73. Thea
73
Thea
W hen he wasn’t being a controlling dick, Cassian Forsyth was warm, funny, and very likable. The more I got to know the real Cassian, the more uncomfortable I felt.
Unlike the other students, I wasn’t here to learn, make friends, or have fun. My dad had sent me here because it suited his plans involving the Forsyth family. The thought of what I might have to do made me feel sick inside. While Lucian was a piece of shit, Cassian didn’t deserve whatever Dad had planned for him.
I shuddered.
“Are you cold?” Not waiting for me to reply, Cassian picked up a log from the basket and tossed it into the hearth, sending sparks racing up the chimney.
My cheeks warmed, and not only from the heat of the fire. I wasn’t used to people taking care of me, yet in the time I’d been here, these men had gone out of their way to protect and care for me.
I wasn’t sure how to handle their overprotective ways, but one thing was certain: I liked it.
“It’s fine. The whiskey is warming me nicely,” I replied, downing the last of the fiery spirit. Whiskey had grown on me. I might even invest in a few bottles to take home when I left for the holidays. After all, there was a strong possibility I wouldn’t be coming back.
“Another one?” Cassian quirked an eyebrow at my empty glass before he finished the last mouthful of his own drink.
Another drink sounded good, but it wasn’t the best idea.
“It’s late. I should probably be going,” I hedged. Not that I wanted to leave. Being here with Cassian made me feel normal. Like a girl on a date with a handsome guy. If I ignored the venomous looks Olivia kept throwing in my direction, it would be a perfect evening.
“One more for the road, then I’ll walk you back to your room like a gentleman.”
“He’s about as much of a gentleman as I am,” a familiar voice snorted. We both looked up to see Landon stood a few feet away, his customary smirk firmly in place. There was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite figure out, though, as his gaze flicked between me and Cassian. “You two look cozy,” he commented after a beat.
“We were having a post-study drink,” Cassian replied smoothly. “Since you’ve crashed the party, the next round is on you. Make mine a whiskey.”
“I hope it’s a Rothmore whiskey.”
“Nope. They don’t stock that here, as you well know .”
“Hmm. I must have words with the bar manager. Rothmore whiskey is the only whiskey worth drinking.”
“This one was good,” I piped up, showing him my empty glass, the alcohol having loosened my tongue.
Landon turned to me and smiled. “Oh, darling, wait until you try my family’s whiskey. It’s vastly superior.”
“Snob,” Cassian muttered under his breath, but Landon ignored him.
“I’ll fetch you a bottle and we can have a tasting session, wifey. Trust me, you’ll love it. As will I when I pour some over your gorgeous tits and lick it all off.” He grinned and strutted off toward the bar, leaving me with a flaming face and an awfully inconvenient ache between my thighs.
With Landon’s presence, the vibe between Cassian and me shifted. Landon’s arm slid across my shoulders and he pulled me into him, making it clear to the few remaining students in the bar that we were together.
Cassian already knew I had a thing with Landon, but I got the distinct impression he didn’t like his friend’s territorial display. I felt like a gazelle caught in a scrummage between two alpha lions.
It was almost amusing. And also strange when I thought about it, seeing as how Cassian had a fiancée. Camilla Bale-Lyon was a much better prospect than me. Not that I had spent any time imagining what life as Cassian Forsyth’s fiancée would be like.
Hell no.
Just like my imagination hadn’t conjured up all the possible scenarios of me in bed with Landon and Cassian. Or Kyril and Cassian.
Nope.
“… isn’t that right, Thea?”
“Err what?” I belatedly realized I’d lost the thread of the conversation, thanks to my overactive imagination. Landon smirked. I had a feeling he knew where my mind had gone. Knowing my luck, I’d started drooling while staring at Cassian in his tight-fitting shirt and perfectly tailored pants.
Yep. I had cataloged both while listening to his seductive voice.
Surreptitiously wiping my mouth, just in case I had been drooling, I attempted to focus.
“I was just telling Cassian about your interest in poisonous plants.”
“You were?” I had no recollection of me saying his mother’s plants interested me, but he was right. They were fascinating. Mostly because I was tempted to steal something deadly and feed it to Torrance.
The thought of him choking on his own vomit while agonizing spasms wracked his body held a lot of appeal. A dose of hemlock would certainly add a special je ne sais quoi to his favorite meal, pasta alla Norma .
