He rallies and growls, “Is that what you’re doing this weekend? Going away somewhere with him?”
Heat shoots up my neck to my face. “It’s none of your business what I do.”
“So youare.” His eyes blaze as hot as my skin.
“Jealous?” I taunt.
“He doesn’t deserve you.”
“What, and you do?”
For a moment he glares back at me, lips parted and nostrils flared. Then suddenly he drops his head. “No.”
“Fuck off, Leo.” I pound up the stairs, yank open the door, and let it slam behind me.
You’d think after a fight like that I would go back to my room and sob, but I don’t. I fume. The hands-shaking, hyperventilating, heart-racing kind of fume. Luckily Liv left for O-Chi while I was out, because she’d be grilling me right now, her dark, perfectly waxed eyebrows all furrowed in concern. I don’t need concern, I need strength.
I pace the short expanse between her bed and mine, seeing nothing but red. I’m so angry I don’t even have the brain space to contemplate what Leo did to the pine tree. All I can think about is his hypocrisy. So Zander can’t tell me to stay away from Leo, but Leo can tell me to stay away from Zander? Like Leo is some sort of rescuinghero who’s going to save me from my mistakes? Please. Hewasmy mistake.
For all his faults, Zander isn’t a liar. Self-absorbed and jealous, yes. But he never betrayed me like Leo did. Never played with my heart for his own ends.
Leo ripped my whole world out from underneath me, just so I wouldn’t be under anyone else’s influence but his. That’s why he doesn’t want me going near Zander.
I’m so over it. So done.
I drop into my desk chair and toss my amethyst pendant into my bottom drawer with such force it bounces and lodges between my journal and a travel pack of tissues. To keep it company, I smush Avery’s book, all the witchcraft tools, and the stupid faerie pin on top of it.
There!I slam the drawer shut.
No more psychic. No more witch. No more faerie’s pawn.
No more fae, period. I’m out.
Avery and Aaron are skilled enough to help them find their dumbass weapon. Far more skilled than me. And if they really need another psychic, Leo can wander the halls of the psychology department. I’m sure there he’d find one much more competent and willing than me. I don’t want to have anything more to do with it.
It’s time for me to reclaim my life.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Liv’s excitementabout the Mardi Gras ball is so contagious that, by Friday afternoon, I’m able to go more than five minutes without dwelling on my anger. She’s been keeping me busy testing different hairstyles and trying on jewelry. And she knocked on every door in Newberry Hall until she found the perfect shoes to go with my dress. She’s even done an impressive job of not talking about Zander—too much.
It’s Saturday evening now, and we’ve been in Asheville for over an hour. I sit on the edge of the hotel bed, peering into the full-length mirror bolted to the wall. Mia and Jenna have already headed down to the dining room with Trevor, but Liv is still with me, putting the finishing touches on my updo.
“You didn’t happen to bring that faerie clip, did you?”
Fortunately, she doesn’t notice me stiffen. “No, why?”
“It would be pretty in the back here.” She shrugs and steps back to admire her handiwork. “But that’s okay, your hair still looks spectacular, if I do say so myself.” A knock on the door sends her running and squealing. “That’s Braden!”
He saunters into the room, model-perfect in his tux, and right behind him is Zander. I wasn’t expecting him to come up and get me.
He grins. “Where’s my beautiful date?”
Ugh, why does he have to look so good in formalwear?
When I go to him, he rests a hand on my hip and kisses me on the forehead. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
