I’m such a hypocrite, because really, I need them around. Cecily has always been our rock. The ‘brainstorm first, act later’ girl. The ‘I’m here to listen’ friend.
She’s like a mother figure, and having her here fills me with a major boost of confidence.
“Anni!! Why didn’t you tell me this scene is your usual?” Ava grabs her by the shoulder. “I have like a major girl crush right now.”
They’re wearing matching tulle dresses. Ava’s is coral pink and Annika’s is pastel purple. I swear they have something to shop for every hour.
“It’s not, really.” Anni casts a glance at our surroundings. “I’m not usually allowed at Jer’s parties, and by usually, I mean never. The guard let us in earlier because I kind of begged.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll protect you.” Ava nudges Cecily. “Isn’t that right?”
The latter grabs a red Solo cup from the table beside us and releases an unintelligible noise.
“See? Ces always has your back.” Ava tells Anni with a heartfelt laugh.
I inch closer to Cecily, who’s been obsessively watching the stairs. Yesterday, I thought the mansion was huge from the outside, but it’s a downright castle from the inside.
There’s a regal air to it mixed with splashes of gothic touches. It’s undoubtedly old, probably older than both universities’ centuries of age.
I heard that the three mansions scattered across the island were castles that were used as defense lines in medieval wars. Now, they’re used as compounds for secret orders, illegal organizations, and twisted youths.
The Elites, the only REU club that belongs in their unholy union, is probably tame compared to The King’s U’s clubs.
Though I wouldn’t be so sure, considering Lan leads the Elites.
“Are you okay?” I ask Cecily.
Her head whips in my direction and alcohol spills on her hand. “W-what? Why?”
“I’m just asking.”
She smiles big, doing a horrible job at hiding her discomfort. “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry, Glyn.”
“That will just make me worry more.”
“I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself. Really, never mind me.”
My chest contracts and I swallow the drool that’s gathered in my mouth.
Never mind me, Glyn. People like me are just not important.
Devlin’s words rush back to my mind with the lethality of a storm. Red slowly creeps into my vision.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
“You matter, Ces,” I choke out. “You have no clue how much you matter.”
A shadow of incredulousness creeps into her features before they soften, “Thanks, Glyn. You’re like the sweetest.”
“What is this fucking betrayal? I’m the sweetest!” Ava barges in, batting her lashes. “Glyn is the doll.”
Cecily raises a brow. “No, you’re the one who curses like a pirate.”
“And I feel so left out, I’m revoking friendship rights to all of you bitches.”
We turn around at hearing Remi’s distinctive voice. He’s glaring down his very aristocratic—currently pissed off—nose at us while simultaneously flipping his dashing hair back.
Creigh, aka his unwilling shadow, stands a short distance away, both hands in his pockets.
“How did you guys manage to get into The King’s U?” Cecily asks.
“Anni is a doll and put in a word for us with the guards.” Remi’s tone turns dramatically hurt. “Since when do you party without me?”
“Since, uh, I don’t know, you party without us all the time?” Ava points a finger at his chest. “You don’t see us revoking friendship rights, do you?”
“I can’t believe this. So it’s my fault that you don’t come along when I ask?”
“Duh. In case you forgot, you end up ghosting us to shag anything in a skirt.”
“What the actual fuck, Ava? Of course I’d choose shagging over your mimosas and drunken rants about a certain psycho. Shagging is the whole point of these parties, not your unresolved feelings!”
“Screw you, your grace.”
“It’s actually your lordship, but I’ll take the upgrade in title.” He grins. “Now, who’s in the mood for an orgy?”
“Eww,” Ava, Cecily and I say in unison.
Creigh raises one hand.
Annika winces. “No clue what you guys find fun about this party. Can’t we get out of here? I’m game for anything Remi suggests.”
“Anni, honey.” Ava grabs her by the shoulder. “You should never, ever agree to Remi’s plans. He’ll leave you in an unknown place with unknown people and sod off to get his dick wet.”
“I did not leave you in an unknown place with unknown people!” Remi shouts. “I was kicked out of my own house by that fucker—”
Ava slams her palm on his mouth, making him shut up mid-sentence, then glares at him, but he waggles his brows.
Having been released from Ava’s hold, Annika grins and slides to Creigh’s side, then nudges his shoulder with hers. “Didn’t know you’d come. I would’ve picked a better dress.”
His expression remains blank. “Why?”
She rolls her eyes, then tugs on the tulle of her skirt. “Do you like this one?”
He says nothing, continuing to focus on Remi bickering with both Cecily and Ava as usual.
Seeming oblivious to the way Creighton blatantly ignored her, Annika continues, “I didn’t know you like orgies.”
“I don’t,” he says, still not looking at her.
“You just raised your hand when Remi suggested it.”
“He paid me to.”
“Oh, so you don’t like them. Ha. And here I was thinking about getting your attention somehow.”
He finally tilts his head in her direction. “Why?”
Her smile widens now that he’s looking at her. “Because I’m totally going to get you out of your shell since Remi is obviously failing. I wonder if he keeps a list of all the methods he tried so that I can maybe shrink the endless options I have in mind.”
“You talk too much.” Creigh simply turns and leaves.
Annika’s shoulders hunch, but she soon perks up. “I really should get out of here before Jer sees me. Or at least hide.”
I suppress a smile while watching them, but it slowly disappears when I catch a glimpse of Gareth heading upstairs.
It’s a knee-jerk reaction, but I slip from between the others and sneak up behind him.
Since there are so many people and so much chaos around, I manage to blend in seamlessly.
When I reach upstairs, however, an ominous feeling slowly creeps up my spine. I squash it and stay on Gareth’s tail as he slips away unnoticed.
He has a silent presence that’s almost nonexistent when he’s surrounded by godlike presences like Jeremy, Killian, and Nikolai.
However, when he’s on his own, he seems…menacing. Somewhat unpredictable. But then again, one can’t expect Killian’s only brother to be completely normal.
The deeper he goes into the hall, the fewer people there are. He takes a turn and I follow, but in just a fraction of a second, I realize something about the people standing near the walls.
They’re different.
While downstairs is filled with uni students, the age is drastically older now.