Page 17

Since the first time I laid eyes on her at the Crow’s Welcome Party, she’s become my worst nightmare, because I don’t understand why I’m so obsessed with her. I literally need to know where she is at all times, what she’s doing, and when I don’t know, I have to find her.

When she was Betrothed to that arsehole, Ryan, it only made me hate her more. Not only was she taking up too much space in my brain, threatening to derail me from my tasks, she thought he was a good fucking choice for a husband.

Not that any of us really gets a choice in who we marry. That’s just a burden of being an Obsidian Order heir—we marry who we’re told, no questions asked. Even so, surely her family could have found her a better match than Ryan the Cockwomble.

Though now they’re no longer together, since he quite publicly called off their marriage contract, that’s not something I have to think about. I can’t even bear to consider the possibility she might have met someone new over the summer.

Her public fall from grace affected me more than I expected. She looked so small and fragile as everyone turned against her. It triggered a desperate need to protect her from the harsh reality that comes with being part of the Order—though it’s something I never saw coming.

I’ve never felt the need to protect anyone before, and given I’ve spent the better part of two years making Harper’s life miserable, she was the last person I expected to feel protective over. But I hate how easily her status has been stripped from her.

Her fall from grace happened at the worst possible time for me, as everyone left campus the day after. And everyone knows there’s no better time to play with your prey than when they’re at their most vulnerable.

Now, she’s had eight weeks to get used to her new situation, to build up the thick skin I stupidly suggested, so I have no idea what to expect when I see her again.

Luckily, being away from campus doesn’t mean I get to leave my Crow responsibilities behind. The Order still sent me assignments, and I was incredibly grateful for this, as it prevented me from hunting down and following a certain strawberry-blonde.

Gathering up incriminating evidence on a local MP, which the Order will then use to blackmail him when the time is right, took up a lot of my time, but not enough to stop my mind from wandering to thoughts of her.

The obsessive, protective, possessive thoughts have consumed me, even when I’m home and she’s nowhere near. I’ve had to throw myself into anything and everything that will distract me from her.

I hate that I was looking for her the moment I stepped foot back on campus. A Pledge’s final year is supposed to be his best yet. By this point, only the strongest have survived the gruelling process to remain a Crow, and we’re rewarded for our efforts with a gift—the Prize we’ve all been waiting for since passing our initiation.

As I’m the High Crow Pledge—still—I have more benefits than most, including being allocated the best room in Crowhurst House. Not to mention, I get first choice when it comes to selecting my Prize, a reward a lot of my fellow Pledges covet.

Though, while I should be high on life, celebrating my achievements, I’m looking for her instead. But after being back on campus for a week, searching everywhere I usually see her, there’s still no sign, and I’m starting to worry.

She had better not have dropped out!

The heavy bang of the door echoes as I slam it shut, the worn wood vibrating under my palm. My backpack, heavy with textbooks, crashes onto the floor with a dull thud as I try to push that awful thought from my mind.

Striding across the room to the silver fridge in the corner, I pull it open, the familiar hum reverberates as the chilly air hits my face. I grab a cold bottle of beer, the lid creating a sharp crack as it opens, and take a long, bitter gulp.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be drinking?” Bram asks from where he’s lounging on my black leather couch.

I roll my eyes at him. “Why are you in my room? Better yet, how did you get into my room?” The lock is an electronic fingerprint sensor, and it’s programmed to only open for me.

Bram simply shrugs his shoulders. “I hacked it and added my fingerprint…in case of emergencies.”

I should have fucking guessed. Although Bram is ranked fourth in our year, he could challenge me for the top spot if he actually tried. He’s a Crow because it’s his father’s legacy—which he hates—not because he actually wants to be here. Though that doesn’t mean he hasn’t earned his spot.

Still, he sticks around for the chaos and the freedom he’s given as a Crow. He enjoys being able to do whatever he wants without consequences, and though everyone thinks he’s following in his father’s footsteps, he actually makes a point of undermining him any chance he gets.

“You’re the last person I’d call in an emergency,” I tell him as I flop down onto the opposite end of the sofa.

Bram lets out a chuckle as he picks up his own beer that is over half empty. “I’m the only person you’d call, you unsociable bastard.”

He’s not wrong, though I won’t tell him that. Bram has been my best friend since meeting on our first day at high school, and he’s the only person I even remotely trust, which is why I asked him to help me locate Harper.

“Did you find anything?” Despite my best efforts to sound bored and casual, I catch the way his eyes gleam with amusement. He’s lucky I don’t launch the bottle of beer at his head.

“She’s still enrolled here, but she’s not attended any classes since term started. A lot has happened with her father—rumours suggest he’s trying to save himself by naming Order members, but his actions have only put a bigger target on his back. I should point out that I haven’t been able to confirm the rumours yet, but the fact he’s still alive speaks volumes.

“I was able to confirm that she lost her family home, but I don’t know where she’s been staying for the last eight weeks. I’m looking into it, but her social media has all vanished, and I’ve not managed to track her using any of my usual means.”

“Fuck!” Bram’s not exactly a hacker, but he’s good at locating people, so the fact he can’t find her means she doesn’t want to be found—and that’s concerning.

Bram narrows his emerald eyes at me, his eyebrow piercing glistening as he assesses me in a way that makes me uncomfortable.