Chapter 13
Skully
THE TIDE TURNED overnight. The calm and tranquility I was feeling on this campus is slowly ebbing away, and I know it has to do with my run-in at the Deck with Madden.
The anonymity I had been experiencing is no longer there.
No matter where I walk on campus, I feel eyes on me.
Humans and paranormals alike are suddenly aware of who I am.
I hear the hushed conversations and whispers when I walk into my classes, and the childish cackle of females who suddenly think they are superior to me because every once in a while, they are granted the honor of partying with the fierce four.
The leering from the male population of this university is also new, as well as the very low and harsh murmurings, whore.
I don’t know what I did to earn that title.
To my knowledge, the only one I had any type of relationship with was Madden, and according to him, he had been my boyfriend.
That is the hardest part of this whole sudden shift.
I don’t remember what they think I did to deserve it.
I only know snippets from Madden, and his recall of events seems largely biased.
Baylee filled me in on some things as well, but they aren’t my memories.
I don’t remember why or what I was thinking about anything that happened back then.
I’ve been told by my doctor, and I’ve also read enough online, that I should be careful of taking on memories that aren’t my own, because they are the memories and feelings of someone else.
I’m floating in an abyss with the only life raft I have being that I trust myself.
And I know myself enough not to believe that I’m the villain that Madden is so desperate to paint me as.
“What did that flower do to you to get that murderous look, Morgan?” A smooth, husky male voice pulls my attention away from the object of my camera lens.
Glancing up, I instantly regret letting my guard down out here.
In my defense, I thought I was far enough from campus not to run into anyone, so I could complete my project for the week.
I did not think I’d run into one of them.
The tall, blond man with the dark stare in every photo that Baylee has shown me. Killian Alden.
“Should you be talking to me? Pretty sure your master made it clear I’m public enemy number one.”
Killian chuckles low, his arms crossed, assessing me with those eyes as dark as coal.
Way darker than my own shade of brown. His lips tug up in an almost sinister smile.
He’s handsome; I get the appeal. Having his attention on me, though, does nothing but send a small shiver of fear down my spine.
It feels oddly similar to the fear that was still spearing through my stomach this morning when I woke up from my nightmare.
“Do I look like the type to run off because Madden says so?”
There’s a soft dare in his voice, as if he wants me to run my eyes over him. I won’t fall so easily, and it’s about time they learned it now.
“I actually haven’t given you, any of you, much thought to know what type you are,” I answer, shrugging with indifference.
Killian’s eyes flare for a second, and he lowers his arms to his sides.
Unlike me, he breaks eye contact first, letting his gaze touch over every part of me.
My pulse thuds in my chest, wanting to hide from the way he peruses me as if he has the right.
“Holy shit. I thought they were lying, trying to cover their asses or something. You really lost your memory, huh, little devil?”
I grimace at the nickname, hating it instantly.
Something about the way it rolls off his tongue doesn’t sit right with me.
Still, I manage to keep my face passive, my stance as bored as I am with this conversation.
The last thing I need is for Killian to think I want to hear from him about the things I’m in the dark about.
“Yeah, it’s a medical marvel to be able to forget about this place. ”
Instead of feigning that I hurt his ego, Killian’s head tips back, and the laughter that leaves his chest is loud and real. The sound confuses me. His whole demeanor or reason for approaching me confuses me, actually.
“You’ve become even more of a delight, Morgan,” he says, shaking his head, his smile wide, predatory. “It’s a shame that Madden couldn’t hang on to you. Not that he’d notice with the little blonde he has up his ass anyway. Guess some things don’t change, no matter how much time or distance passes.”
His words are meant to bite. He wants me to hurt thinking about the implication that Madden isn’t faithful or that I’ve been replaced.
I briefly wonder if that has anything to do with how I ended up on the cliff that night, but instantly push it down, remembering who I’m talking to.
I don’t trust any of these guys. It’s right on the tip of my tongue to retort when I feel the heavy weight of another set of eyes on me.
Madden.
Turning my head slightly, I meet his gaze as he saunters toward us. Aero and Lily are at his sides. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. For a whole month, this area was mine. I never once ran into any of them, and now all of a sudden, within a few days, I’ve seen more of them than I want to.
“Ahh, speaking of our ruthless leader,” Killian mutters under his breath, and my gaze shoots to him, just in time for him to flash me a flirty grin. “Better not let him catch you watching me, little devil.”
My spine straightens, and my shoulders tense.
Of course, Madden and friends are heading our way, not content to just pass through the wide-open field.
Turning my back to Killian, I grab the cap for my lens and secure it before grabbing my bag and hoisting it on my shoulder.
I’m prepared to hightail it out of there and leave them to their weird ass rivalry, but the minute I turn around, I’m stopped by a hard chest bumping into my shoulder.
Shit, he moves fast. Just like the other night at the Deck, my head has to tilt back slightly to look at him.
And Madden gives me no choice but to look at him.
His eyes are blazing with fury, and his whole body is radiating tension.
To this little group, he looks blank and uncaring, yet somehow I can tell it’s a mask.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I move to step around him when his hand shoots out, gripping my wrist and stopping me in my tracks.
“Interesting,” Killian observes from behind me. I want to shoot him a glare, but Madden gives me zero chance to break the silent stare down we’re engaged in.
“Don’t you have guard duty?” His words come out hard, rough, sounding more like a statement rather than a question. For the first time, his intense, metallic eyes leave mine, and he glances back at Killian.
“I was on my way when I ran into my old friend,” Killian taunts. I can hear the cocky grin in his words and see the evidence by the way Madden’s jaw clenches tight. Still, I keep my focus on him, not taking the bait Killian keeps laying down.
“You’re done talking to her now,” Madden grits through his teeth.
Aero saunters forward, his arms folding across his chest. “Run along, Dog.” He barks at him twice, just like a wild dog. The sound makes me flinch, and I blink from Madden’s gaze.
“You know how this plays out already, Danvers. I just have to bide my time,” Killian throws out. Madden takes a step closer to me, right as there’s a chilled breeze at my back, and a small flare of magic is left behind.
My head moves to look over my shoulder, and I catch a glimpse of red sparks.
Madden’s grip on my wrist tightens, and my sleeve rides up enough to expose the marks on my wrist. His hand turns, and his eyes narrow.
The thin line of the scar is barely there now.
A faint white line in my already pale skin, but the reaper marks and purple swirls have darkened.
I wait for him to speak, for more words wrapped in barbed wire; instead, Madden releases his hold on my arm, and I stumble back in surprise. “Ow, asshole,” I snark at him.
“What were you doing out here with him?” His voice is laced with danger and an edge that makes my hackles rise. For some reason, it also makes me want to cry, but I shove that down quickly.
“I wasn’t out here with anyone.” My shoulders rise and fall, fingers tapping my camera. “I was doing my class assignment when all of you descended and ruined my peace. And the good lighting. The evening sun is almost gone now.”
Aero snorts and quickly cuts it off, pretending to cough behind his hand. Too late, I tell him with my eyes. He only smiles for a second before it slowly melts away. Guess he forgot I’m the enemy now. Pain pinches my chest, and I can feel a frown settle on my lips.
“Anyway. It’s been fun. As usual. Let’s not do this again for a while.
” I salute with my fingers in the air and once again change my trajectory to move around the little crowd, but once again, I’m stopped by Madden’s tall frame.
This time, when he moves, Lily moves with him.
Her body steps to his side, keeping herself half hidden behind his built body, like she needs protection.
She can’t possibly need protection from me, right?
My eyes flick down when her hand molds around his bicep.
Pretty, light pink nails digging into his shirt.