Chapter 37
Declan gives me a once-over. “June’s inside.”
I nod and follow him through the door. It’s another bedroom similar to Xavier’s. My friend is sitting on the bed, her head resting against the wall, a vacant expression covering her face. She blinks when she sees me.
I rush to her. “June.”
“Delilah.” Her voice is rough and low, a harsh whisper that sends goosebumps across my skin.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She nods, but the movement is slow, the gesture hesitant. I throw my stuff on the comforter and sit beside her. We both lean against the wall, her studying me in silence.
June’s gaze darts to Declan and returns to me, suspicion filling her eyes. “Why are you here?”
The recruit’s stare drills in a hole in my skull from where he stands. I catch his eye, note the subtle shake of his head, and nod in acknowledgement.
“Xavier had to leave,” I say. “He thought it’d be good for us to hang out while he’s gone.”
June frowns. “He left you here? Just like that?”
“Yup.”
“Okay,” she says, elongating the word.
She makes a face at me and I smile at her in encouragement. This is the first time I’ve caught a glimpse of June’s former self. I want to believe that Declan hasn’t done anything traumatic to her, aside from the bride ritual, but this situation is fucked up in ways I couldn’t imagine.
I may not trust Xavier completely, but he is intent on keeping me safe. And he trusts Declan. Xavier wouldn’t have left me with this guy if he were going to hurt me.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “I’m just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this... contract.” She leans over to grab a stack of papers from a nightstand. “Did you read this thing? It’s iron-clad. We are fucked.”
I nod, keeping my thoughts to myself. There’s no need to remind June that it doesn’t matter if the contract is solid or not. The Order and its powerful members would’ve found a way to keep us under their thumb.
“So what do you want to do?” I ask, trying to change the subject. “I could really use some coffee.” I look down at the wedding dress, full of dirt and grass stains. “And a change of clothes. Holy shit. Raven.”
“She’s been blowing up your phone too?”
I nod, biting my lip.
June tilts her head. “What is it?”
“I haven’t answered her cause I don’t know what to say.”
“Not a fucking word,” Declan says. His voice is low, but the threat in his tone is loud.
“Of course not.” I scoff. “What do you think I’m going to say? ‘Hey, Raven, I know you think I signed up for some extracurricular activities to help my grades, but I’m really under a contract to be the sex slave of some guy. But don’t worry, he’s hot.’” I roll my eyes. “I’m not stupid.”
He narrows his. “Never said you were. Just don’t fuck around because you will find out. The Order would replace you like that.” He snaps his fingers, and I flinch.
“I have no doubt,” I say.
June grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Come on, let’s go. On the way to the dorm, we can come up with a story to tell Raven. The juicier you make it, the more likely she is to believe it.”
I groan. “If I tell her I hooked up with Xavier, she’ll ask for details.”
“Didn’t you?” June asks.
“Did you?” I jerk my chin in Declan’s direction.
Her cheeks turn pink. “He’s my ex. It’s not the same.”
I snort. “Bullshit.”
Declan watches our exchange, his eyes bright with interest.
“Can we go now?” I ask.
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Fine. Let’s go.”
“You’re coming with us?”
“You aren’t leaving without me.”
“Okay, boss.” I stand and stretch, my muscles sore. Who knew running for your life would make you so tired?
“You should probably grab some clothes too,” Declan tells June. “Unless you want to stay in that dress?”
Her lips thin. “No, I’m ready to get out of this.”
He jerks his head toward the door. “Come on.”
Declan takes the lead, and I bring up the rear. When he reaches for her hand, she lets him. I’m not sure what to think about the contact, especially when June shoots me a furtive glance and blushes. In the end, my opinion doesn’t matter. I have my own problems to deal with.
I sigh. June’s still the same, and yet, so different around Declan. Maybe she’s right about him being her ex, and things aren’t weird between them. Wish I could say the same about me and Xavier. I have no idea what the fuck is going on, other than he thinks I belong to him.
