“Crap,” I murmur, not wanting to be discovered.
“It’s okay,” Bexley says, twisting slightly to shield me. “I don’t think they can see us.”
He’s right. We’re sheltered by some cypress trees, but it doesn’t stop my heart lurching into my throat.
“Is that Kingsley?”
I don’t miss the disapproval in Bexley’s voice, and for some strange reason, it warms my insides knowing he isn’t one of Cade’s adoring fans.
“P-please, man, it was a joke, I was joking.” A guy I don’t recognize holds up his hands as Cade and his crew advance on him.
“Tsk, tsk, Males, you really should know better than to lie.”
“I’m not, I didn’t—"
Cade shoves the guy hard and he stumbles, losing his footing. Landing with a thud, he stares up at Cade. “Please, man. I’ll apologize, I’ll—"
“You should have thought about that before you bitched out me and my guys at my own fucking party.” Cade leans down and fists the guy’s Henley. “Kiss my shoes.”
“What an asshole,” Bexley breathes. My hand shoots out and clamps over his mouth. Cade can’t know I’m down here. If he does… I don’t want to think about what might happen.
“Shh,” I whisper, meeting Bexley’s confused stare.
“W-what, man? Come on, Cade, don’t be—"
“Kiss my fucking shoes.” Cade shoves the guy back and he slips, steadying himself in the muddy sand.
“He said kiss them, asshole,” Ashton Moore barks.
“Come on, guys. I’m not gonna kiss his shoes.”
“Fine. Guys,” Cade says, and his crew swarm like bees over the defenseless guy.
“Shit, maybe we should do something,” Bexley mumbles against my palm, his stubble tickling my skin.
“No, we can’t,” I say, hating that it has to be this way. But it’s either the guy or me. And I’m not ready to be the object of Cade Kingsley’s perversities just yet.
“Help, somebody help!” The guy’s cries of desperation evaporate on the balmy air as they strip his clothes from his body, leaving him completely naked.
“This is bull—" Bexley tries to move away from me just as Cade kicks the guy into the water.
“Oh God,” I whimper as their dark laughter drifts over to us.
“Swim, fishy, swim,” Ashton calls.
“I think we’ll take these.” Cade bundles the clothes into his arms. “Just for safekeeping. Next time you run your mouth off about me, you won’t come out of things so… intact.”
A shiver runs down my spine at the threat in his words. Bexley lets out a muted grunt of disapproval beside me, but I still have my hand plastered against his mouth. As Cade and his crew slip back into the shadows, I finally pry my fingers away.
“What the fuck was that?”
“Cade’s a jerk,” I say.
Understatement of the century.
“I’m going to help him. Stay here.” Bexley ducks out of the shadows and moves along the water’s edge to offer a helping hand to the butt-naked guy as he clambers out of the water.
“What the fuck?” he growls at Bexley.
“Relax, man, I only came over here to try and help.”
“Help? I don’t need your help. I don’t need anyone’s help.” He cups his junk and shoulders past Bexley, slipping into the tree line.
“That went well,” I say as Bexley returns.
“I was only trying to help.”
“He’s embarrassed.”
“If you ask me, the asshole deserved it.” I bristle, and Bexley’s eyes shutter. “I did not mean… fuck, that came out wrong. Obviously, I don’t think he deserved it.”
“I know what you mean. But Cade and his guys are… a lot.”
“Yeah, what’s with that?” He sits back down beside me.
“You know how every school has one group of guys who run the place? The popular kids with all the social power?”
A strange expression washes over Bexley as he nods, and I wonder what secrets he’s keeping. “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, Cade and his crew are like that but on steroids. Gravestone U is their territory. Has been for the last three years, since Cade was a freshman.”
“You seem to know a lot about them.”
My shoulders lift in a small shrug. “Everyone does.”
But Bexley isn’t from Gravestone. He doesn’t understand what it’s like.
I envy him.
“Are you going to head back to the party?” he asks me.
“Not until I have to. But you should go, I’m sure you have friends waiting on you.”
“Nah, Alex will deal.”
“Alex Shaw, right?” I’ve seen the two of them together, at classes this week and before that, at high school.
“Yeah, why?”
“No reason.” I shrug again before uncapping the vodka and taking a large swallow. Everything is beginning to relax as the liquor seeps into my bloodstream, but I like the sensation. It’s better than the gnawing pit of hopelessness I’ve felt ever since the Eligere.
That night, the night I stood beside the other prosapia and heard my name called, was a total mess.
My father was almost as dumbfounded as me. Brook looked ready to claw my eyes out. Phillip Cargill was utterly confused and slightly irritated, and I was in denial.
I still am.
Brook petitioned her stepfather, of course. My father demanded answers. And Cade seemed completely indifferent as chaos unfolded around us.
The only saving grace of that night is the fact that they couldn’t decide how to proceed, so I have been afforded some time before being thrust into the Electi’s world.
That time came to an end three days ago when my father got the call from Phillip Cargill that the decision was being upheld.
I am to one day become Cade’s wife.
The vodka in my stomach sloshes from side to side as I let out a heavy sigh.
“Here, I’d better drink some of that before you pass out.” Bexley snags the bottle from my fingers, a bolt of electricity shooting through me. We both stare at his hand, and slowly he pulls away, letting the back of his knuckles brush my arm. A shiver runs through me, but this time it isn’t one full of trepidation. It feels… nice.
He uncaps the vodka and takes a long pull. I watch his throat bob as he swallows. Bexley might not be born and raised in Gravestone, but he
