“Do they?” I place the quiche in the oven, trying to steady my voice. “Huh.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I flinch. Pulling it out, I see Valen’s name. And a thumbs-up. We should be safe.
Scout studies me as she twists her hair around a finger.
I lean my ass against the counter and cross my arms. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’m feeling like…” Her eyes scan my frame until I worry she may turn into an enemy. But in a fraction of a second, everything about her softens. As if she’s made a declaration inher mind of the truth. “Like maybe I married a good man.”
My chest damn near squeezes the breath out of me. My wife just called me agoodman. After what I just did. I think I can die happy. I clear my throat. “Why do you say that?”
Dropping her voice to a whisper, she slides over to me and dips underneath my arms. Her fingers crawl up my chest. “Did you have something to do with this?”
I press my lips against her forehead and nuzzle her neck. “No one messes with my wife.”
Her chin rests against me as we gaze into one another’s eyes. Slowly swaying. Flecks of aqua dance in her irises beneath the deeper ocean blue. A tiny scar juts across the top left of her forehead. One white hair peeks out near her right ear.
Each little bit, I subject to memory. Like it could all vanish in a moment. And, given where we live, the situation we’re in?
It could.
“I can’t watch you everywhere. That’s a problem.”
She sighs, dropping her face to murmur. “If Dean Dutta is missing, maybe that means Ayan won’t be on campus today. I don’t think he’d do anything to me where everyone can see him. Like in class.”
I lift her chin. “I have another concern.”
“What’s that?”
“Valen. Do you know my friend Valen?”
“Olivia’s Viscount? I’ve seen him around. He’s the man who always wears the mask. I think they call him…”
“Vanq. Yes. That guy. He’s my best friend, and he’s had similar experiences that you’ve had. A man in a cloak hasbeen hovering around campus, following them. Possibly derailing any attempts that go against the Seven. But they don’t know who he is, and he’s been looking into it.”
“It’s Ayan! Ithasto be! Leaving me lollipops around... Showing up wherever I am. He’s pissed at me. Because of you. Hehatesto lose.”
The timer blares, and we both flinch. Her cheeks flame red as she spins out of my grasp to take the quiche out of the oven.
“Maybe it’s Ayan. I’ll tell Valen to check into him.” I swallow, my brow furrowed. Snagging her shirt, I pull her closer to me. Because it brings me comfort to feel the heat from her body. “But I’m worried for you, tulip. Ayan? He’s more than just an asshole. Between him coordinating all ofBetato try to tag you on Thriller Thursday and terrorizing you out there in the woods… Who knows what else he’s capable of.”
Not only that, but Valen told me some other details that I choose to stay silent about. I don’t want her to flip out and get more scared than she already is. Valen thinks the cloaked figure is a serial killer. Going under a codename.
Is that Ayan? I don’t know…
“Ayan was coordinating forBetato snag me on Thursday?” She glances at me with a tremble on her lower lip. “That’s why you saved me?”
“I didn’t want them to touch you. You’re my wife. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”
“Youarea good man.” Her blue eyes are shocking. Serious and steady. She nods to emphasize her point.
“If you say so, then I can start to believe it.” And I do. At least with the way she looks at me.
Her head shakes into my chest as she growls with frustration. “Honestly? It doesn’t surprise me that he did that. Hehateslosing. And will do anything to get revenge. He’s unhinged. Dangerous… Considering the marks I saw on his arms after Thursday? I wouldn’t put it past him to have killed Ellis.”
I nod slowly. I’m not about to argue with her. It could have been Ayan.
It could have been someone else.