Page 118 of Bite Me

“But—”

“I’ll fix it. I told Dad—” My words are cut short as Ms. Mulberry shuts the door in my face.

My blood chills as I remember what Dacre told me at the estate: “Don’t accept the gala invitation, and don’t sign anything.”

I thought he was being overprotective, but Dacre knew something. I snatch my phone out of my pocket.

The group chat is pleasantly urgent as the cavalry departs from their respective sports activities and we plan a rendezvous in Dad’s office.

I check my messages again.

Nothing. I type another message:

I need to talk to you. Call me ASAP.

I bang on Dacre’s door for the fifth time. He has to be back already. The sun has gone down, and I’ve heard nothing from him since this morning. Every minute of silence adds to this pit in my stomach. Something must be wrong. Would Dacre’s family hurt him? I’ve seen enough to think they might. But surely, someone who is supposed to be the Everhart heir isn’t easily disposable. My heart jolts at the thought.

I try again, hopeful he might finally answer, wrap me in a hug, and tell me everything will be okay. The comfort of his scent is still there, faintly clinging to my clothes.

“Looking for someone?”

I jump at Luther’s voice.

“What are you doing here?”

Luther is propped up against the wall. “Looking for your lover boy?”

“It’s none of your business. Don’t you have something better to do, like making the culinary club hate me?”

“He’s ignoring you, isn’t he?” He taps on Dacre’s door. “See, you don’t know Dacre like I do. He’s loyal to a fault to his family. Don’t tell me you thought he might choose you over them? What did he tell you?”

I push past him. This is the last person I’m going to have this conversation with.

“I’m sorry you fell for it.”

His mocking words jog my memory.

“Wait. Early today in the dining hall. You knew something.”

He cocks a brow, as if I’ve finally said something he deems impressive. “Your sister will be a brilliant model for the Donor Program.”

My stomach tightens. “You . . . had her sign up?”

“In the fine print, yes. With that blood and your family’s popularity growing, she’ll be very valuable. My father is setting up a meeting to speak with her. He’s hoping he can use this as leverage to get her to join the gala.”

I’m going to vomit.

“The gala, that’s what Dacre’s grandfather was trying to get me to join.”

“I know. That’s why we used plan B. You were plan A until I suspected you were buddying up to Dacre and his family. Though . . . It looks like I might have overestimated how close you two were. Oops.”

“Why is this gala so important?”

“I forget you’re a little sheltered girl from Groveshire. Having your sister as the face of the Donor Program will do amazing things for publicity. The gala is the biggest moneymaking event of the year.”

“Did Dacre know?”

“About the contract floating around? Yeah, probably. Our families tell us lots of things. My condolences to whatever this is.”