But she’s still trembling, but I can tell she’s still trying to keep it all together.
"You’ve been through hell, and I need you to know I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I have people watching you every single moment. Even when you don’t realize it. If something ever happened to me, you’d still be protected."
She lets out a nervous laugh that cracks in the middle of my chest. "Please don’t die. I don’t think I’ll survive with Hayden and Tristan looking after me."
I chuckle and rub her back again. "They’d do it for me. Just like I’d do it for them."
She takes a deep breath, but it shakes. "I’m sorry. I’m just really freaked out. I can’t believe Lexi..."
She cuts herself off, her eyes falling to her hands.
She gasps at the dried blood still there, and her breathing kicks up again.
"That’s three people that are dead. What if you’re next? I can't…I can't bear that."
She’s shaking again, and I pull into my chest, trying to shield her from her own thoughts.
"Hey, hey, look at me. I’m not going anywhere, okay? You’ll never be alone again. I’ve got you. I’ll always be with you."
"Do you promise? Promise me, Callum."
I hook our pinkies together just like when we were kids. "Promise."
I press a kiss to the side of her head and she exhales shakily, curling against me. Her phone starts ringing, and she flinches.
It’s her mother.
"I can’t talk to her right now."
I swipe the phone and answer it. "She’s fine, Mrs. Fairbanks," I say calmly. "I’m taking care of her."
She screeches through the phone, demanding to speak to her daughter. Lilac looks at me, eyes wide and begging. She shakes her head no, and I’d never force her to do something she doesn’t want to.
"She’s resting," I tell her mother. "She’ll call you when she’s ready."
"I’m not dealing with you, Callum. You’re a nice boy, but you’re overstepping. Lilac needs to come home immediately." I thought maybe she heard about the deaths on campus, but it’s clear to me that she’s only calling because she’s still trying to get Lilac to conform to her wishes.
"The safest place for her is with me,” I say sternly.
Lilac’s father gets on the line next. "I don’t know what kind of prank you think you’re playing, Callum. You need to knock it off and bring my daughter home."
My voice turns to ice. "I would do anything for your daughter because I have never loved anything the way I love her. She doesn’t want to come home. She’s going to be my wife and I’m going to protect her. That means from everyone, including you, and that dipshit Vincent you sent down here."
The line goes quiet, but I can hear the annoyed breathing, so I don’t hang up. Then her father speaks again. "If this is real and you’re intent on taking my daughter as your bride, then I think the least you can do is come to my home and look me in the eye after everything my family has done for you."
They’ve done a lot for me. Helped me get into Castlebrook, but I’d give it all up for Lilac.
"I’ll speak with Lilac after she’s gotten some sleep," I say. "We’ll let you know when we can visit."
He doesn’t respond, so I end the call and glance down at Lilac.
She’s shaking, so I wrap her up in my arms again.
"You’re a good actor," she whispers. "Everything you said sounded so real. I think they believe you."
I just kiss the top of her head because now isn’t the time to tell her that I mean every single thing I just said to her father.
"Will you really come with me to my parents? If we can keep this up in front of them, they might just let it go and then we can figure out a break up once everything has cooled off."
