance at a fortune or a spot on one of the Houses that might change their life.
I’m sure they’ve killed for less.
Am I worse off now than before?
When we get to the gates of Hemlock House, I grit my teeth. The worst of it is before me, inside with the ruthless girls who’ve tormented me from the moment I set foot on campus.
Alexander doesn’t immediately let go of my hand.
“Will you be okay?” he asks me, his eyes searching my face.
There’s genuine pain in his expression which pisses me off. He doesn’t have the right to act concerned when this is all his fault. Only a sociopath would set your house on fire then tend to your burns, acting all sullen and shaken up.
I rip my hand from his. “I have to be.”
I start to move away from him, but he’s on me like a shadow.
“The rules don’t allow me to come inside, but fuck them. I won’t let—”
I put a hand on his chest and he stops speaking. He looks down at where our bodies touch, then closes his palm around my wrist. I jerk away from him.
“Stop acting like you care about me, Alexander,” I hiss. “You did this, all of this.”
One of his eyebrows shoots up. “What are you talking about?”
