Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
I love only one person, and that’s my sister, even if I wish she weren’t so needy all the time. I thought marrying her off to one of the Forsaken members would help, but that didn’t work out, and it ended up ruining one of the closest relationships I have outside of her. Thankfully, I’ve been slowly rebuilding my relationship with Reon, though I think the trust is still a long way off. I’ve never trusted anyone implicitly in my life, but Reon would be the one person I trust the most. He’s as guarded as I am, and I respect that about him.
“You kidnapping people now?” Arlo jokes, forcing my attention to turn from Cressida and back to him. Her baby-blue eyes may give off the appearance of innocence, but the way she was glaring at me indicates that she wishes she could slit my throat.
When I meet Arlo’s gaze, I know he’s analyzing everything I say or do. He was once all about the Forsaken, but when he met Cora, that all changed. He’s still very active within the society, but now his world revolves around her, and not so much the hunts.
“Just the annoying ones,” I reply, and Cressida huffs from beside me. I could loosen my grip and let her get away, but where would the fun be in that? I know the minute I release her, she’ll put distance between us and make it appear as if she isn’t here with me, when the whole reason I brought her is to give off the impression that we are together.
She’s been sneaking into events that I attend, or someone willingly invites her for who knows how long, trying to find God knows what and where I am. Granted, this is probably one of the safest events for her to attend, since only a few members are in attendance. I know she’s itching to ask questions, to snoop around and see what she can find out, but I won’t let her do that.
“You should be holding your own hand, then, since you’re the most annoying person I know,” she bites back in response to my taunt.
“Do I stalk you?” I ask her.
“Yes,” she says, raising her chin defiantly. “How did you know where I live if you didn’t have someone stalk me? Answer me that, Mr. Big Shot.”
Cora laughs, but I don’t dare take my eyes off Cressida.
“I have my ways. But you should be happy to be here, Miss Knight. After all, you didn’t have to come up with some elaborate scheme to crash this event.” She rolls her eyes, and I clench my jaw at the action.
My name is called over the speaker, and I realize the speeches have started, and my award is ready.
I turn to Arlo. “Make sure she stays here.” I release my grip on her, then stride off, running my hand down the front of my suit to remove any traces of her.
It doesn’t help.
SEVEN
CRESSIDA
“You can’t force me to stay here,” I say to Arlo.
“Of course he won’t,” Cora says. “Want to go to the bathroom?”
I nod my head, and Arlo eyes her but says nothing as we head to the restroom.
“So, he ambushed you and didn’t tell you what the event was tonight?” she guesses.
“Yes. I agreed to come here with him in exchange for an interview,” I tell her.
When we reach the bathroom, I enter a stall and sit down on the closed toilet lid. I don’t need to pee. Instead, I need a moment to gather myself because I’m feeling a little overwhelmed with everything right now. Placing my head in my hands, I try to catch my breath and tell myself everything will be okay.
I’m a badass bitch.
Who cares that I’m underdressed and people I admire and respect are staring at me, looking down on me?
Maybe he brought me here to embarrass me.
He will not win this.
Not at all.
“Did you see the woman with Soren?” I hear a woman scoff, and my head lifts at the mention of his name.
Fuck my life, they’re talking about me.
“Yes. What is she even wearing? If she was hoping to stand out, she is, but not in a good way, that’s for sure,” another woman says. I stand, flush the toilet, and reach for the handle, but I pause when they speak again.
“He wouldn’t go for someone as low as her anyway. We all know he only fucks models. Her ass is so big that those pants barely fit.”
I crane my neck over my shoulder to look at my ass, then shrug. I think these pants make my ass look good, bitches.
Fuck it!
Unlocking the door, I push it open to find Miranda and another woman standing there, touching up their makeup in the mirror. They don’t notice me until I step up to the sink directly next to them.