“Okay, well, that’s pretty mortifying. But it doesn’t explain why Aeron is avoiding Tom like the plague.”
“Trust me, it does.” He releases my hand and grips my shoulders, bringing his nose level to mine. “Tom doesn’t kiss any girl. So, the fact he kissed you is screaming volumes at Aeron, and I don’t think he likes how much it’s bothering him. You’re supposed to be nothing more than a task to him, but the lines keep getting blurred. He wants you, Luna, but he can’t have you, and he can’t allow himself to keep wanting you.” His eyes are burning into mine and I can’t help but wonder if he’s only talking about Aeron now.
“I hate how much power Emmet holds over everyone.” It falls free and I don’t regret it. For some reason, I feel as though I can speak my mind around Tucker. That’s a dangerous way to feel.
“It would be better if people would stop giving him more. Maybe they should take more notice of you, Tiny One. You don’t seem to give him any power.”
Oh, how wrong you are, Tucker. How wrong you are.
I stay by the sea for a little while longer before I head back up to the house, I’m near the patio doors when I hear shouting coming from around the pool area. Why they even need a pool is beyond me. Fucking rich people.
I walk around to see Shane pushing Maddox into the water, and I don’t miss the blood pooling from his nose as he hits the water and falls under. I can’t stop myself from hurrying over, even though it’s the last thing I should do. Shane drops into the water, followed by Ashley - another of the Harkwright men - when he shoots him a look.
I make it to the pool edge as Maddox resurfaces, and Shane wastes no time in making his way to him, a deadly look in his eyes that is freezing me to my core.
“No,” I scream as he punches him in the face before he grabs his shoulders and forces his head beneath the water. Ashley places his hands on Maddox’s head and helps to keep him under.
“Let him go,” I scream, as he thrashes beneath the water, trying his hardest to get out.
“Shut her up,” Shane barks out as an arm comes around my chest, and a hand comes over my mouth.
“Keep still, Snow. Believe me when I say you’d rather have my hands on you then Shane’s,” Scott whispers in my ear.
I don’t give a fuck what he thinks, I won’t just stand here and let them kill him. I relax against him until his arm loosens, and then I pull forward enough to make us stumble closer to the pool edge.
“Stay still,” he growls as I bite down on his palm. He lets me go before backhanding me across the face.
Stars float in front of my eyes as he forces me down onto my knees. He uses one hand on my shoulder to keep me held down, and another on my throat as he forces me to watch. Tight enough that I can’t get a word out, but loose enough that I can still get a little air into my system.
Maddox is moving slower now, and I cry out one more time as the sound of footsteps fills my ears. Barely a minute passes before Tom jumps into the pool. Ashley quickly lets go of Maddox and swims to the edge, but Shane doesn’t relent until Tom sends his fist flying into his jaw. His head snaps up as he lets go of Maddox and it gives Tom enough time to help him get to the surface, and then he guides him to the edge.
“Help me get him out,” he orders Ashley, and surprisingly, he does as Tom orders.
“What the fuck is going on? Get off her,” comes from Tucker as he pulls Scott off me, and helps me to my feet.
“What were you thinking?” Aeron seethes, and I guess he must have arrived with Tucker.
“It was just a joke,” Scott has the audacity to claim as he smirks at me.
“Jokes are only funny until someone gets hurt,” Aeron says, as he shoves Scott and sends him falling into the pool.
He resurfaces only moments later, nowhere near under long enough considering what he just helped the others do to Maddox.
He looks up at us, smirking. “Actually, I think you’ll find that’s what makes a joke even better.” He glides through the water before climbing out, and he doesn’t even look back.
Not at Maddox who is puking up pool water, not at me who has his hands marked across my body or Aeron who looks as though he’s one move away from killing everyone who had a part to play in this.
I thought last year had been rough. I guess I really haven’t seen anything yet.
6
It’s Just Another Number
It’s no surprise they cut the retreat short after what happened to Maddox. Not that they did anything about it. It’s disgusting how little they value their own family.
My shoulder is still sore from where Scott held me down and dug his fingers into me, but at least I’m okay. Maddox has closed himself off from everyone. I wish I could help him, but he won’t let me, and I can’t make him.
I step into the Academy to be met with more stares than I can handle. So much hate is being aimed at me from the higher numbers, and I can’t fathom why. What could I have possibly done this time? I haven’t even been here.
“I hope you’re happy, you conniving little bitch,” says Five as she storms up to me, and shoves her hands into my shoulders.
“What did I do?”
“As if you don’t know. You can play innocent all you want, but it will only get you so far. You won’t get half as much attention when they realize what you’re really like. Just another two-bit whore out for herself.” Her hand lashes out, but it’s caught mid-air before she can connect with my face.
“Watch it, or you’ll lose more than just your number,” Emmet says with deadly intent, and his tone sends chills down my spine. But it also calls to somewhere deep inside of me that I do not want to acknowledge.
“It isn’t fair, I worked hard for my place,” she sobs as her eyes fill with tears, but I’m not buying it for a second. She may be able to put on the waterworks at will, but she’s not a good enough actress to pull it off.
“If you were looking for fair, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Don’t forget what she did to Four, I would do a lot worse than that,” he promises, and I watch as she winces and her eyes shoot to his hand still gripping her wrist.
“There’s an assembly, I suggest you run along,” he moves his lips to her ear and although I can’t hear what he whispers, her face paling tells me that it isn’t anything good.
“Thirty-Four, with me,” he says and just this once, I don’t think I’ll argue with him over it.
I walk up to his side as he turns around and heads for the stairs. I guess we’re not going to the assembly just yet. The idea of turning up late has my stomach twisting, but what choice do I have?
He leads me down the north wing and we don’t stop until we make it to his room. I don’t feel right going in there. I don’t trust this version of him, and there’s this darkness shadowing him right now that is keeping me on edge.
He pushes on the door and holds his hand out. I guess I’m going first. Oh, fuck me sideways, I am royally screwed.
I take a deep breath and step into the room where Liam brought me to further the charade where I told him I wouldn’t judge the Prince when I didn’t even know him. I still don’t, but I have been judging him. Haven’t I?