My jaw dropped. “You want to kill her?” I whispered, eyes wide.
“Yes.” Jax leaned forward, his face inches from mine.
His eyes were a stormy shade of blue. I’d never get used to how his and Trent’s eyes were so similar, not just in color but in how they changed with their emotions.
“If it means keeping you safe, I’d kill her right now,” he said.
I eased back, needing some air that wasn’t tainted with the scent of him. “We don’t even know she’s bad.”
“C’mon, Chloe. You’re not stupid.” His gaze searched mine. “She’s a Zoya.”
Sighing, my shoulders sagged. He was right. Even though Felicity wasn’t currently part of the Zoya Coven, she was one of them, and that automatically made her dangerous. Though… Isach had changed. Who was I to say Felicity couldn’t do the same? Was that a chance I was willing to take?
“So, who’s side are you on in this?” Jax asked, leaning back in his seat. “Mine or your future husband’s?” There was too much hurt in his tone.
“Neither. I think we need to at least give Isach a chance to see what he can find out. If he doesn’t learn anything, or he learns something we don’t like, then we…” I swallowed hard, unable to say the words.
“Dispose of her?” Jax smirked.
“You don’t have to look so happy about that.”
He gave a nonchalant one-shoulder shrug. “And for the record, that plan is exactly what Trent said this morning, too.” Jax swiped his books into his arms, stood, then strode out of class.
Guilt stabbed at my gut as I watched Jax leave. My muscles tensed in preparation to run after him, but I battled the urge and forced myself to remain seated.
I spent a majority of the class watching the door, hoping Jax would return, but he never did. What was up with everyone today? First, Trent was standoffish this morning, and now Jax was throwing a tantrum because I didn’t agree with him.
When class ended, Whitney marched up to me. “What was that all about with Jax?” Accusation dripped from her tone.
“I honestly don’t know.” I shoved my books into my backpack. “Trent said he and Jax had a fight this morning, but Trent wouldn’t tell me about what, so I asked Jax. He wants to kill Felicity, but Trent wants to wait to see what Isach can find out. I said I basically agreed with Trent. Jax got mad.” I shrugged and flung my backpack over my shoulder. “They’re both acting weird today.”
“Hmm.” Whitney headed out of the room, and I followed.
Unease nagged at my mind, and I grabbed her arm. “What aren’t you telling me?”
She sighed and turned to face me. “You can be so naïve sometimes, Chloe.”
I scowled.
“That’s not a bad thing.” She chuckled. “Look, everyone knows you picked Trent, but what you don’t know is how hard that’s been for Jax. And I get it. Because of what happened between you two, you need to stay away from him, and I’m glad you are. But he’s struggling, too, and he doesn’t feel like Trent is taking this issue with the Zoya and Felicity seriously enough.”
I crossed my arms, letting her words sink in. I didn’t like what she was saying—especially about how hurt Jax was—but I couldn’t not listen, either.
“And what do you think? Should Trent be doing something more? Do you agree with Jax?” I asked.
Whitney glanced away, and that was all the answer I needed. Anger ignited inside of me. I dropped my hands to my sides and curled my fingers into fists.
“The answer to problems isn’t to go kill everyone. That’s part of being human, and I don’t care if you and Jax don’t like it. I, for one, love that Trent is compassionate and rational about things like this.” I spun on my heel and marched toward my next class.
“Chloe!” Abby’s choked sob stopped me cold. She flung her arms around my neck and squeezed the breath from me.
“Abby? What’s wrong?”
“Isach…” She sobbed. “Broke… up… with… me…” She inhaled a shaky breath, hiccupped, then sobbed even harder.
Isach broke up with her? Shock rendered me motionless for several moments. Then, snapping out of it, I hugged her back, and her shoulders shook hard enough to shake both of us.
“I’m so sorry.” I let her cry a moment longer, then I released her. “C’mon. We’re leaving.”
She nodded and rubbed at her eyes, which were red and puffy and spilling non-stop tears down her face. As soon as Abby calmed down enough to tell me what was going on, I was going to find Isach and kill him.
He’d promised he wouldn’t hurt her. He’d made a blood oath with Ivy just so he could have an eternity with Abby, and then he dumped her? Had everyone in this school lost their minds today?
I ushered Abby out of school and straight to my SUV. Once we were in and buckled, I sped out of the parking lot, drove past Roaring Brook Falls, and just kept going. I didn’t have a destination in mind, but I kept driving in the hopes it would calm Abby and help me think clearer.
Finally, Abby’s tears slowed. She took several stuttering breaths. “He met me after first period and told me,” she said, her head down, gaze trained on her lap.
“Did he say why?” I asked, my tone gentle.
Every feeling I’d had when Trent had broken up with me resurfaced, and I knew what Abby was going through. I wanted to take this pain away for her, but how could I do that?
“He said it was too complicated being with me,” she said.
“That makes no sense.” I couldn’t keep the anger from my tone. “Too complicated to be with you? He knew what he was getting into. He wanted this, Abby. He wanted you.” I slammed my palm against the steering wheel.
Abby jumped, and a fresh
