Page 10 of Merciless

I don’t care. I need away from those two men and their friends.

Elijah and Asher Astar can go straight to hell for all I care.

I can’t believe I let one of them touch me. It was a moment of weakness, and to be honest, I was lonely. I’m not that person anymore. The day I let either of them touch me again will be the day hell freezes over.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it. Only two people text me on a regular basis. One is Shane and the other is the unknown number, and I already know without looking who messaged me.

My day is already in the dump, and I don’t need it to become any worse because of the nameless person.

Once I’m back in my dorm, I’ll read it—because I always end up reading it. And I always end up feeling like shit and crying into my pillow.

Until then, I need to get through my shift without losing my mind from Elijah watching me and his friends making fun of me.

CHAPTER 5

ELIJAH

Asher’s smirk drops as soon as the door slams shut behind Eden. His cold gaze slides to me and narrows.

Now that’s an interesting reaction.

“What were you two talking about?” I slip my hands into my pockets.

Asher casts a glare at me before he walks past me. I jerk my arm out and stop him from going any further.

I turn my head to look at him, to study his expression and find out why he’s acting off. “What are you up to?”

I already know he won’t tell me. Asher has always been secretive, preferring to keep to himself. However, in regard to our stepsister and the plan we’ve been playing out, it’s only right that he tells me why he’s making moves we never discussed.

Asher rolls his sucker to the other side of his mouth. One by one, he circles his fingers on my wrist while holding my stare. He shoves my hand from his arm, flashes a haughty smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, then walks past me into the pub.

I take a deep breath through my nose to calm my temper.

He wouldn’t do anything stupid. Nothing that would ruin our nearly decade-long plan.

I want Eden to suffer for what she’s done.

Asher is on the same page—at least, he better fucking be.

Shoving my hand into my pocket, I walk back into the pub and join my friends and Asher at the table. My brother sits in the empty spot I saved for him beside me. He glowers at the group, arms folded over his chest as he relaxes into his seat with his legs stretched out.

Sensing my approach, Derrick’s blond head turns, and he grins at me. “Took you long enough.”

“Sorry about that. There was a line to the restroom.” I sit beside Asher and swipe invisible lint from my pressed long-sleeved shirt. I haven’t changed out of my school clothes. It would have been wise to, since we’re in the bar and Astar Elite students shouldn’t be caught in a place like this. But with my name comes immunity.

“Jesus,” Derrick says, bringing me to the conversation again. “It really is uncanny seeing the both of you together.”

“Yeah, weird,” Katie says. “Anyway, you know what else is uncanny?”

She peeks over her shoulder to look at Eden as she ducks beneath the bar to grab a drink. Katie’s lips pull back in disgust, and she rolls her eyes as she turns forward, then flicks her hair.

“Everything about her is just off,” she says. “I can’t put my finger on what exactly it is, but⁠—”

“It’s because she’s a witch,” Derrick says with a chuckle. “I don’t see how anyone could ever get with her. And you said she gave a blowjob to the janitor?”

He shakes his head and downs more of his beer like it’s water. Not a smart move for our race or his reputation.

“I don’t know how that guy could have gotten his dick hard looking at her.” He wrinkles his nose in disgust.