Page 157 of Glutton for Punishment

Then she turns and walks away.

Chapter 48

Arwen

Cold air slaps against my overheated skin the second I step onto the balcony. I grip the stone railing and suck in a shaky breath.

What the fuck was that?

I was stupid. How was I supposed to explain it if Maddox or Atticus saw me dancing with Alexi like that? But it was like we were magnets, unable to resist the pull to each other. At least until Alexi showed who he really is.

All around me, SinVail glows gold beneath the autumn night while music pulses faintly through the doors behind me, muffled now by distance and cool air. I shouldn’t care what Alexi does. I definitely should not care who he kisses.

And yet my chest still aches with the image of him dragging that girl against him like I meant absolutely nothing.

“Arwen?”

I look to my left. Atticus stands near the far end of the balcony, shadowed beside one of the ivy-covered columns. The second he sees me, his entire expression softens. His eyes drag over me, lingering on the green dress, and something raw flickers across his face.

“Clearly, the universe is torturing me tonight,” he says in a quiet voice, already stepping closer towards me. “You look beauti—”

The balcony doors slam open. “Atticus, there you are.”

Daphne Langley sweeps onto the balcony, wrapped in silver satin and entitlement. The second her eyes land on me, her face twists.

“Oh.” Her nose wrinkles. “What are you doing out here?”

Daphne looks me up and down with open disgust. “I didn’t realize they were letting trash attend the ball this year.”

Atticus’s expression goes flat. “Shut the fuck up, Daphne.”

She whips her head toward him in complete surprise, like no one has ever spoken to her that way before. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. You should just go back inside. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Outrage floods her face. “You’re seriously defending her?” She gestures at me. “I’m sure your father would love hearing about how you’re treating me—”

Atticus rolls his eyes.

“Tell my father whatever you want,” he says coldly. “He might act like he cares if you suck his dick while doing it.”

My jaw drops, and Daphne gasps like he shot her.

“You can’t—”

“Yeah, I’m aware of all your calls to him. We’re done tonight.” He grabs her shoulder, steering her inside before she can continue shrieking. “We’re leaving.”

For one glorious second, I think that’s the end of it. Then Daphne’s gaze snaps to me. And something sharp and ugly flashes behind her eyes.

The world tilts violently. Suddenly the balcony railing is gone beneath me.

My stomach drops as the stone disappears from under my feet and I’m falling—

The ground rushes toward me stories below. A scream tears from my throat as panic detonates through my chest.

I’m going to die.

Then—