was all just … well … it was a play. You fell for it. Don’t you feel silly?”
Oh, good grief. “What is your deal? I mean, I know you live in La-La Land, but this is just ridiculous.”
“If you’re going to be ugly, then maybe you should just leave,” Brittany said, her eyes flashing.
“I’m not trying to be ugly,” I said. “I’m trying to get you to see the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
The gloves were off. “God, Brittany, what is wrong with you? You know who they are. You know what they are. Why are you making excuses for them?”
“I notice you don’t have a problem with your beloved Aric,” Brittany hissed. “You know what he is. You know the horrible things he’s done.”
“And what horrible things are those?” I challenged.
“He was part of the group that tried to kill you last spring,” Brittany said. “He was aligned with evil. And, here you are, back with the man who tried to kill you. You’re so very pathetic.”
I froze. Will had obviously been filling her head with a pack of lies. “Who told you that nonsense? Let me guess, Will? Well, your boyfriend is a pathological liar.”
“You’re just upset that I’m dating the alpha now,” Brittany said, her smile smug. “While you’re dating the … outcast.”
I shifted my gaze to Will. “Wow. You’re a much better liar than I ever gave you credit for.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said.
“Really? Because it seems to me you were the one to make the deal with the Academy?” I saw no reason to lie, or lower my voice. “It seems to me that you were willing to sell out your brothers so you could gain a position of power.”
“Oh, that’s just crap,” Brittany said. “He’s in a position of power all on his own. He’s the secretary, for crying out loud.”
“Will made a deal with Professor Blake last year,” I said. “He told Blake that he would give him a powerful amulet – one that could control vampires – and then give him a good time to wipe out the bulk of the pack.”
Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “Will, tell her that isn’t true.”
Will didn’t bother responding. He was still focused on Aric. Even though he was a good six inches shorter, Will wasn’t backing down. This was new. He’d been a coward his whole life. Something else was going on here.
“The problem was, I stole the stone,” I continued, relishing telling Brittany the horrible truth. “No one knew I had it the entire year. Then, when they figured it out, they tried to get me to use it on Rafael. The new problem was, we destroyed the stone before they could use it, so their whole plan went to hell.”
“That’s a lie,” Brittany challenged. “Will, tell her it’s a lie.”
Will remained silent.
“Then, when we turned the tables on them, and they all ran into the night like scared little girls,” I said. “We won, and they lost, and they ran because they didn’t know what else to do.”
I was purposely baiting Will now. I wanted to see how far his newfound “courage” would go. I didn’t miss that his hand, the one Brittany didn’t have a death grip on, had clenched into a fist.
“Now the Academy is floundering,” I said. “And Will here, well, he’s decided to try and attach himself to another powerbase.”
Brittany glanced at Will, her face uncertain. “I don’t understand.”
“Tell her, Will,” I cajoled. “Or I will.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said, his teeth gritted.
I shook my head, suddenly feeling nothing but pity for him. “You make me sad,” I said. “I still remember those amazing summers we had. Kayaking up and down the river. Partying for days on end. I thought you were so cool. Now? Now I know better. You’re just a pathetic piece of shit.”
That did it. Will was swinging out with his free hand. I expected it, jerking back so he would miss me. Aric was another story. He caught Will’s hand in mid-air, crushing
Oh, good grief. “What is your deal? I mean, I know you live in La-La Land, but this is just ridiculous.”
“If you’re going to be ugly, then maybe you should just leave,” Brittany said, her eyes flashing.
“I’m not trying to be ugly,” I said. “I’m trying to get you to see the truth.”
“And what truth is that?”
The gloves were off. “God, Brittany, what is wrong with you? You know who they are. You know what they are. Why are you making excuses for them?”
“I notice you don’t have a problem with your beloved Aric,” Brittany hissed. “You know what he is. You know the horrible things he’s done.”
“And what horrible things are those?” I challenged.
“He was part of the group that tried to kill you last spring,” Brittany said. “He was aligned with evil. And, here you are, back with the man who tried to kill you. You’re so very pathetic.”
I froze. Will had obviously been filling her head with a pack of lies. “Who told you that nonsense? Let me guess, Will? Well, your boyfriend is a pathological liar.”
“You’re just upset that I’m dating the alpha now,” Brittany said, her smile smug. “While you’re dating the … outcast.”
I shifted my gaze to Will. “Wow. You’re a much better liar than I ever gave you credit for.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said.
“Really? Because it seems to me you were the one to make the deal with the Academy?” I saw no reason to lie, or lower my voice. “It seems to me that you were willing to sell out your brothers so you could gain a position of power.”
“Oh, that’s just crap,” Brittany said. “He’s in a position of power all on his own. He’s the secretary, for crying out loud.”
“Will made a deal with Professor Blake last year,” I said. “He told Blake that he would give him a powerful amulet – one that could control vampires – and then give him a good time to wipe out the bulk of the pack.”
Brittany’s eyes narrowed. “Will, tell her that isn’t true.”
Will didn’t bother responding. He was still focused on Aric. Even though he was a good six inches shorter, Will wasn’t backing down. This was new. He’d been a coward his whole life. Something else was going on here.
“The problem was, I stole the stone,” I continued, relishing telling Brittany the horrible truth. “No one knew I had it the entire year. Then, when they figured it out, they tried to get me to use it on Rafael. The new problem was, we destroyed the stone before they could use it, so their whole plan went to hell.”
“That’s a lie,” Brittany challenged. “Will, tell her it’s a lie.”
Will remained silent.
“Then, when we turned the tables on them, and they all ran into the night like scared little girls,” I said. “We won, and they lost, and they ran because they didn’t know what else to do.”
I was purposely baiting Will now. I wanted to see how far his newfound “courage” would go. I didn’t miss that his hand, the one Brittany didn’t have a death grip on, had clenched into a fist.
“Now the Academy is floundering,” I said. “And Will here, well, he’s decided to try and attach himself to another powerbase.”
Brittany glanced at Will, her face uncertain. “I don’t understand.”
“Tell her, Will,” I cajoled. “Or I will.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Will said, his teeth gritted.
I shook my head, suddenly feeling nothing but pity for him. “You make me sad,” I said. “I still remember those amazing summers we had. Kayaking up and down the river. Partying for days on end. I thought you were so cool. Now? Now I know better. You’re just a pathetic piece of shit.”
That did it. Will was swinging out with his free hand. I expected it, jerking back so he would miss me. Aric was another story. He caught Will’s hand in mid-air, crushing
Similar Books
