That temper of yours is going to get you killed one day, Little Arrow.My father’s admonition echoed against my skull, an unpleasant reminder of how little control I wielded over my temper.
Gritting my teeth, I forced myself to take a steadying breath, inhaling through my nose, and back out again.Calm down. He’s only trying to get a rise out of you.
When I regained control, I spoke in a voice of tightly restrained fury. “You don’t knowanythingabout me.”
He gave me an impish smile in return. “I know you’re Arden Farrow.”
My heart stuttered in surprise before I quickly recovered. “What, have you been stalking me?”
“No,” he said simply. “But your reputation precedes you.”
“Oh? And what reputation is that?” My stomach twisted with nerves. Did I really want to hear what people said about me behind my back?
Yes. I did. I desperately wanted to know what he knew.
The stranger shifted a little in his seat, but his gaze sliced right through me, as though my guarded expression was no barrier at all.
“You’re the scholarship kid,” he began, his voice low and soft, like spun silk. “Your father was a professor on the mainland, but he died suddenly. I know that you and Sinclair have long been suspected of having little liaisons around campus.” His sensuous lips curved into a cruel smile. “Well, I suppose that last part isn’t relevant anymore.”
I tried to arrange my features into a disdainful expression but was unable to entirely conceal how deeply his brutal analysis cut me. “Yes, I’m the scholarship kid. August and I were seeing each other. Not that it’s any of your business. Whatever was betweenus—that’s over now, so don’t you dare refer to me as his dirty secret.”
He tilted his head as he looked at me, the way one might examine a curious artifact at a museum.
I wanted to smack that smug, condescending look off his stupid, beautiful face.
“You’ve got quite the temper, you know that?” he commented wryly. His smirk faded as he took in the hurt behind my expression. “But I should have used a less invective term. I apologize.”
I ground my teeth in lieu of replying. I didn’t trust myself not to confirm everything he’d just said about mytemper. “Fuck this. I’m going to bed.”
Before I could make a hasty exit, he stood abruptly. “Wait,” he said. “Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. My name’s Casimir Wrayburn. I’m a sophomore.”
I blinked, surprised by his sudden formality. “Casimir,” I repeated slowly, accepting his proffered hand. It occurred to me that I’d never heard his name before, and at such a small school, I certainly would’ve remembered seeingthatface darkening the alcoves of Ash Hall. My eyes narrowed in suspicion as I withdrew my hand sharply, as though bitten. “Why haven’t I seen you around before?”
The smile he offered me was polite and infuriatingly bland. “You wouldn’t have. I only just transferred from a college in Massachusetts.”
“Why the hell would you want to come here?” I blurted.
His brows rose at my outburst.
Backpedaling, I explained, “I just meant that Ouverham is notorious for attracting a certain kind of…” My mouth opened and closed as I failed to come up with an adjective to adequately describe the type of self-obsessed, silver-spooned socialite that Ouverham regularly sought.
“Pampered, overindulged, and entitled brat?” he offered.
I couldn’t suppress a smirk as I nodded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you fit in quite nicely here.” I allowed a corrosive smile to play across my lips.
Casimir chuckled, a low, gravelly sound that slithered over my skin. It bothered me that he wasn’t offended.
“I can assure you that I didn’t come here to lay claim to some grand legacy or anything like that,” he replied. “But I am curious to hear why you’re attending a school you so clearly despise.”
I eyed him warily. “That’s a long and complicated story.”
Casimir shrugged. “I’ve got time.”
I bit my lower lip. “It’s late.”
“Do you live in one of those religious dorms that has a strict curfew or something?” That wry smirk was back, spreading over his full lips.
“Have you never heard the word ‘no’ before?” I asked, my exasperation leaching into my tone.