5
Eli’s POV
I saw the text when I woke up.
“Read page 117. Bring it to class. Say the line out loud. Then come find me.”
That was it. No hello, no good morning. Just instructions, clear and sharp.
I lay in bed staring at it, my heart rate already picking up.
The book was on my nightstand. Delta of Venus. She gave it to me last week. Said it was for “context.” I hadn’t made it to page 117 yet.
I found the page. My eyes scanned the paragraph. It hit me in the chest.
“He wanted to taste obedience on her tongue.”
I read it twice. Three times. Then got up and showered.
***
Class felt different today. I was on edge. I hated not knowing what she was about to do.
She walked in five minutes late, like she always did. But this time, she looked straight at me.
Her hair was pinned up, gla
