Page 80 of Twilight of Embers
Cáel choked on something that wasn’t quite a laugh. “She has a point. It wasn’t a bad guess.”
“I’d never help people put poison in their veins,” Cillian snapped.
I met his angry stare. “So, a cult, then.”
He let out a low growl. “We’re not in a cult.”
“Then why the hell did those people want you dead? Want me dead because I’ve been spending time with you?”
Cillian let out a long breath. “The Corbetts. They feel like we’ve encroached on their turf. They don’t want anyone to see success other than themselves. They’d do anything to bring us down. And now that they know you’re important to us…”
“They’ll do anything to hurt me, too,” I whispered.
He jerked his head in a nod. “We won’t let that happen. It’s why you’re going to stay here.”
I glared at Cillian. “Try asking.”
Knox choked on a laugh and tried to hide it with a cough.
Cillian scowled at him and then turned that thunderous look to me. “Will you please stay here so that we can keep you safe?”
Who was I kidding? I’d be terrified to go back to the dorms alone, knowing that more of those men might be out there. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
The tension bled out of Cillian. “Thank you.”
“Sure,” I mumbled.
I’d just be locked in a house with two guys who’d made me come harder than I could’ve dreamed, one controlling alpha male I wanted to climb like a tree, my professor who could barely look at me, and my maybe-boyfriend’s twin brother who’d rather stab me than smile at me. What could go wrong?
40
HAYDEN
I watched Easton’s back as he retreated from the dining room. He’d mumbled some excuse the moment he’d finished his breakfast. I let out a long breath, slumping against the chair.
Knox squeezed my knee under the table. “He’ll come around.”
I wasn’t so sure about that but nodded anyway.
“Knox, Cáel, get Hayden to campus so that she can collect her things. I’m sending enforcers with you, as well,” Cillian ordered, his voice low.
“Enforcers?” I squeaked. “That definitely sounds like some sort of gang.”
Cillian let out a rumble of annoyance. “We’re not in a gang or in the mafia, and we sure as hell don’t sell drugs.”
I just glared at him.
Cillian sighed, taking my hand and squeezing. “I’ll explain everything once you’re back, but you need to move quickly.”
Memories from last night flashed in my brain. I definitely didn’t want a repeat of that. Especially when I was alone on campus.
I didn’t say anything but tugged my hand from Cillian’s and pushed back my chair. Knox and Cáel followed.
I cast a sidelong glance at Maddox, who hadn’t said a word for the rest of breakfast. His eyes were locked on me, the amber burning brighter. The moment he caught me watching, he looked away.
I couldn’t read him at all. There were times I thought he liked me, might even be attracted to me. But then there were others when I thought the most I could hope for was cool indifference.
“I’ve got my keys,” Knox called.
