EIGHT
1138 Words
ADINNA’S POV
The silence that filled the library moments ago explodes into chaos as
chairs scrape against the floor and footsteps echo in every direction as students rush to obey Jace’s order. The once-quiet space transforms into a mini stampede with whispered curses and hurried breaths.
I stay frozen at the table with Riley gripping my arm so tightly her nails dig into my skin. My heart is pounding so loud I can barely hear anything else. Jace stands at the center of it all, unmoving as he watches the panic he created with quiet satisfaction.
Hunter, Dean, and Salem walk in behind him like a royal procession with each one of them carrying the same air of arrogance. Hunter’s face is unreadable as usual, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets like he’s bored and doesn’t want to be here. Dean lingers near the shelves, scanning the crowd outside, while Salem trails just behind Jace, his expression painted with that signature smirk that shows he’s enjoying every second of this.
The air feels heavy. No one speaks above a whisper. The sound of retreating footsteps fades one by one until the last student slips out the door. The echo of it slamming shut leaves a ringing quiet behind.
Riley and I are still in our corner and for a second, I think maybe Jace will just leave us be. Maybe he came here for something else, or someone else entirely. But then his gaze finds mine.
That smirk spreads slowly across his face causing my stomach to drop.
“Adinna,” Riley whispers, tugging my sleeve. “We should go.”
I nod numbly, gathering my bag, but before I can even stand, Jace moves. He doesn’t rush, he just steps forward with that lazy confidence that somehow makes everything worse. Salem follows, and the look in his eyes makes my skin crawl.
We make it halfway toward the side exit when Jace and Salem cut us off. They move with perfect timing, like they’d been waiting for us to make a run for it.
Salem tilts his head, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Leaving already?”
Riley stiffens beside me. I feel her trying to pull me back, but I stand my ground, glaring at Salem. “What do you want?”
He grins widely. “You make it sound like I’m here to steal your lunch money. Relax, sweetheart. We just came to play.”
His voice drips with mock sweetness and it takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. Out of all of them, Salem’s the one that gets under my skin the fastest. There’s something about his tone that feels worse than Jace’s silence.
“Yeah, well, I’m not interested,” I mutter, turning away.
But Jace’s voice stops me cold. “I wasn’t asking.”
The words are quiet but sharp. When I look at him, his eyes are fixed on me. There’s something dangerous simmering them, something that makes my chest tighten.
Riley shifts beside me. “Jace, just leave her alone, okay? Whatever this is, it’s not worth it.”
He ignores her completely, his attention never breaking from me.
Salem lets out a small laugh. “Aww, look at your little guard dog.”
Riley glares at him. “Say that again.”
Salem raises a brow, amused. “You’ve got bite, I’ll give you that. But you might want to use it somewhere safer.”
“Enough,” Jace says quietly, and even Salem stops talking.
The silence that follows feels suffocating.
I take a small step back, my instincts screaming that this isn’t going to end well. But I can’t drag Riley into whatever this is. The way Salem is smiling at her tells me that he’s already plotting something.
I lean close to Riley, keeping my voice low. “Go. Please.”
Her eyes widen. “Adinna”
“Go,” I repeat urgently. “I’ll be fine.”
“No you won’t,” she hisses. “You think I’m going to just leave you by yourself?”
“Yes.” My voice cracks, but I keep going. “I need you to leave before they decide to drag you into this too.”
Salem catches on, of course. “How touching,” he says with mock sympathy. “You really think you can protect her? That’s cute.”
I shoot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “Just let her go.”
For a moment, no one moves. The tension is a wire, stretched and trembling.
Then Jace nods once. “Let her go.”
Riley hesitates, looking at me like she’s waiting for me to take it back. I give her a small push. She flinches, then turns and bolts for the door. I don’t breathe until I hear the faint sound of it closing behind her.
Relief hits me but it’s short-lived because the second Riley disappears, Jace moves. In one swift motion, he grabs my wrist and yanks me forward. The world spins for a second as I stumble, my hand colliding with his chest. His grip is not painful but firm and strong enough to remind me I’m not getting away.
Our faces are inches apart.
I can feel his breath brush against my cheek, warm and slow. The air between us feels electric, sharp, dangerous. My pulse stutters in my throat.
“Let go of me,” I say, trying to sound steady.
“Adinna,” he says softly, almost like he’s testing how my name tastes in his mouth. “You really don’t learn, do you?”
I shove at his chest, but he barely moves.
“Get off me.”
“Relax,” he murmurs. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
His tone is too calm which makes me think he’ll actually hurt me.
Then, with the faintest smile, he leans closer, his breath warming my skin. “Kneel.”
I blink. “What?”
His smirk widens. “You heard me.”
The words hang in the air, heavy and cruel.
He steps back just slightly, enough for me to see the faint gleam of amusement in his eyes. “You made a mess of my shoes the last time you decided to trail milk everywhere.” He lifts one foot slightly, the polished black leather catching the light. “So now, you’re going to fix it.”
It takes me a second to process what he’s saying and when I do, my stomach twists.
He’s serious.
The others watch silently. Hunter’s expression doesn’t change, Dean looks vaguely entertained, and Salem folds his arms, grinning like it’s his favorite show.
Jace’s voice drops lower as he stares at me dangerously. “Get on your knees and shine my shoes.”
- Writer
