Her brow furrows. “He keeps telling everyone you’re his. I’m not sure what he means by it, though.”
I swallow hard, wishing that she hadn’t brought Elias up. “That makes two of us.”
“What is your cousin’s problem with Natalya, anyway?” Camilla asks.
Lila shrugs. “God knows.”
“I’ve been asking myself that question since the day I met him,” I mutter, as Elias’ hate for me was unfounded and yet profound. “He took one look at me and it was like hate at first sight.” I laugh.
Camilla and Lila don’t seem to see the funny side, though.
“It’s odd. Elias was never the vindictive type when we were younger. I don’t really get it,” Lila says.
I wish I knew why he hates me so much. At least if there was a reason, I could understand it better. “Who knows? Boys sometimes are just assholes.”
“Who is an asshole, Gurin?”
I stiffen at the sound of Elias’ voice behind me. “No one,” I mutter.
He sits on the other side of me, leaning too close for my liking with other people at the table. “Tell me.”
Lila shakes her head. “Leave her alone, Elias.”
He glances at his cousin and smirks. “Who are you to tell me what to do, Lila?”
Her nostrils flare. “An Estrada for one.” Her eyes narrow. “You may be the king here in the academy, but we both know you’re nothing in the real world. Sixth in line for the throne.”
The sparks of rage igniting in Elias’ ice-blue eyes could melt the ice-caps.
I swallow hard, surprised that Lila talks to him like that. “Watch your mouth, Lila. Remember your place. All you are is an asset to be sold to the highest bidder.” He runs a hand across the back of his neck. “I hear your daddy is already looking for a suitor.”
Lila’s brow furrows. “You don’t know shit. Eliza isn’t even married yet.” She stands and gives me an apologetic look. “Thanks for the notes. I’ll take a copy and bring it right back.”
I nod, but wish she wouldn’t leave. At least she has the guts to stand up to my tormentor.
Elias looks at Camilla. “Leave, Morrone.”
Her brow furrows and her expression turns furious. “Fuck you. I’m not leaving.”
His fists clench. “I won’t hesitate to get you chucked out of here, Camilla. You aren’t even studying.”
Camilla glares at him, but in the end shakes her head. “Whatever, I’m fed up with this library, anyway.” She glances at me as if searching for my permission to leave me alone with Elias, and I give her a sharp nod. “I’ll catch you later?”
“Yeah, see you later,” I say.
I watch her as she walks out of the library, but I can feel Elias’ eyes on me. It gives me a feeling of unease.
“Look at me,” he demands.
I meet his gaze, hating the way my heart races the moment I look into those ice-blue eyes. Eyes that have tormented me since his first day at the academy.
“Who were you calling an asshole?”
“Who do you think?” I ask, hating the way my heart rate speeds up the moment I talk back to him.
He grabs my hair and yanks my head back, his lips teasing the front of my throat. “You better not have been speaking about me, Gurin.”
I shudder, hating the way my body reacts to his dominance. “Or what?”