“Damn, Monroe, how do you walk in those things?” Tex fell into step with us and winked. What? Did he suddenly find me acceptable now that I was walking with Monroe? I glared back remembering our first meeting where he flipped me off because his idiot group leader told him too. Minion.

“Tex, I take it you’ve probably met Trace already?”

“I waved.”

“So you flipped her off?” Monroe stopped walking.

“Nixon said—”

“I swear if you finish that sentence I’m castrating you in your sleep.” Monroe poked his chest. “Now apologize to Trace.”

His red hair was spiked all over his head, his teeth were gleaming white in the dusk air as he walked around her and stood in front of me. “I’m sorry I flipped you off. I’m also sorry I didn’t get to see you this close up. You’re pretty. Care to ditch the party tonight? I’m sure we could find a way to entertain—”

“—I said apologize, not hit on her.” Monroe pushed him away. He laughed and then pulled her into a hug. “Excuse him, Trace. He’s almost as big of an ass as Nixon.”

“She said almost.” Tex laughed and walked in between us, putting an arm around each of us as we made our way into the main lobby of the building.

“Speaking of the devil…” Monroe said under her breath as Nixon held court in the middle of the room.

I felt like I was walking in slow motion. Like I wasn’t actually living this life but watching someone else live it. Or at least watching it on TV.

Nixon stood in the middle of the room. He was wearing black slacks and a tight baby blue shirt with a skinny tie and vest. He looked like he was modeling for Gucci or something. He even had aviators on. Oh gosh, I have officially died and gone to magazine model hell.

Chase was next to him, in tight black jeans and a sweater vest that could have done Tommy Hilfiger proud. Tex moved past us to knock fists with them. And then I noticed Phoenix make his way through the crowd and embrace Tex pumping him twice on the back.

Nixon took off his sunglasses and examined me slowly. His eyes narrowed until I could barely see the icy blue. He snapped his head to Monroe and nodded just once. “Nice work, Monroe. She looks like she actually belongs here.”

“She does belong here, you idiot.” Monroe moved past me and air kissed her brother on either side of his face before returning to me.

“The way I see it…” Nixon grinned. “She won a silly contest. The same contest we put on every year so that the poor underprivileged people of the world are able to join the high society. She…” He pointed at me and smirked. “Is just a number.”

“At least I’m not an ass,” I spat. To my utter horror and complete humiliation it fell silent all around us.

Nixon slowly approached me. Rage was evident in his eyes but I couldn’t back down. I refused to be bullied by some privileged rich kid who thought he ruled the known universe just because he was good-looking and had money.

“Is this on?” A guy spoke into a microphone. “Attention, everyone.”

Nixon shook his head and backed off, making his way toward the stage.

“Your student body president would like to welcome you all back to school!”

Okay, so maybe he was a type of president. I clenched my teeth and waited. Monroe patted me on the arm as Nixon made his way to the stage.

People chanted his name over and over again. Funny how his name was Nixon. I smirked to myself and noticed that Nixon’s eyes never left my face.

“I’d like to introduce someone….” Oh no, oh hell no.

“She’s new here…” He stared at me coldly. “And I want everyone to give her a warm, Eagle Elite welcome! Please clap your hands for… Dr. Tessa Stevens, our new history professor.”

I blew out the breath I’d been holding and struggled to keep my hands at my sides. The only way I could smile was by imagining my hands around Nixon’s throat.

A pretty middle-aged woman waved from the side of the stage. Nixon clapped in her direction and flashed a devastating smile.

Suck up.

“Now, I know all of you are eager to start the welcome party.” He winked in my direction. The bastard.

Monroe wrapped her arm around me and whispered for me to calm down. Did I look that angry? I got my answer the minute I felt another hand on my back.

I flipped around and saw Chase smile and touch me briefly on the shoulder, inclining his head in my direction. I seriously almost punched him in the nose. I felt manipulated when they were mean and I felt manipulated when they were nice. It was like I always had to watch my back.

“I’m sure you’ve all noticed we have a new student. The winner of the annual Eagle Elite lottery registered this morning.” Nixon’s dimples widened right along with his smile. “Trace, why don’t you come up here and say a few words?”

No. I shook my head and dug my heels into the ground. But Chase had a hold of my arm and tugged me toward the stage. I looked back at Monroe, but she was currently fighting her own battle with Tex. He had both of her arms firmly behind her back in a tight grip. At least he mouthed sorry to me.

Phoenix was nowhere to be seen, but I’m sure he was around for backup just in case I decided to attempt to break Chase’s nose.

Each step clanged in the large room. I could feel my own heartbeat as I made my way toward the stage.

