God of Wrath (Legacy of Gods #3) by Rina Kent

Gareth nods at something they’re discussing and climbs the stairs. Jeremy, however, continues his casual walk down.

But although he appears nonchalant, there’s nothing arbitrary about him. Not even his strides.

Beneath the calm surface he reflects onto the world lurks danger and nefarious intent. It’s mysterious in nature, almost too well disguised for anyone to see.

The only reason I do is because I have my secrets, too, and I guess that gives me the superpower to recognize it in others.

Mum says I’m able to do that due to my strong connection with my empathy and that was one of the main reasons I followed psychology. I want to help others with anything in my power.

Glyn mumbles something and then runs up the stairs.

I start to follow her, but I’m interrupted by a horde of dancing, drinking, and howling students.

Being invited to a party held by the Heathens is a privilege for TKU students. This is like the mecca of their unholy activities and an expression of deviant youth.

It’s why Ava wanted to come here at all costs.

It’s why Anni helped her, despite being apprehensive about her brother’s wrath.

By the time I get to the stairs, there’s no sign of Glyn.

Blimey.

She might be quiet and keep to herself, but Glyn has these moments where she’ll disappear without notice.

I throw a glance behind me to make sure Ava isn’t getting herself in trouble, but then I catch a glimpse of her hugging a bottle of tequila and sneaking outside.

Goddammit. I need two of me to keep these children in check.

I jog in the direction Ava went. Because A, she’s the one who’s more prone to almost drown in a pool of her own vomit—happened once—or almost drown in an actual pool while drunk—happened twice; and B, Glyn is responsible, doesn’t act on impulse, and rarely gets drunk, if ever.

In theory, the decision to go after the troublemaker of our group is actually a simple one.

I slip past students as they jump and howl to some trendy song. It’s a lot easier to move unnoticed than to shove past them and be delayed further.

The cold night air forms goosebumps on my skin, and I stop outside the mansion’s doors.

More students keep flocking inside the mansion in waves and no one is leaving. Granted, by their standards, it’s still early.

A few guards stand like statues along the entrance, and I’m sure more are hidden out of sight. These must be the same men who wore the bunny masks last night.

I go up on my tiptoes to get a better view of outside, but there’s no sign of that little shit Ava.

I pull out my phone and tap the Find My Child app.

What? She really is a kid when drunk, and I had to install this app to be able to find her in situations like this.

The dot indicating her phone appears to the west and I follow, using the swarm of students as camouflage against the guards’ watchful gazes.

And since I have an impeccable memory, I actually manage to avoid most of the cameras, despite the fact that they’re barely visible at night, and only if you look very hard.

Ava, the suicidal troublemaker, has actually gone to the forest surrounding the mansion.

Please tell me she isn’t drunk. Please tell me she isn’t drunk.

I quicken my pace to catch up to her, going through all the trouble of using rocks and bushes to hide from the cameras.

The music from the main house dulls until I can only hear the throbbing of the bass, and the cheers and noise eventually die down.

Which means we’re too far from everyone else.

Ava, come on.

Just when I’m about two hundred meters from her, she changes direction and picks up speed back toward the mansion.

The revving of a motorcycle nearly deafens me and I realize that’s what she must be on.

Did a guard find her and escort her back?

Either way, at least she’s not wandering around God knows where.

The silence returns, more stifling this time, and I cast a glance at my surroundings. At first, I think I hear faint footsteps, but they soon disappear.

All that remains is the dark night, the huge trees, and this cursed forest.

Oh, and my ragged breathing.

I carefully turn and march toward the mansion at a steady pace. At first. A few moments later, I’m practically jogging.

Places like this are the setting of horror films and Halloween pranks for a reason.

A hissing sound from somewhere behind me in the bushes reaches me, followed by more footsteps. I come to a halt and start to whirl around.

I’m only half turned when a hand shoots through the darkness and slams me against a tree.

The breath is knocked out of my lungs, and my whole body freezes.

I’m dwarfed by the person at my back, his hand shackled around my nape and his steady breathing licking at my skin like wildfire.

“What—”

“Shhh,” his rough voice sounds in my ear like a twisted symphony.

An invitation to the dark side.

A way out.

Something flashes in the darkness and then he shoves a phone in my face with the club’s app on the screen, where his congratulatory message is displayed.

At the top, there’s ‘Primal Kink’ and my username as his specified partner.

My choppy breathing slows to a rhythm that’s similar to his. Not as controlled, but close.

It’s Landon.

This is actually happening.

Though…wait.