Page 51 of Salem’s Rise

“I’m not asking twice,” he says.

“Fine!”

The chauffeur opens the rear door for me, and I climb into the back, putting as much distance between Silas and me as the spacious cabin allows. The seats are wrapped in buttery leather, and polished wood lines the doors. The ride is so smooth, I can barely feel the car moving. With the tinted windows, the built-in privacy partition, and the fact that there is an actual chauffeur driving us around, it’s one of the most extravagant things I’ve ever experienced.

For several blocks, neither of us speaks.

Silas doesn’t bother looking up from his phone. Passing streetlights wash over his handsome face, throwing it in and out of shadow. He seems utterly unaffected by my presence, as though I’m not even there, which only sharpens my anger.

Finally, I can’t take it anymore.

“You lied to me,” I hiss.

His thumb stills on his cell phone screen.

“Pardon?”

“I went through your phone. I saw your photos with Josh,” I blurt, too angry to stop myself. “You did know him.”

Well, shit.

So much for waiting until I knew more before confronting him. Apparently, all it takes is five minutes in Silas Blackhollow’s presence for me to lose my fucking patience and abandon every sensible plan I’d made.

He finally looks at me, his face devoid of emotion. He doesn’t even seem mad at me for invading his privacy.

“Yes,” he says, sounding resigned.

No denial.

No hesitation.

No apology either.

I wait for an explanation, but none comes. He returns his attention to his phone, icing me out again. I could keep pushing, but I already know he’s not going to tell me anything he doesn’t want to.

Fine.

To hell with him. I’ll find the answers myself.

A few minutes later, we arrive at our dorm. I don’t say thank you. I don’t even wait for him to unbuckle his seat belt. I’m halfway out the door when I hear him speak quietly behind me.

“If you’re smart,” he says, “you’ll stay home next weekend. Don’t come to the ball.”

His words stop me short.

“Wait—I’m invited?”

The question is barely out of my mouth before I’m appalled with myself. What the hell do I care if I’m invited? He just admitted he lied to me about my missing brother and refused to tell me why. Screw him and his stupid fucking party.

“If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be,” he says, voice as cold as ever. “You don’t belong there. But regrettably, I don’t control the invitation list.”

Heat rushes to my face.

“Fuck off, Silas,” I seethe, my voice shaking with anger. “Just stay away from me. I mean it.”

His eyes linger on me for a long moment.

“It would be better for us both if I did,” he says quietly. “No matter how many times I try to warn you, you keep chasing things that are going to get you killed. One day, you’re going to wish you’d listened.”