Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 608(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
I go completely still. I can’t breathe.
He rushes on to add with a sloppy grin, “Anyway, it’s kind of terrifying waiting for the quiet ones to snap. Am I right?”
I force a smile, then open room 209 and push my bags inside. “On that happy thought…”
He salutes me with his middle finger, then pulls up his iPad and clears his throat like he’s about to get professional. “We at Endir acknowledge that you could have chosen any university program. We’re delighted that you chose us and promise to exceed your expectations in—”
I take two steps back and grab the door, slowly shutting it in his face.
It closes with a soft click. “Wasn’t done!”
“Yeah, you were!” I call back with a small smile. He might be annoying, but at least he’s entertaining.
With a deep breath, I turn to take in my new home.
The room is furnished. Built-in cabinets, bookshelves, and desks span the right wall, windows straight ahead, beds to my left, and, judging by the fact there’s two of everything, clearly this room is intended for more than one person. Not that I’ll have to share; my father would’ve made sure of that. Fewer witnesses and whatnot. I wasn’t expecting to be placed right next to my target, though.
Thanks, Dad.
But finding a six-foot-six Frost Giant on campus was never going to be the hard part.
Getting close enough to finish what I came here to do without losing myself in the process?
That’s the part that might kill me.
Chapter Eight
Aric
I had to leave. The air was soaked with her scent, which is weird to say even in my own head. Fuck, I really am losing it.
When I know the coast is clear, I go back to my room and down some of my meds, then stare at myself in the sink. My eyes are clear but lifeless. Looks about right.
I grip the sides of the sink and try to take some long, deep breaths.
Everything is going to be fine.
I just need to survive with her next door to me, moving around, breathing, existing, making noise, annoying the shit out of me.
I know the walls are thin.
Just like I know both of our beds are pressed against the same shared wall.
Inches.
Our bodies will be inches from each other, guarded by nothing other than some ancient stone wall that could crumble at any moment. God, I hope there’s not an earthquake, not because I don’t want to die under a pile of rubble but because I don’t want my last moments to be spent lying next to her in that pile of rubble.
She smells sharp—cool air and wildflowers crushed underfoot. Like rain just before it hits. Clean. Disruptive. Familiar in a way that puts me on edge.
A soft knock sounds at my door.
“Yeah,” I rasp.
Reeve waltzes in. “So…this should be interesting.”
I curse and toss my meds back into the drawer. “You think?”
He eyes the drawer, then me. “You feeling okay?”
I shrug. “As okay as ever.”
So no, I do not feel okay. I swear if my therapist tells me one more time to journal my feelings when I have episodes or weird dreams, I’m going to explode.
I can tell by the way my brother’s squinting at me, he’s gonna say something stupid. “You look upset,” he says finally.
“No shit, Reeve. Do I? Look upset?” I stomp over to the window and focus my gaze on the mountains past the lake. Frost forms between the panes of glass, distracting me. “Is it cold outside?”
“Huh?” Reeve plops onto my bed and leans back. “You do have a phone, you know. With a handy weather app. It’s not any colder than normal. All the freshmen are currently out doing their normal weird pre-orientation shit, which means the dining hall shouldn’t be super busy if you wanna grab some food to calm that temper of yours. I hear carbs work wonders.”
“Yes, because fries always make me forget my anger. Good idea,” I snap, then turn around. I take a deep breath and sit down in my desk chair, spinning to face my brother again. “Sorry.”
“An apology?” Reeve’s eyebrows shoot up. “I’m honored. And for the record, I’m annoyed she’s here, too, all right? Let’s just get through this semester without murder on our hands. People look up to us, you know? So keep your shit together as much as possible, which means avoid her as much as possible. And if you do run into her, well, try not to rip her head from her body.” He hesitates. “Please?”
I scowl. “It’s tempting. I mean, why the hell is she even here? At the college our family founded?”
Reeve drags a hand down his face and yawns. “I’m still trying to figure that part out. Point is, she’s here. Her father’s beyond powerful, and the last thing we need is a bad rep for Endir. It’s the family legacy, right? We play nice for a few months, you graduate, we’re free. Easy.”