Page 3 of Colton

“Don’t trust her,” Grace says. “Something’s off.”

“You started talking about the founding families, and even referred to her as the founding daughter. Why? There has to be something you’re not telling me.”

“Being a part of the wealthy and rich, I came to… learn things, Avalon. For one, the five founding families are absolutely volatile. Don’t get involved with them, as much as you can help it.”

“You’re scaring me,” I whisper. “You’re making it sound like they’re all criminals.”

“They are,” she responds, and my blood runs cold. “Not in the sense of being serial killers, but nothing is legal in that town. You can’t enter without a specific permit, or unless it’s tourist time of the year. You can’t take pictures in a lot of places, and the entire town is monitored heavily.”

“This is starting to sound like a conspiracy theory,” I say, leaning in. “What is happening in that town?”

“Dunno,” she shrugs. “Want to go investigate?”

“Didn’t you just say that we’d need a permit to enter the town?”

“Oh, Sophia has one.”

I roll my eyes. “Of course Sophia fucking Sloane has a permit.”

Grace lifts a shoulder. “It is Sophia Sloane. She has everything.”

“Sometimes, I’m extremely jealous,” I breathe out, the piece of vulnerability falling off my lips. “Then again, she can be a total bitch.”

“Don’t I know it,” Grace grins. “But we love her anyway.”

“That, we do.”

Grace grabs another juice box, seemingly unbothered by the conversation we just had. Yet, here I am, a little bit disturbed by the prospect of the Dean being involved in something illegal, but slightly intrigued, too.

Somehow, the thought of it makes my heart clench in a way I’m not used to.

◆◆◆

“Come on,” I groan. “Please, get out of the room, and try to live like a regular person, at least.”

My nagging is only met with a sharp glare from Sophia. Her sea-blue eyes narrow at me, books scattered all over her desk and the floor. To be fair, there’s a reason she’s the smartest person in the Academy; she works ridiculously hard to achieve everything. However, I can’t help but notice the bags under her eyes.

Sophia’s tired, and she’s not telling anyone.

“I’m studying,” she motions with her hand toward the mountain of papers in front of her, “and, correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you have an assignment with a Founding Daughter to get to?”

I sigh, slumping into my bed, eyes glued to the ceiling. “Isn’t it a bit rude to call her that?”

Sophia snorts, the sound of her pen scribbling across the paper reaching my ears. “It’s not an insult, and it’s true. Besides, do I look like I have the time to be worrying about anyone else’s feelings?”

“Touchè,” I chuckle.

Slowly, I roll over to my side, propping my elbow on the pillow and leaning my cheek on the inside of my palm. “Aren’t you studying too hard? The year has just begun.”

“And risk Soren getting a higher score than me?” Sophia scoffs, the voice full of distaste. “No, thank you. I’d rather squish him like a bug.”

The pure determination on her face, and the fact that her eyes are twinkling in mischief make me laugh. There’s something about the way Sophia loathes Soren Ford that truly makes me feel blessed that I’m on her good side. Having her as an enemy makes me pity Soren.

“And you will,” I chuckle.

Sophia glances up from the paper she’s been working on, the sharpness of her gaze making me falter. “And you need to focus on your assignment. When is it due, again?”

I blink, sitting up. Why the hell am I the one being scolded and nagged right now? The way she’s flipping the script on me, and the way she seems to be staring into my soul is quite jarring. What the hell is happening?