Nixon held his hand out to me, but I was afraid to take it, afraid that if I did he would jerk back or embarrass me. I couldn’t trust him, and he knew it. Yet if I didn’t grab it, I would be insulting him, which was apparently an unforgiveable sin.

I prayed he’d take my hand.

Shaking, I reached out to grasp his hand.

Shock at his warm touch overwhelmed me. His eyes hooded as he looked down at our joined hands. Briefly, it looked like his face relaxed and I saw a different person. One who wasn’t in league with the devil.

As quickly as it had happened, his face tightened and he dropped my hand. I watched as he rubbed it on his slacks and then flexed it as if I had somehow held it too tight.

He cleared his throat. “Trace Rooks, everyone.”

People clapped because he was clapping. They weren’t actually excited to see me up there, nor did they even care. Most of them had bored expressions on their faces. I nervously scanned the crowd for Monroe, she was beaming. Her expression gave me strength. I immediately got choked up thinking of grandma, how she told me I could do this. That nobody could tell me I wasn’t worthwhile.

“Trace Rooks, if that isn’t a backcountry name, I don’t know what is. “ I joked into the microphone. “I come from a place where cows outnumber people and the local bartender knows everyone by name.” I took a deep breath. “I guess you could say I’m completely out of my element, but I’m thankful nonetheless. I’m thankful for the opportunity to expand my education and even more so, I’m thankful that while I’ve been standing here Nixon hasn’t attempted to trip me or knock me off the stage. Guess there’s hope for me yet. Moo.”

Did I just moo?

I cracked a smile.

And then I noticed more smiling faces around me.

And one clap, followed by more, and then shouting.

I backed away and walked slowly back down the stairs. This time, Chase escorted me like a normal human being. When we reached the crowd of students, he whispered in my ear. “I knew you would be different.”

“Different?”

“It’s a compliment, Farm Girl. Get used to it. Because you’ve just earned half the student body’s respect.”

“And the other half?” I asked slowly making my way back to Monroe.

“…Follow the Elect and will stop at nothing to destroy you.” He stopped me with his hand and turned me to face him.

“And whose side are you on, Chase?”

His eyes examined mine for a brief second before he tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. “I always side with the pretty girls.”

I waited for him to say, “And that’s not you.” But instead he held up my hand and kissed it, then walked off.

People around me began whispering. My mouth must have dropped open because suddenly my throat felt dry.

Monroe found me within seconds. “Hell, I think my brother almost choked on his tongue. Nice work, Boots.”

“Boots?”

“Yeah, it’s your new nickname.”

“Why?”

“Because you moo’d in front of the entire student body and I can’t very well call you a cow. But when I think of farms I think of cowboy boots. So Boots, yup, Boots.”

Nice logic. “Alright then, Boots it is.” I shrugged.

“He’s going to shit himself.” Monroe looked all too pleased as Nixon finished making his speech. Applause erupted when he finished, and we were dismissed to the party.

“What now?” I asked Monroe.

“Now…” She grabbed my hand. “We dance.”

Chapter Five

I should have known that Elite wouldn’t do anything half ass and that a college dance and welcome party was anything but that in their eyes. It may as well been prom, or a coronation ball, or the Oscars. Seriously.

The auditorium had holograms playing across the ceiling and dancing along the walls. The music played to the shapes on the wall and a music video of some band was playing toward the far wall where the dance floor was located.

Everything was in black light and I half expected someone famous to pop out on stage and start a concert.

“Cool, huh?” Monroe nudged me. “Let’s get something to drink.”

I followed her to the food and couldn’t close my mouth even if I wanted to. Everything was in ice. And I mean everything. Tons of desserts I’d never seen before were placed on and around ice sculptures. Toward the end of the table was a type of blue waterfall with glasses lined around it.

“Elixir of the gods,” Monroe yelled above the music. She had two plates in hand and had piled on pieces of chocolate-covered fruit and desserts in no time. We made our way toward the blue stuff. She picked up two champagne glasses and filled them full.

Maybe it was some sort of punch?

We found a table and sat.

“Try it.” She pointed to the punch and grinned.

It looked harmless. I took a big swig and began coughing wildly.

“What? They don’t have alcohol in Wyoming?” An irritating voice said from behind me.

The four Elect were standing right next to our table. Each of them smiling at my misfortune.

“Yes, but when you drink underage you get arrested, smart ass.” I put the glass down and grabbed a chocolate-covered strawberry. At least I knew that was safe.

“There is no law here,” Nixon said, pulling out the chair on my other side. “And if there was a law, I’d be the sheriff, judge, and jury.”

“Good for you.”

I knew the rules. I patted him on the arm anyway.

Much to Monroe’s amusement. She chuckled next to me.

Tex held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

Monroe blushed and took his hand. “Don’t kill my brother, Trace.”