Chapter 5

I had spent the entirety of last night reading through everything Dante had sent me, and it was comprehensive. I could only fall asleep in the early hours of this morning. My mind was still foggy, but one thing was clear — I now knew the reason why Rozetta was after revenge. And now I got to work with it to destroy her.

I am sure she used her little sob story to wrap Damon around her finger to commit murder and other heinous crimes. I may be evil, the most unkind person, but even I wouldn’t stoop so low as murder — taking someone else’s life.

I wonder if she had already let Damon in on her family issue or would it be after Damon already became something for himself.

Knowing how protective he is of her, she probably has told him yet, just to wrap him in. Then tell him her sob story when he trusts her.

Pathetic.

That didn’t mean I wouldn’t do it if push came to shove. If I am pushed toward it, then I just have to make sure I am never put in that position again.

“Earth to Elara,” Paisley said, snapping her fingers in front of my face and snapping me out of my thoughts.

“What?” I asked with a frown.

“I was talking to you,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “You seem to be distracted lately. Wanna share?”

“Just school stuff,” I lied smoothly. She just frowned at my words. “What were you talking about?” I pressed, steering the conversation away from her probing. There was no way I was telling her about my death and everything else.

That’s my burden alone.

“It’s about the dating rumours surrounding you and Kai Draven,” she answered.

I just broke up with Damon.

“Who?” I choked out, my drink slipping into the wrong windpipe.

“The guy who saved you yesterday,” I frowned at her words, remembering the incident. “Well, everyone thinks that you and the captain of Fordnast might be dating,” she whispered the last part. I found that idea repulsive.

One, he didn’t save me. I just fell on him. Two, he was a rude and arrogant asshole.

“I just got out of a relationship. There is no way I am getting into another one right away,” I stood up, trashing my drink as we walked.

“Well, that isn’t stopping people from shipping you two. The campus forums are gossiping about you two,” she squealed at the end. I was startled at that.

Gossiping? Shipping? What is this, a teen romance? Don’t they have better things to do? Last time I remember I was feared, not liked.

“If you really like the guy so much, why don’t you date him? I have no place in my heart for that,” I said. After it was already broken once before. Problem solved since she seemed to have a crush on the guy.

“No way. They said you are the first girl he voluntarily touched without being annoyed,” I am sure she didn’t see the hate in his eyes aimed at me.

“Well, I don’t care—”

“Can we talk?” a deep voice cut me off. I turned to see the rude asshole in the flesh. Kai Draven.

“Oh… oh excuse me. I would let you two do that?” Paisley said, scurrying off.

“I am sorry about the way I acted yesterday,” he apologized. “I thought you were one of those girls who did stupid things to get my attention,” he finished with his hands in his pockets. He kinda looked like a kicked puppy.

“Well, I am not one of them,” I crossed my arms.

“Yeah, I saw that. Can I get you coffee or something as a proper apology?” he offered.

“Apology accepted but—”

“What’s going on here?” I heard Damon’s infuriating voice.

My day has officially been ruined.

“What do you want, Damon?” I demanded. I was not in the mood to deal with him.

“Can’t I talk to my girlfriend anymore?” he scoffed. I never wanted to punch someone so hard before.

“I am not your girlfriend,” I corrected. He didn’t need to be here. “And no, he may not. We were having a conversation before you rudely interrupted it.”

“I see. So this was why you broke up with me.” He sounded wronged. I had enough of his bullshit. No, it wasn’t the guy who hung around him?

“Damon, get it into your skull that we are done. Whatever I had to do with Kai doesn’t concern you,” I said, facing him directly. Before turning back to Kai, “As I was saying, I am not interested in such. But your apology has been accepted.”

With that I left those two infuriating men.