Page 10 of Shadowface

“Wasn’t the Order of the Shadows banned from campus?” I mutter.

“They were,” she says. “What do you mean?”

I glance down at my pink nails. I purse my lips and glance back at them, at Lincoln looking dark and broody. This is who my father was so fond of?

My expression flattens. “They seem satanic. And weren’t they devil worshipers? They seem to fit the bill.”

She snickers. “I suppose. But no dead bodies have been found recently. Whoever the Order was, they’ve stayed hidden.”

I want to believe that…

The girl in the collar walks past us and glares. Behind her is a silver chain, and on the other end is an attractive, very muscled guy with tribal tattoos that cover each of his arms. He walks by with the cockiest grin on his face and chews on his bottom lip. His attention lingers slightly longer on Dani than on me.

“Jesus,” Dani breathes, and I’m pretty sure she’s drooling.

This guy has at least half an inch on Lincoln and about twenty pounds, and Lincoln’s not exactly a small guy. The guy’s dark features are menacing, and he looks much scarier than Lincoln.

He gives Dani a wink, causing her to seemingly lose her ability to breathe. Although none of them directly communicated with us, a lot was said. They all continue walking, giving very few fucks about the fact that everyone is staring at them.

“I can’t imagine humiliating myself like that in public,” I say, watching as they all sit in a circle close to us, the girl with the collar sitting on her knees like an obedient pet.

Dani bites her lip. “It’s so hot. He’s so fucking hot. That is sooooo fucking hot.”

“It’s not.”

She scoffs. “Well, you’re not overly sexual, Summer.”

I jab her in the ribs. “I am sexual; I just haven’t found anyone I want to have sex with. There’s a big difference.”

She cocks a brow and finally tears her gaze away from the group. “I just don’t believe you’re a virgin.”

I’m not a virgin, but I can’t explain it, so I don’t say anything.

I watch as Lincoln grabs his backpack and starts reading his textbook, away from the others. He keeps pushing his glasses up, as if they might fall off.

I fold my arms. “It’s disgusting. Those girls are humiliating themselves for someone else’s sick pleasure.”

“Deliciously disgusting,” she echoes, but can’t keep her eyes off them, either.

The insides of my belly squirm watching them.

“So, I couldn’t help myself… I did some digging last night, and found out more about Lincoln,” Dani says.

I smirk at her. “Of course you did.”

“Here’s what I found out. Lincoln Kennedy and his posse are rich as shit. And elitists…super snobby. And he’s very smart, but he’s not just Dr. Garcia’s PhD student; he’s her adopted son.”

My eyes shoot up, watching Lincoln from this new perspective. How could I have missed this? But that would explain my father’s affinity to him, given his professional relationship with Dr. Garcia. My father never talked about him, only the work he did with him. He was a mentor to Lincoln, and apparently, was for a long time.

“Do you see the really hot one holding on to that leash?”

How could I not see him? His hulking presence is hard to ignore.

She smiles. “His name is Xander, and he’s Dr. Garcia’s grandson.”

CHAPTER

FOUR