Page 56 of Boys Who Hunt
If only she knew what I knew.
But I can’t risk my friends being pulled into my troubles.
“Oh shit, hide me,” she suddenly says, ducking for cover under the books.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“Levi Torres,” she whispers. She hastily points at a guy with dark hair entering the library, who’s wearing a button-up white shirt to hide the scorpion tattoo peeking out near his neck, his middle-parted fringe falling over his face as he looks around.
“Wait … Levi Torres? Max said something about him being his half brother.”
“He’s been egging me on to go on this camping trip with a bunch of friends.”
“And why is that a bad thing?” I ask.
“Because he’s Levi fucking Torres,” she hisses. “Do you see those damn abs?”
I take another look at his toned body. He’s definitely defined in all the right places. “I get it.”
“See? Why would I go on a camping trip with that trap walking around in my vicinity?”
I laugh. “I don’t see how that’s a bad thing, to be honest.”
She frowns from under her book cover. “No, no, no. I’m out of here. Talk later, okay? Good luck with Silas.”
She rushes off, passing a few bookshelves to curve around the route Levi is taking. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. She just ran off like she wanted to avoid being in the same room as him.
I check the clock again and swallow back the nerves. Ten more minutes. If I’m late … they’ll come for me. I have no choice. I have to go.
I push myself off the chair, close my books, and tuck them into my bag, then head out the door. I make my way to the Skull and Serpent Society, feeling like every goddamn person on this campus watches me enter that building. Or maybe I just feel hyperaware of every scrutinizing gaze as I walk up to the door and push the bell.
After a while, a guy bearing a striking resemblance to Max opens the door, and it makes me do a double take.
“Uh … hi?” he says.
I clear my throat. “Sorry, I have an … appointment with Silas.” I rub my lips together. “I’m Ivy. I don’t know if he told you?”
He just looks amused. “Another one, huh?”
“Another what?”
He grips my arm and pulls me inside, closing the door before I can even say a word.
“He really doesn’t know how to quit,” the guy says, snorting. “It’s like he can go on for days.”
I’m still confused what this is about. I hope it’s not what I think it is.
The guy sticks out his hand. “Elliot Fletcher.”
I frown. “Fletcher? You’re Max’s brother?
He pushes up his glasses. “Oh, you know Max?”
“We’re friends,” I lie. I’m not sure exactly what we are, but that’s the least of my concerns right now.
“Interesting.” He crosses his arms, looking at me like he’s onto something. “You’re that new girl, right? Max talked about you, but I didn’t think Silas would steal you from under his nose.”
“Max told you about me?”