God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2) by Rina Kent

“Anni!”

I jump slightly, then school my reaction and smile as Ava waltzes in my direction, holding something in her hand.

“Someone dropped this in the mailbox with your name on it. Do you think it’s poison?”

My lips part and my vision fills with the tube of ointment in her hand. No one else would know I need this except for the one person who gave me a reason to use it.

“Earth to Anni?” Ava waves a hand in front of my face.

“Uh, I don’t think so.” I subtly pull it from between her fingers. “I’ll throw it away, just in case.”

“Yeah, good call. Looks fishy as hell.”

“I’ll go change.” I step past her, thankful that she doesn’t see the emotion on my face. Hell, I would’ve sworn she’d comment on my crumpled dress and possibly see the handprints her childhood friend gave me.

“Wait.”

My breath catches in my throat. Please don’t tell me she’s seen something more incriminating.

I hold on to my cool as I turn around to face her with my usual smile. “What’s up?”

“I know I’m supposed to fix something for dinner, but I don’t want to. Can we order instead?”

Phew. “Sure thing. I can cook if you want.”

“No, definitely not, I mean no.” She’s quick to wave my offer away.

I narrow my eyes. “My food is edible, you know.”

“Not to humans. Seriously, Anni, I love you, but you’re not made for cooking. Just stick with your fresh salads.”

“Creighton ate my food just fine,” I grumble. Though it was only once and not in front of me.

“That one eats anything, including dog food if he finds it.”

I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Do you know why he has that weird fixation about food?”

“Not really. It’s been there since we were kids.”

Sometimes, I envy Ava and the others for having known a younger Creighton. But then again, Cecily said his personality isn’t drastically different, so on second thought, it’s probably better that I didn’t meet him back then.

He would’ve either friend-zoned me to death or broken my heart into irreparable pieces.

He could still break it now.

I smother that thought in the dark corners of my mind and focus on Ava. “Like his silence, I assume.”

“Totally. Creigh is a man of few words because he simply doesn’t feel like talking. And I know he might seem standoffish and cold, but he can be super caring.”

My ass throbs and I mutter, “You must be talking about a different Creighton than the one I know.”

“Nope.” Ava leans against the wall and tilts her head back, eyes seeming lost in another universe. “He was there for me during a dark moment. He didn’t say anything, just sat beside me and let me use his shoulder to cry my eyes out on, like a brother would, and I will never forget that.”

This is the first time I’ve seen Ava so pensive. In pain, even. I want to ask what that dark moment was, but I don’t want to come on too strong or to intrude.

My friend shakes her head and narrows her eyes on me. “Wait a minute, you flirt. Why are we talking about Creigh when you wanted to fake date Bran last night? Ces and I even put in a good word for you, you know. Bran doesn’t like dating that much, since all the girls go to him because they can’t get Lan. And if they actually liked him for himself, they’d change lanes to the evil twin as soon as they meet Lan. I’m on a mission to stab those blind little bitches in the eyes for hurting Bran.”

I bite the corner of my lip. “So…uh, I’ve thought about it and I don’t want Bran hurt by my brother, after all. He doesn’t deserve it.”

And he’s definitely not the one who haunts my nightmares. Last night, I texted him and told him that he doesn’t have to be my fake boyfriend, and he replied that he’s always around if I need him.

Seriously, the world doesn’t deserve such a gentle soul like Brandon. Now, if his cousin were a bit similar, things would be way easier.

But no, I had to be interested in the resident mute of the King family.

“Bran is, like, the most eloquent ever,” Ava argues. “He could totally convince Jeremy.”

“That means he’d be dragged into the Heathens’ games.”

“So? He’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”

“Have you seen the way Nikolai looks at him?”

Ava visibly shudders. “That psycho looks at everyone like they’re on his shit list.”

“Yeah, but it’s different with Bran.”

“Different how?”

“Bad different. Nikolai has a serious thirst for blood and violence, and he might be my brother’s close friend, but I keep as far away from him as possible. I’m simply not putting Bran in his path. I’d never forgive myself if he were to end up being hurt because of me.”

“Aww. You’re like the sweetest.” Ava strokes my arm, then steps back. “I’m telling you this because I really love you, Anni. Creigh is like the hardest nut to crack, after his stone of a brother, but I think you’re getting there.”

“I-I am?”

“Hello? He was super pissed when you didn’t consider him for the fake boyfriend position and then picked Brandon.”