“Where is everyone?” I ask as we descend the grand staircase. The empty foyer greets us with silence.
“Classes,” Declan says.
I scrunch my face. “But the university doesn’t have any scheduled on Saturdays.”
“These classes have nothing to do with the university.”
“Then what are they?”
“That’s privileged information, bride.”
He doesn’t provide any additional details, and I refrain from probing further. It’s not like he’d tell me anyway.
Once we’re outside, my spirits lift. The sun is shining, and the temperature is pleasant. It almost makes me forget what a shitshow my life has become. Almost.
“So, back to X,” June says. “Tell me what you’re going to say to Raven. And make it good.”
I groan. “Why?”
“Because she knows you. You need something that’ll make her understand why you aren’t returning her calls. Or text messages. Or emails. She’s probably lost her shit, you know?”
“Fine.” I blow out a breath. “What the hell am I supposed to say?”
“I’d start by telling her that you hooked up with the guy, and he has a huge dick.”
“Oh my God.”
Declan snorts, and June smacks his chest. He looks down at her and lifts a brow. When she narrows her eyes, his smirk widens.
“I hate both of you,” I say. They ignore me and I roll my eyes, walking faster to keep up, settling next to June. “Any other suggestions that have nothing to do with size, girth, or dicks in general?”
June hums and taps her chin. “Well, I’d also say something about getting lost in the moment, and maybe a few references to his tongue.”
I choke and sputter, unable to form words. Images of Xavier’s face between my thighs fills my mind. His hands on me, his mouth, his words, the way his eyes held mine as he told me to come. My body’s reaction is instant. Heat rises, painting my skin in a flush, desire thrumming through my veins.
“Well, well, well,” June says.
I blink, focusing on her. “Well, what?”
“Huge dick or not, X has gotten under your skirt.” She tilts her head. “And definitely under your skin.”
“What? No. What?”
“I was watching you just now. You looked like you were a thousand miles away. A girl doesn’t get that expression on her face unless a guy is doing it for her. Big time.” June shakes her head at me. “Looks like you have your story ready to go. I can’t wait to hear it.”
I glare at her. “What are you planning on telling her?”
“About Declan and me?” She shrugs. “Nothing.”
“Why not?
“There’s nothing to say. Besides, I’m not sure how to describe our relationship. Or whatever the fuck is happening.” She bites her lip and looks at the recruit. He shakes his head, and she scowls at him.
“June,” he warns.
“Whatever.” She shrugs and looks at me. “I’m going to tell Raven that Declan and I are back together. It’s the simplest explanation, and it’s closest to the truth. The best lies are.”
Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be lying when I tell my roommate about Xavier and how much I enjoyed what he did to me.
“You fucking slut!”
Raven’s shriek has my ears ringing. She grabs me for a hug and squeezes me until I’m gasping for breath.
“Guilty,” I wheeze.
“I was worried about you,” she says, finally letting go. “When you didn’t come home last night and didn’t respond to my calls or texts?—”
“Or emails,” June supplies with a grin.
Raven nods. “Or emails, I thought something had happened to you.”
“X happened to her,” June says.
She waggles her brows, and I glare at her. It lacks any heat. Because it’s all in my cheeks. Talking about Xavier and I in bed, even briefly, has caused permanent damage to my skin.
Raven’s eyebrows shoot up. “How are you going to sit there and act like you’re not breaking girl code by getting back with Declan? I thought you hated him?”
“Hate-fucking is the best.” June shrugs. “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.”
“And how many times did he fuck you before you forgave him for being a dick?” Raven asks.
“Apparently, a lot,” I mutter.
“Hey!”
“Where’s the lie?” Raven throws up her hands. “You ran off to do something for a class and came back the next morning with a story about getting back together. Yeah, okay.”
“Whatever,” June says. “After I shower and change, do you want to come with us to get coffee?”
“Or alcohol,” I mutter.
Raven purses her lips. “Only if we go to Brewed Awakenings. I need the good shit.”
“The kind that might stop your heart?” I ask.
“Bingo.”