Page 91 of Crush
My mouth falls open. “Killed? Jaxon, this isn’t life and death—”
“Oh, but it is. And I will do anything for my friend, including die for him. Can you say the same?”
Jaxon levels his gaze at me, his dark skin committing to the night in the same way his question spotlights the gap in Thorne’s and my relationship. Thorne and I are a lot of things. I’m drawn to him inexplicably. I think about him always. When he’s not around, I’m empty. When he fills me, I become someone else entirely.
Jaxon reads every expression that crosses my face as I think. He must see what he’s looking for because he nods. “As I thought.” He sweeps an arm out as he turns back down the path. “Come on. I don’t want you to be late.”
“Wait—what is it you think?” I hurry to catch up to him.
“Nothing you don’t already know. I think you’ll come out of tonight just fine, unlike my friend.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’re both up shit creek. We’re here.” Jaxon points as we come to a halt at the base of one of the cliffs. I follow the direction of his finger to the crescent of beach down below, harbored by two cliff walls.
“I’ve been here before,” I say while looking down, casting about for any clues as to what I’m doing here. “Am I jumping again?”
“Sadly, no. That would get this over with too quickly. Follow me. We’re meeting him on the beach.”
“Meeting who?”
Thorne? I don’t dare voice his name again.
Jaxon’s leaped ahead too fast to hear. Torrid ocean waves slosh over sharp stone beneath our feet, creating a white noise too ominous to be considered soothing.
I’m forced to keep up with him on the narrow, descending trail Aurora forced the freshmen and me to navigate what seems like a lifetime ago. Jaxon’s much better at direction, and too soon, we reach the beach, where a single figure stands near a burning torch shoved into the sand.
“Good boy, Jaxon,” says a smooth voice from the shadows of the dancing flame. “I’ll be sure to tell your father of your continued loyalty.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jaxon bows, and I watch, slack-jawed at his instant supplication.
As we get closer to the figure, his lines become clearer through the firelight, bathing him one instant, then cloaking him the next.
I spot flashes of purple and black, angular cheekbones, and deep hollows for eyes.
“Ember Weatherby, so glad you could join us,” the liquid, masculine voice continues. It’s familiar, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Until Damion Briar pulls back his hood.
I suck in a sharp inhale. “Where’s the queen? I’m a Virtue, not a Noble. If a high-ranking Society member has to be here, it should be her.”
“Quite astute of you, considering we haven’t yet tested your knowledge of Societal rules,” Damion replies. “You’ve committed yourself to us for enough time to understand we tend to share responsibilities. It seems no one wants to take responsibility for you, dear girl, other than me. After what you forced the Virtue princess to endure, I’m not surprised the queen agreed to my supervision tonight.”
“What about what the princess forced me to endure?” I retort, crossing my arms under the cloak.
“Aurora failed in her endeavors.” Damion’s response lashes out. It practically hits my cheeks. “And in turn, you coerced my son into performing a punishment the princess did not deserve.”
“Excuse me?” I step forward, but a strong grip on my bicep forces me to stay where I am. Jaxon adds to his warning with a sharp look, to which I respond, “I can’t stand behind an institution that excuses attempted sexual assault. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”
“It’s so devastating that it’s come to this,” Damion croons. I turn my head toward him. “Is that all you see in the Societies? Cover-ups and conspiracies?”
“It’s what I’ve proved.” I pull out of Jaxon’s hold. “You’re running an expensive drug trade behind the protection of your secret society, and you’ve done something to Savannah to keep her quiet because she discovered your trafficking the same way I did.”
Damion smiles, his lips stretched and wide. “Do you think I’ve killed her?”
Oh my God, he’s actually enjoying this conversation.
“Perhaps I’ve killed my son as well.” Damion includes Jaxon, nodding at him. “Go on, ask Jaxon here what I’m capable of.”