“You’re in luck. I’m headed that way.” He grasped my arm firmly, tugging me along with him.
“Stop manhandling me,” I hissed.
“No can do. I’m under orders from King Caiden.” He laughed mockingly. Guess his boyish good looks hid a sadistic bastard. Great.
“You really call him King Caiden?”
“Nah. Just messing with you. But Caiden has decided you’re not to be trusted, and until he decides what to do, one of the Four will be keeping an eye on you as often as we’re able to.”
“You cannot be serious.” I stopped dead, yanking my arm away from him. My mind was racing. None of this made any sense. What possible reason could they have for watching me? I hadn’t done anything to warrant their attention—I’d only just moved to Alstone.
“What exactly is it you think I’m going to do? And why are you listening to him, anyway? Don’t you have your own mind?” The last thing I needed was someone shadowing my every move. I needed to stay as inconspicuous as possible—to find answers for my dad without attracting unwanted attention.
Meeting his gaze, I stepped closer, gritting my teeth in irritation. “Listen to me. You can tell King Caiden that I don’t want, or need, a stalker. In fact, I’m pretty sure stalking is illegal. Not to mention, creepy as fuck.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “You’re new here, so I’ll let your comments slide. This time. But you need to get one thing through your pretty little head. At Alstone, our word is law. Do not attempt to defy us, or you will regret the day you ever set foot on this campus.”
I stared at him, my mouth opening and closing. What a sanctimonious prick! These boys had a serious case of self-entitlement.
“I don’t think it matters. Caiden already threatened me last night.”
The contempt in his gaze lessened as he frowned at me. “What?”
“Oh, didn’t Caiden tell you? We had a lovely dinner with his brother and our parents.” I spat the words out. “And I had an even lovelier surprise when I left and found what he’d left on my car.”
“What?” Cassius’ frown deepened.
“He’d scratched the word ‘whore’ into my door. Nice and deep, too, so I can’t get it buffed out, or whatever the hell they do to remove scratches in the paintwork.”
“For fuck’s sake,” he murmured, almost to himself. “I wasn’t totally on board with his plan to begin—” He clamped his mouth shut, shaking his head.
Hmm. Interesting. Was he about to say something he shouldn’t have—something I could use to my advantage? Maybe the Four weren’t as close as my initial impressions had led me to believe.
“Come on. Let’s get to the lecture. We don’t want to be late.” He gripped my arm, more gently than before, and I sighed.
“I’m coming. There’s no need to hold on to me, you know. I’m quite capable of walking on my own.”
“Okay.” He dropped my arm, and I rubbed it.
“You do realise that’ll leave a bruise? You really need to be more careful.”
He stared at my arm, and, to my surprise, a remorseful expression crossed his face. “Sorry,” he muttered, leading me down a long corridor and pushing open a large door. “After you.”
We entered the lecture hall, which had tiered seating, the seats around two-thirds full. I climbed the stairs to the top, preferring to sit near the back. I slumped down into an empty seat, and Cassius swung his large body into the chair next to mine. The seats were close together, and he was huge. Our legs were touching, and I won’t lie, I kind of liked it. I mean, yeah, he was Caiden’s friend, and Caiden had decided to make me public enemy number one, but he was sexy. As were his asshole friends.
An idea hit me, and I chewed my lip, deep in thought. Maybe Caiden’s orders to keep an eye on me, despite being completely ridiculous, could work in my favour. Since it was clear that the Four were the kings of campus, it made sense that they would be the most likely to have information out of anyone at the university. And if they were insisting on shadowing me, maybe I could use that to my advantage. If I could get one of them to drop their guard, they might have answers for me. Something, anything, no matter how small, that could help me put the pieces of the puzzle together, to find out what had happened to my dad.
Mind made up, I studied Cassius, noting the way his shirt stretched across his muscles as he leaned back in his seat, raking his hand through his hair. Getting closer to him wouldn’t be a chore, at all.
“See something you like?” he smirked, noticing me checking him out.
“Maybe.”
“You’re easy on the eyes, too, sweetheart. Shame Caiden has decreed you off limits.”
What the fuck?
Oh, I said that aloud.