Chapter 20

Congratulations. You're in.

The words stare backat me on my cellphone screen. I can't believe it was this fast to get accepted to the auction.

There's no indication it's the club, except a logo on the bottom of the email, the same one they use with every text they send: a black circle with a red club.

I'm in. I'm actually doing this!

Oh my God! What have I done?

I pinch the bridge of my nose and go to my text messages, finding Devlin's name.

He hasn't called or texted me back after he saw what Mason did to me. I've asked Rogue if he's heard from him, but he hasn't. It's not like Devlin to make me worry this way. What if something happened to him? I've barely slept these past couple of nights, anxious and afraid.

Heading to my morning class, I call Iseult, hoping she at least knows something. I'm afraid of telling her how Mason has been treating me. She'll go apeshit and definitely kill him.

My sister can handle herself—I've seen it firsthand—but I don't want her getting hurt because of me. I know how powerful the Reynoldses are. I've already lost a mother; I can't lose anyone else.

She answers on the second ring. "Hey, you're calling early. Something wrong?"

"Have you heard from Devlin in the last few days?"

"No. Should I have?"

"No, I was just curious. I haven't heard from him since I saw him a couple of days ago. He was upset about stuff with Mason, so I'm afraid he confronted him and something happened."

"What stuff? Did Mason do something?" Her tone is urgent and clipped.

I don't have to tell her everything, but I can tell her enough to help me find Devlin. If he doesn't call me today, I'm gonna go to his place and be the crazy non-girlfriend that I am.

"No, Mason is just…you know, Mason."

"You mean a self-entitled, pompous piece of horseshit?"

"Now that you put it that way…"

She laughs. "I'll find Devlin. But, Eriu? If Mason does anything to you, I want you to tell me, okay? Promise me."

I close my eyes and lie. "Of course. I promise."

"We'll figure a way out of this. You'll see."

I already did.

The email from the club appears in my mind.

Tomorrow is when I auction off my virginity, and I don't even know how I'm going to get through it.

I stop by Professor Montgomery's office the next day after one of my classes to return the books she gave me the last time.

Knocking softly, I wait for her to let me in.

"Come in." As soon as she sees me, her face lights up. "Hey, how are you doing?"

"I'm good." I force a smile and her brows furrow.

"What's wrong?"

Is it really that easy to see that something is going on with me?

"Nothing." My grin widens. "I'm totally fine."

She arches a single brow. "Sit."

With a shaky inhale, I settle across from her desk, resting against the black leather chair.

"What's really going on? I can tell you're upset. Is it the engagement?"

I nod. "I can't stand him."

"I'm sorry, Eriu." Her gaze grows sympathetic. "If there was something I could do, I would."

"I know. I think I may have figured a way out. It's just not the best option. But it feels like the only one I have."

My body sags. I'm so tired. I just want this to be over.

She nods thoughtfully. "Sometimes we have to make difficult choices, and sometimes those are the only ones that will create change." She leans forward. "You're strong. I've always told you that."

"Thank you." I reach into my backpack and retrieve the books she lent me, placing them in front of her. "I appreciate these. They were helpful."

"I'm glad. I'll have more for you next week. But listen, take my number down. If you ever need anything, call me anytime. I sleep late." Her mouth tips up, and I feel a little better talking to her.

She's right. I have to make a difficult choice, and it may cost me more than I realize. But marrying Mason is a fate worse than death.

She tells me her number, and I save it into my phone before heading for the door. "Thanks, Professor Montgomery."

"Always. Have a nice day."

When I head out of the building, I look around for Rogue, but don't see him standing in front of the humanities building anymore.

"What the…"

"Eriu," someone calls, and I freeze in place.

That rugged, masculine timbre sends a shiver down my body. I'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Devlin?" I utter in absolute relief, spinning on my heels to find him standing there in one piece.

A short-sleeved black t-shirt accentuates every single hard square of muscle on his arms. My throat goes dry as he nears with a half-smile.

"Heard you were looking for me."

My face twists with aggravation. "Where have you been?"

I shove him hard on his chest, but the man doesn't even move an inch, simply stares at me with amusement meeting the tendrils of his blue eyes.

I go on, completely annoyed that he hasn't so much as apologized. "I called you yesterday and left you a text to find out what happened with Mason, but you never got back to me. I thought you were dead!"

The gash on his forehead still remains covered, but he looks fine overall.

Inhaling deeply, he slices away at the distance between us, his eyes tenderly boring into mine. "I'm sorry I worried you, love."

And just like that, my annoyance disappears.

His knuckles brush down my cheek, and I close my eyes, feeling it everywhere. It's been forever since he touched me last.

His lips jerk, and his eyes deepen with mine. "My phone broke yesterday, and I had to get a new one. Your message never came through."

"Oh." I swallow nervously from the hooded way he stares at me, eyes raking over my face, dropping to my lips before they climb back up. "What are you doing here? Where's Rogue?"

"You won't be needing him anymore."

"What? Why? Are you back?"

"Aye. Nothing can keep me away from you any longer."

What is he doing to me, saying things like that? It's already hard enough to know he has feelings for me and that we can't be together.

"But the doctor said you need rest."

My reminder only makes him chuckle dryly. "I've had enough of that. Saw him yesterday and he said I could return back to work." He gives me a crooked smile that drops right into my belly. "Doc called me a stubborn mule, but said as long as I don't get myself blown up again, I'll be fine."

I shake my head. "You forced the doctor to clear you, didn't you?"

"Aye." Tenderly, he cups my cheek, and his brows knit. "You know me so well, Eriu Quinn."

"I've aways known who you really are." I grasp his wrist, his gaze softening.

And my heart does what it always does with him: it beats to a tempo meant just for him.

With a long drag of air, he curls an arm around me and drops his forehead to mine. And every time he does, it feels like I'm home. Like this is what forever feels like.

But tonight, I'm going to have to give a part of myself to someone else just to avoid marrying a monster.

And I already hate myself for it because it won't be him.