Eden

“What else?” I grit out.

She slowly stands and crosses her arms over her chest.

“Stay away from Saint Angelle,” she says.

Je

“It’s much easier said than done,” I snarl.

“I’m sure you’ll figure out a way to avoid him. Trust me, it’s for the best.”

I’m at my limit with her. Turning on my heel, I start to march away.

“I’ll see you in two weeks, sweetheart,” Nora calls out behind me. “And remember what I said because it would be a shame if his new housing arrangements were to go poof.”

I flinch, but don’t look back. I’m afraid I’ll do something really stupid if I don’t get away from her right this second.

By the time I get back to campus and my dorm building, I’m mentally tapped out. I want nothing more than to go to bed and end this fucking day.

“Mal?”

I stop in my tracks and quickly turn around to find Loni standing just outside her door in the hallway, her shoulder pressed against the doorframe. My stomach flutters wildly, and I lick suddenly dry lips before offering her a cautious smile.

“Hey, what’s up?”

She looks nervous, and a little shy, and that makes me nervous in turn. I hold my breath as I wait for her response.

“You want to watch a movie, maybe? And we can talk?”

Hope pulses in my chest, bursting through to my heart, but I try not to let her see just how excited I am just at the thought that she wants to hang out. “That would be … really great. Just let me go change real quick, okay?”

She nods, her lips turning up into a small grin.

“Sounds good. I’ll go find something corny on Netflix.” I watch her slip back into her room before turning to hurry to mine.

Thank God. I was getting worried that she’d cut me off completely, and other than James, Alondra James is the best friend I’ve ever had. I don’t know what I’d do around here without her. Now that she knows the truth about the fire, though, I need to be careful not to let Nora or Ghost find out anything about her. They’d try to use her against me, just like what they’re doing with Je

And Saint.

I won’t let them, though. I won’t let them hurt anyone.

No matter what it takes, I’ll protect everyone that I care about.

When I reach my room, I freeze. The door’s unlocked. My eyes fall shut in frustration as my good mood evaporates. How the hell am I supposed to stay away from Saint when he breaks into my room at every fucking turn? His name is already on my lips as I push my way through and over the threshold, but it lodges in my throat when I spot Mr. Tall, Tattooed, and Murderous.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snap.

Ghost pivots around to sneer at me, the small camera I’ve just caught him installing in one of the outlets still clutched in his hand.

“Skipped dessert I see,” he drawls.