I belong to him now, and come Monday, he and the Electi will start to sow the seeds that will mark the end of my freedom.
If I survive until then.
Brook Moore has already made it more than obvious I’m the enemy. Like everyone else at the Eligere two weeks ago, she is sworn to silence. No one talks of what happens at the ceremony outside of the verus bloodline. But it hasn’t stopped her letting me know how much she hates me.
It’s one of the reasons I fled to the lake. At least down here I’m not forced to en
dure her death stares or cruel barbs.
I snatch up the bottle of vodka I swiped off the counter before I left Cade’s house and take a long pull.
“Whoa there,” Bexley says. “Things must be bad if you’re necking neat vodka.”
“It was the first thing I grabbed.”
It burns, but I swallow the urge to shudder.
“Want to talk about it?”
“I…” I let out a resigned sigh. “I really hate this place.”
“Kingsley’s house? Seems pretty sweet to me.” He glances around.
“Not the house… Gravestone.”
“Want to know a secret?” He nudges my shoulder. “I’m not a big fan either.”
“You moved here last year?” I can remember him starting Gravestone High last winter. We were in the same class, but he kept himself to himself, and I didn’t exactly put myself out there. “God, I miss high school,” I blurt out.
“You do? Because it kind of sucked ass for me.”
My eyes slide to Bexley’s, and his crinkle with amusement. “At least in high school all this is a distant dream.”
“All this?”
“Yeah… the big life decisions, responsibilities, the pressure… If I’d known what I know now…” I exhale a steady breath. “I would have done a lot of things differently.”
“Oh yeah?” He plays along, but I can tell from his cloudy eyes that he doesn’t really understand.
There’s a big commotion from somewhere behind us, and I freeze.
“You okay?”
“I just don’t want anyone to come down here.” Especially not Cade.
He’s given me my space until now, but I know come Monday that will all change.
Dread fills my chest, and I take another large gulp of vodka. “You want?” I thrust the bottle at Bexley.
It’s a bad idea, sitting out here, getting drunk at the water’s edge, but there’s something thrilling about it too. Like I’m breaking all the rules as a giant F-you to Quinctus and their stupid traditions.
If only Mom could see me now.
The thought makes me smile.
Bexley notices, frowning. “What?”
“Just thinking… my mom would really hate the idea of me being out here alone.”