“Sin’s on the prowl tonight. All I gotta do is wait for him to bring one back.” I smirk, kicking my leg out.
“Well, find him,” he snaps, his own need to get laid clouding that genius brain of his. “Tell him to stop being fucking picky. I’m ready to get to the Rathe U party.”
I stare at my oldest brother for a minute. For no other reason than the pleasure that licks across my skin like a shot of toxic adrenaline when I refuse to follow an order. It’s a sick satisfaction I get, one our parents have very vocally attested I do, but Creed and I both know he isn’t giving me a fight right now. He just wants us to hurry the fuck up and steal some chick’s mind so we can get to the real fun of the night.
Finally, my brother’s low chuckle fills the air and he looks off. “Dick.”
The corner of my mouth hooks higher and I pull out my phone to call Sin, but then the dozens of voices fade away, the music cuts out, and pure silence fills my ears as my senses double down. Like a wave, they burst out of me, strong and vast, an invisible force to the Giftless and Gifted alike.
Sharp pricks start at the base of my spine and snake their way up, the tendons in my neck stretching, and my head snaps left. My gift claws at my insides, fighting its way to the surface, but I hold it in, gaze laser-focused on the side gate of the yard where the house party is taking place.
A whirl of white whips through it, flying up into the air as the girl it belongs to spins on her heels, walking backward without bothering to look where she’s going.
There could be a fucking cliff she’s about to throw herself right over and she wouldn’t know it until she was sailing through the air.
My lip curls, anger drawing heat to my skin.
Careless fucking Giftless.
She takes a few more steps, her profile now in full view, and my eyes narrow with recognition. It’s the girl from the arena.
What a tiny little thing you are…kind of like a doll, cute to look at but won’t bend. I wouldn’t be above trying, though. No doubt, I’ve got a full foot and then some on her. She’s maybe five-foot, max. Her blonde hair is so platinum in color it’s nearly translucent. So much so, it wouldn’t even rival the pale shade of my fist when wrapped around it.
She pivots, her little half-skirt pushing higher and revealing more silky pale skin. Her features tighten then, and she freezes in place. Her eyes dart around the space, searching, seeking out something. Mine do the same.
I log every inch of the space, wondering what the hell she’s looking for, but then the gate flings open again, and in stumbles the dude she was with at the game.
The sound of his slurs snaps her out of her frozen state, and she darts off into the crowd. A shadow stirs inside my gut as a low growl leaves my mouth.
“If our parents weren’t coming into town next week, I would,” Legend, our youngest brother, says, and my attention snaps his way.
“Wait, what?”
He nods.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me? Does Sin know?”
“I was supposed to tell you guys when we got back. I only found out before the game.”
“That seems random.” Silver frowns, looking at me. “They were just here for opening ceremonies. Didn’t think we’d see them on campus again anytime soon.”
“Exactly,” I snap, eyes narrowed at Legend. “You should have said something earlier.”
“And ruined the entire night?” He grins, shaking his head. “I know better than that.” Fucking Legend. The traits of every baby brother, only mine has teeth.
“If they’re coming, there’s a reason for it,” Creed cuts in, but I can’t think more into what they’re saying right now. Our parents coming isn’t just a red flag, it’s a whole fucking arena painted red. This isn’t good. We all know it.
A couple girls choose this moment to walk between us, as if we weren’t in the middle of a private fucking conversation.
Some redheaded chick steps right up to Creed, playing with the long straw between her lips. “You play for Rathe, right?” She smiles at him. The word sounds weird on the tongue of a mundane human.
I push against her back until she turns and looks up at me. Cutting a quick glance around the space, I lean closer. “You don’t want to be here,” I whisper.
Her pupils dilate, a small frown building along her brows. “I don’t…think I want to be here.”
“You should go.”
“I’m going to—to go,” she stutters, shrinking into herself as her features pull tight. Gripping her shoulders, I spin her around, and slowly, she walks off.
I focus back on Creed.
He watches the girl walk off, shaking his head at me. “You shouldn’t do that here.”
“Fuck off, like you don’t sit around doing worse. Why do you seem unfazed hearing Mom and Dad are coming next week? What do you know?”
“I don’t know shit. Why, what’d you do?” He raises a dark brow.
I flip him off and he chuckles.
Legend nudges my arm with his when I lower back into the chair. “Don’t stress on it,” he says. “If there’s something we need to worry about, they’ll tell us. They never leave us in the dark.”
That’s my youngest brother for you, always the optimist.
The conversation ends and we’re done here.
Time to call Sin back. If he didn’t pick a girl for the night by now, I’ll be doing the picking.
I pull his number up, but before I can hit send, my head is yanked left.
The white-haired girl is there, my brother’s shirt wrapped in her fist, and then her chest hits his.
My spine stiffens, eyes narrowing as her lips crush his.
Sinner responds instantly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in tight as he takes control of her mouth.
Heat washes over me from head to fucking toe.
It’s burning.
Fucking smoldering, and if I were gifted with the touch of fire, there’s no doubt in my mind flames would burst from my fingertips.
Need and something foreign prick along my skin, and my cock jumps in my jeans. I don’t realize I’m standing until Creed smacks my arm.
“Looks like Sin found that toy,” he says, and everyone rises with his words.
I ignore them, my muscles flexing, tongue running along my lower lip as I stare at the pair. At the girl.
Yes. Her.
She’s the one for tonight. Mine.
For tonight.
Sin starts to back her up, leading her toward the fence, and I take a single step forward.
Cool liquid splashes over my arm, soaking through my hoodie, and I growl, whipping around to glare at the stupid fuck who spilled it on me.
“Watch your-fucking-self,” I snap.
The Giftless prick lifts his hands, the now empty cup still in one. “Whoa, bro, you bumped into me.”
I dart toward him, my blood thrashing within my body, adrenaline peaked as a swift shadow of anger falls over me.
My hand flies out before I realize it, eyes trained on the weak fucker’s throat, and I know I’m about to put him out, but suddenly Creed is between us, his fingers tight around my wrist as his eyes lock with mine.
My muscles in my neck stretch, my limbs shaking, but then I blink.
Creed’s grip eases, his chin lowering as he studies me. “What the fuck is with you tonight?”