Page 107 of Merciless

Past me wouldn’t have accepted it and would have said something snarky. That’s not me right now. I like the idea of him being mine, just as I love the thought of me being his, too.

“Get in the car, baby.” Elijah opens the door for me and motions for me to sit.

I duck past him and sit on the leather seat.

The drive back to campus is short, and the whole way there I’m riding cloud nine. It’s official between us.

“Stay the night with me,” Elijah says.

He parks the car and switches off the engine.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and peek at him through my lashes. “Lavender has been alone all weekend. Besides, I’m still sore.”

“Who’s Lavender?” His eyebrows scrunch together.

“My pet snake.”

Elijah tilts his head, his eyebrows still pinched together.

“What’s that look for?” I awkwardly laugh.

Shaking his head, his expression changes to his regular nonchalant mask. “It’s nothing. I would have thought you’d have a pet bird and not a snake.”

I shrug. “I’d like one, but they require more time and attention. Once I graduate and get a place of my own, I’ll be able to get a bird. Until then, it’s just me and Lavender.”

“What kind of bird would you get?”

I smile. “A cockatiel.”

Just like the one Rome has flying around. Flip is the cutest thing.

Maybe it’s a sign that I should visit the aviary soon and see how she’s doing.

Elijah leaves the car and opens my door for me. He holds his hand out for me to take, and I gladly accept his help.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Elijah smirks and kisses me. My heart jumps into my throat, and I worry about others seeing us like this, but Shane’s words replay in my head.

I need to stop being so worried. Whatever happens, happens, but as long as I’m happy, then nothing else matters.

We walk inside the building. With it being Sunday evening, it’s not as packed as it would be during the week. So at least I have a few more hours to figure out my feelings and stress about us being caught together like this.

Elijah releases my hand as I unlock my door and push it open. He bends down and kisses over my shoulder, already getting ahead of the game.

My stomach drops, and I suck in a breath. All of my things—my old laptop; the pictures of my passed father I taped to the wall; my aviary books that I kept tidy on a shelf; my crystals in the shape of birds—are tossed around. Some of my things have been shattered to pieces. Broken glass glitters in the dim light.

Someone broke into my dorm while I was gone, and they left a message.

CHAPTER 37

EDEN

DAY 6 OF THE BET

“Eden?” Elijah brushes past me, just as shocked at the mess.

I stare at the red spray paint on the wall across from where Lavender’s enclosure was.