Page 79 of A Dead Man's B-Side
He either couldn’t look at Fenlon Hall or look at the remains of the already dead flowers without remembering his sins. Or he wished he’d tortured him further and then some.
“Well, he didn’t say so, but something about the whole Malakai Young thing has been bothering me.”
Wolf checked his watch and hesitated for a moment before asking, it must have been close to nine o’clock, “Something like what?”
I leaned closer because this felt like something that should be spoken about under the cloak of night in a dark alley between strangers assuming aliases. Wolf mirrored me with a look of concern. “Ajax got pissy when I talked about Fenlon Hall and told me not to meddle in things I didn’t understand. I think I would consider it threatening.”
Wolf’s brow furrowed as he considered my words. I’d seen Ajax pissy, sure, when he’d argue with Paris or bicker with August, but when evenIchose not to inquire further, it raised alarms.
I’d like to consider myself semi-self-preserving, and that says enough.
Wolf seemed to share my thoughts. “That doesn’t sound like Ajax. But…”
I wanted to groan at his next words because I didn’t like a refutation of my conclusions.
I was rarely wrong.
At my expression, Wolf held up his hands. “Just hear me out. Ajax and Malakai were like…best friends. And I mean since nappies. It just doesn’t make sense. There isn’t a reason on Earth you’d kill someone you’ve chosen to be friends with; it just doesn’t make sense.”
“Wolf, there areplentyof reasons. I can think of fifteen off the top of my head.” I rolled my eyes. “Besides, you’ve said before that kids here value making connections.Friendsisn’t an airtight argument.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head before meeting my eyes again. “It isn’t the same. Ajax wasn’t raised like that. His mother smothers him. I would know, I’ve met her. He isn’t the type to resort to murder, no matter the reason. I don’t even think he can stomach it.” I opened my mouth to protest, but he placed his hands on my shoulders and shook me softly. “I’m not saying you’re lying or that you haven’t a clue what’s going on. Something doesn’t sound right for Ajax to threaten you, I agree, but it can’t be murder. It just can’t.”
He let go of me, and I watched him for a moment before asking, “Do you think anyone at Castle Hill has ever killed anyone? Or anything?”
My thoughts returned to the science lab that was Marigold’s dorm and to Callum Queen’s cruelty. These kids had access, and that made them dangerous.
They were raised to be cutthroat, and that made them desensitized to human life. Many of them were going to inherit empires that could only thrive on the death of innocents, on war, famine, and disease.
Wolf slowly backed away and reached for the coat he’d thrown over my bed, pulling it on. “Maybe. I’m well aware that there are some twisted bastards at Castle Hill. But not Ajax. He may be brash and reckless at times, but since Malakai died, he’s been pretty tolerable. In fact, I think Malakai's death was a good thing for him.”
Wouldn’t that only prove my point further?
But alas, I’ll drop the matter. It wasn’t as if I’d be actively gaining something over Ajax. He’d already promised me his loyalty, or whatever it was he said.
“You guys really hated this kid, huh?
Wolf whistled and shook his head. “You have no idea. Just imagine someone Callum Queen would be afraid of and you’ll get the picture.”
Then, even I whistled.
I was glad I hadn’t been offered a sponsorship during his time.
I went to pull on the coat Wolf had given me and felt its warm weight settle nicely onto my shoulders. It was a perfect fit and felt like something I’d have no problem falling asleep in.
Wolf checked his watch again. “We have to get going.”
I hummed and shuffled towards the door, locking it on my way out and gesturing towards Wolf’s across the hall. “When is it your dorm’s turn to hang out in?”
Wolf shifted his arms behind his back sheepishly. “It faces the courtyard, so half the students have a full view of my window.”
He wasn’t exactly lying, because I pass the hallway leading up every day, and every day I walk past the floor-length windows showcasing the courtyard.
I noticed the windows above on multiple occasions, but I was sure that wasn’t the reason Wolf refused to let anyone inside.
I hummed and mentally concluded that I would break into his dorm when I had my free period.
The cars waiting by the road leading out of Castle Hill weren’t something I’d expected to be provided, but it definitely made things easier, and the drivers were crucial to making it there without a murder on the road.
