Page 150 of Coveted

My senses become hyperaware and my blood roars with urgency.

Please let me be in time. If something happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

I’ll never forgive anyone.

CHAPTER 39

Sadie

Ipeer from the window at the foggy roadside.

Trees rush past, as dark and silent as ghosts.

Where are they taking me? Everything looks the same out there. Gloomy and isolated, like the ideal place to murder somebody.

Adelle hums a tune while she drives, and Damon surveys me in the rearview mirror.

Every few moments, I check my phone for service.

Why did I have to accept a ride from the twins?

I should’ve stayed with my friends. I could be partying and safe with them, but in my sadness, I went back to isolating myself like I used to.

The SUV sails over a rise, the road invisible under thick mist. It feels like we’re driving on clouds with nothing but sky beneath us.

Bars finally appear at the top of the phone screen.

“Yes,” I breathe.

Jittery with nerves, I type a message to my friends. Before I can hit send, Adelle swings the car around a sudden corner.

Frowning, I search the surroundings for a hint about where Adelle and her brother are taking me. My thumbs freeze over my phone screen as familiar tall, wrought-iron gates come into view.

“We’re at Darkbloom,” I say, unable to hide my surprise.

Maybe I’m not getting murdered?

“Told you I knew a shortcut,” says Adelle with a gentle snort. “Where did you think we were going?”

“Er, I don’t know.”

My face warming, I quickly delete the dramatic SOS message I was about to send Clara and Juliette.

Relief loosens the knot in my stomach, and I make a mental note to give people a chance before jumping to conclusions. Poor Adelle was doing a good deed by offering me a ride. Not everyone’s out to get me.

She pulls the SUV to the curb at the front of the university, which is strewn with toilet paper, pumpkin pulp, and god knows what else. Students drink in costumes, either coming or going from parties. Music thuds from giant speakers in windows.

I unbuckle my seatbelt. “Thank you for the ride. I appreciate it.”

“I would never invoke Lucan’s wrath by leaving you to walk home by yourself.” Adelle smiles at me in the side mirror. “Happy Halloween, Sadie.”

“You too,” I say. “Bye, Damon.”

“Later,” he says without turning around.

I step from the car, wishing Adelle hadn’t mentioned Lucan. His absence drags heavily in my chest and hearing his name makes it worse.

Maybe once I sleep, I’ll feel better, though I can’t imagine how. I might’ve pushed away the best thing to ever happen to me.