Page 83 of Twilight of Embers
He took it roughly, rage filling his eyes as he read. His gaze jerked to Cáel. “Call Cill. We need to move now.”
Cáel nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket and hitting a few icons on the screen.
“What the hell is going on?” Delaney demanded.
“None of your business,” Knox snarled. “It’s not like you give a damn about anyone other than yourself.”
Delaney gaped at him. “Knox, you don’t understand. She’s been an awful roommate. She’s weird and—”
“Shut up,” he snapped. “I don’t want to hear another word out of your lying mouth.”
Delaney gasped. “Knox,” she whined.
He turned to me. “We need to move, Hayden. Get all your books, and let’s go.”
Cáel shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Reinforcements are on the way.”
Knox jerked his head in a nod, gently pushing me to finish my packing. But all I could do was stare down at my desk. Someone who worked with those men had been in my room. They’d touched my things.
Nausea swept through me.
Cáel moved in behind me. “Breathe, Little One. Just breathe. One thing at a time.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Delaney snapped. “Are you fucking both of them?”
I turned to look at my roommate. “Yes.”
I wasn’t. Not really. Not yet. But I was over Delaney’s bullshit.
She paled. “You’re lying. They wouldn’t want…you. Not when they could have anyone on campus.”
I snorted. “You mean not when they could have you. That’s what’s really going through your head, isn’t it?”
Delaney straightened her spine. “You said it, not me.”
Cáel just grunted something indiscernible.
“Keep holding on to hope,” I muttered.
“Bitch,” Delaney spat.
Knox moved toward her, but I placed a hand on his chest. “Don’t. She’s not worth it.”
He just glared and started shoving books into my backpack.
A knock sounded on the door, and I jumped.
Cáel squeezed my shoulder and then crossed to open it. The two enforcers strode into the room, looking around as if they expected masked men to jump out at any moment. And maybe they would.
A shiver skated over my spine. How had they gotten in? The dorm was locked, as was our room. Apparently, they weren’t men that locks kept out. I was suddenly more than glad that I’d be staying with the guys on their gated property.
One of the two enforcers picked up my duffel bag. The other reached out to take my backpack from Knox.
Cáel brushed his lips over my temple. “Do you need anything else?”
I shook my head. I really hadn’t brought much with me to Ember Hollow. I hadn’t had much to bring.
That thought had sadness sweeping through me. Not at the lack of physical belongings but at how small of a mark I made on the world. If I disappeared, would anyone even notice?
