I fall asleep in the nursery, in a high-back chair I pulled up beside the crib. I watch Mia until my eyelids are too heavy to keep open, and darkness drags me under again. When I wake again, it’s early morning, the sunrise just breaking over the trees out the window. I look at the view, then at Mi
When I leave Archer’s room, he’s passed out asleep. He’d been up all night. I had no idea how he could be so awake even as he was, to drive me so wild with pleasure. I sneak out of his room without waking him and head back to my room to shower and change. As I go through the motions of getting rea
With his face buried in the crook of my neck, he breathes me in. My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t understand what’s happening. Why is everyone acting so strangely? It feels like someone died. No, scratch that. It feels like I’m about die. What does everyone know that I don’t? “Beau…?” I s
By the time I get back to the Pyramid, my blood is absolutely boiling and I’m ready to throw down. Knowing the only way to end this stupid plan the brothers have concocted is to convince the leader, I go straight for Neil’s room. I’m fired up, hands in fists, strategizing every argument in my brai
The words hurt. But if I push that initial hurt aside and remember what Angela said, about the brothers planning to hurt me to protect me, then maybe even this is part of their plan to cast me aside. Archer wouldn’t be kind to me if he wanted me gone tomorrow anyway. “You don’t have to do this
I retreat to the only safe space I have left in this place: Mia’s room. She is down for a nap, so I sit in a chair beside her crib and watch her sleep. Whatever happens from here on out, whatever hurtful things the brothers utter, whatever heartache I’m made to endure, I will find comfort in knowi
I crawl into my bed and stare at the ceiling. Sleep doesn’t find me that night. I wonder if I’ll ever really sleep again. The next morning, I collect my duffle bag and my book bag that has my laptop and school supplies inside. The rest, I’m sure the brothers will have delivered to me. I can’t
I force myself to keep taking long strides forward. I won’t break down here, in front of everyone. Some of the crowd has even taken to following me. I know the spectacle I must make. I don’t stop walking until I’m entering the building of my new dorm room. The crowd stops at the door, not follow