One of Cassian’s perfect eyebrows shot up in surprise. “I didn’t know you had an interest in horticulture, Thea?”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” interjected Kyril. I jumped at the sound of his voice and turned to see him and Milo standing on Landon’s right, their shoulders dusted with snow. “Deadly toxins are a fun way to off someone.” He winked at me like we were enjoying a private conversation. “Less messy.”
I looked around to check nobody was in earshot. To my surprise, everyone had left, and apart from the bartender, we were the only people still here. He was too busy wiping tables and throwing us annoyed looks to bother eavesdropping on our conversation.
How had I not noticed the room emptying? I was really losing the plot. If Torrance could see how far I’d slipped from his high standards, he’d lose his shit.
The old Thea would have been on her guard at all times, acutely aware of every person in the room. Instead of monitoring exits and assessing potential threats, I’d let these men distract me. And worse, I’d accepted drinks from them without giving it a second thought.
This was how girls got roofied.
I really needed to get my shit together.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I frowned. This wasn’t my burner - it was the phone my father gave me. I couldn’t ignore him. Not for long, anyway. Besides, it was late and we all needed to leave.
“I have to go,” I muttered, pushing Landon’s arm off my shoulder.
“We should all go,” Cassian agreed. “The barman wants to kick us out.”
Landon grumbled but allowed me to stand. Kyril edged closer, probably intending to walk me back to my room, while Milo stayed near the wall, watching silently like always.
“I’ll walk Thea back,” Landon announced.
“That OK with you?” Cassian asked to my surprise. They all knew I could handle myself.
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I pointed out, rolling my eyes. “Nobody’s stupid enough to jump me.”
“Not unless they have a death wish.” Kyril winked at me, clearly agreeing with my assessment of the situation.
“I know Thea can look after herself, that wasn’t why I—”
Kyril didn’t bother waiting for him to finish the sentence. “Yeah, yeah. You want to get laid. We get it.”
“Fuck you, mudak !”
“What have I told you about butchering my mother tongue, pridurok , eh?”
“Ooh, I must look that one up. Is it insulting?”
“Yes, it means you’re a dickhead.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered. I was tired of their ridiculous bickering. The only one of them who showed me respect was Milo. He didn’t act like a dominant jerk or push me for anything. Instead, he let me take the lead.
Not that any of them were listening to me right now. Even Milo stood watching with a smirk on his face while Landon and Kyril argued and Cassian attempted to calm them down.
I was done with their bullshit. Plus, I needed to check my father’s message without anyone peering over my shoulder.
While the four guys carried on acting like dogs fighting over a bone, I slipped out into the frigid night and hustled back to my room.
The message was brief and to the point, like always. A summons to London in a few days. Cassian and Lucian Forsyth would both be in London, and my father had a plan. No mention of what that plan was, but I’d need to dress with seduction in mind.
I just hoped Dad wasn’t expecting me to get naked with Lucian before stabbing him to death. The thought of Lucian’s hands on me sent a shudder of horror down my spine.
Since I owned very little in the way of ‘seductive’ clothing, I guess I’d need to arrive in time to do some shopping. Dad had given me an address to go to, where Torrance would be waiting.
Great.
It was just as well I had zero social life. And even better that Eden was still in the wind. If she’d been around, she would have questioned why I needed to go to London, which would have made my life more difficult.
My other phone buzzed with a message from Landon.
Fuckboy: Need me to keep you warm tonight?
It was tempting, but the time had come to put some distance between me and them. It was better for all of us.
Me: No. I’m asleep.
Fuckboy: Clearly not if you’re replying…
I didn’t bother answering that. Being left on read would do him good.
I half expected Kyril to blow up my phone too, but there was nothing from the crazy Russian. Which was good because I wasn’t in the mood to deal with his antics tonight. Or rather this morning, seeing as how midnight had been and gone.
The only one who might make an appearance was Milo, but I didn’t want company, so I wedged my chair under the door.
Good luck getting in now, stalker boy .
After stripping off and pulling on some comfy pants and a tee, I crawled under my duvet. But sleep took a long time to come, and when I did finally drift off, I dreamed of Cassian.
Only this wasn’t a fun dream.
No.
This was a nightmare scene where I stabbed him in the chest repeatedly while he looked up at me with betrayal in his eyes.