Sinful Things

15

“I can’t believe you actually did it,” Araceli says. “Respect, girl.”

A hush comes over the crowd, and even though I don’t turn my head, I know the Princes have arrived. Two of them, anyway.

Callan stomps through the parking lot, practically shoving people out of the way. The crowd parts like water, and when he gets that first view of his car, his whole body tightens with fury. His rage is beautiful in its intensity, and the students in the crowd no longer think it’s funny. They step back and duck their heads, as if they’re afraid to be caught looking at my prank.

“Who did this?” Callan roars, glancing around, sending people scurrying like pigeons.

Bastien leans over and says something quietly in Callan’s ear, and then the two of them turn toward me as one. Pure hatred fills Callan’s eyes as he glares at me, and an aura of angry white light surrounds him. Bastien rests a hand on his shoulder, and I wonder what would happen if he wasn’t there to hold the beast back. Would Callan shoot me with his burning light? Would he run over and throttle me right here, in front of all these other students?

I stare Callan down, meeting his challenge head on, and give him a sinful smile. His face is absolutely priceless as his fury only grows, but I’m not afraid of him. He’s already done his worst to me, and now it’s my turn.

I turn on my heels, toss my hair, and walk away. If he wants to retaliate, he’ll have to come after me.

Bring it, baby.

C

allan skips Combat Training that morning. Maybe he’s too angry to face me. Maybe he’s trying to figure out how to get the pink sparkly paint off his car. Whatever the reason, Hilda isn’t pleased by his absence, but shows us how to wield an axe with practiced ease anyway.

“I used this move to cleave through an incubus once,” she says with a wicked grin, while she slices the heavy axe through the air. Then she glances at me and her smile drops, like she’s worried she’s insulted me somehow.

When class ends, I tell Araceli I’ll see her later and start to head to Fae Studies. Tanwen passes by me, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and says, “That was dirty. He loves that car more than anything.”

I shrug. “He deserved it.”

“Probably,” she says. “But you better watch your back.”

My eyes narrow. Last year she had a thing for Callan, even though he only had eyes for me, and she’s probably still pissed about it. “Is that a threat?”

“No, just a warning.”

I put my hands on my hips. “If you have something you want to say to me, just spit it out already.”

Tanwen tugs on her long straw-colored braid and laughs. “I think I’d rather keep you in suspense for now. Besides, someone else is here to talk to you. Good luck with that.”

She walks away, and I turn around to see what she’s talking about.

Callan stands behind me, his hands still clenched. Everyone else has vanished. We’re alone outside the gym, in the same spot where we kissed.

This is where he betrayed me.

“What the f**k was that?” he growls.

“Payback,” I reply. “You messed with my car, and I’ve messed with yours. Now we’re even.”

“You think this is a game?” His angry eyes search mine, but he doesn’t make a move toward me.

“Isn’t it?” I poke a finger at his chest, hitting hard muscle. “A game you started, but one I intend to finish.”

“Everything I did was to protect you.” He grabs my hand, and I tense, waiting to see what he’ll do next. He holds it a second longer than I expect as he stares into my eyes, and then he drops it in disgust. “Just stay away from me, demon.”

“Half-demon,” I remind him sweetly. “Don’t worry, I intend to keep my distance from you. But this game? It’s only just begun.” I lean close, so close my lips almost brush his. “Make no mistake, this is war.”

Chapter Eleven

Bastien

I

sink into the desk beside Olivia and give her a long look. I hoped to get through my final year as a student at Seraphim Academy without any problems, but clearly that isn’t going to happen, not with our little half-succubus around. That prank this morning was clever, I’ll admit, and a fitting punishment for what Callan did to her, but it was also unwise. Callan is a formidable opponent, and he does not forgive easily. If I hadn’t been there, I’m not sure what he would have done.

Olivia ignores me as she pulls out her notebook and pens, while Raziel talks to another student just outside the classroom door. We have a few minutes before our Fae Studies class will begin. “What do you think you’re doing?” I ask Olivia in a low voice.

“I have no idea what you mean,” she says with a smile. The picture of innocence.

“Even your necklace can’t hide that lie.” She goes back to ignoring me, and I pinch my brow before starting again. “Tell me this is a one-time thing. A single prank to get back at Callan, and now it’s over.”

“I can’t do that.”

My eyes narrow. “What are you planning next?”

She tilts her head with a taunting smile. “I’m sure you’d love to know.”

There has never been a more infuriating woman than Olivia Monroe. Raziel walks in and starts going through some papers on his desk. I pin Olivia with a stern look. “Be careful. Callan is not someone you want to cross. Neither am I.”

She drops her smile. “I’m getting really tired of everyone telling me to be careful all the time.”