Page 45 of Vicious Kings

Quickly, I understand why Wren voted Kurt Ashford as husband material if he’s what I’m looking for. I look over my shoulder at the other ringmasters, and their looks range from angst to annoyance. I smile, draping my hand on Kurt Ashford’s bicep as he gives me a tour of the decorations on the first floor. We step outside through the kitchen into the ratty backyard, and I gasp. The whole yard has been fixed up into an amazing outdoor room.

He smiles at my reaction. “We fixed it up with new furniture and put down grass seed. Though I don’t think it will grow this late in the year, but the hay covering it looks cool.”

The perimeter of the patio is lined with Edison lights on strings, whole pumpkins and squashes, and new cushions on the old metal chairs.

Sam is outside, starting a brand-new gas grill. “Hey, Charlotte, nice costume.” Without missing a beat, he asks for Tracey.

“She’s coming, and you’ll like her outfit.”

He’s dressed as a skeleton with a top hat, and I start to notice a theme. All the Alphas are wearing top hats and tails, from zombies, undertakers, and vampires to just plain creepy ghouls. I sit down at the table with a can of cider and feel at ease. I fit right in with everyone, and I reconsider if the guys did this on purpose or not. If they did, maybe it wasn’t to claim me.

“You could have told me,” I whisper as Hudson takes a seat beside me.

He tips his hat. “I just wanted to see if you really trusted me.”

I don’t know how to respond, so I don’t. This whole atmosphere is different from Stonehaven when I had to dress up and lord it over everyone at every party. I blend in perfectly, and the pressure is off. My shoulders ease downward as I sit back in my chair and sip my ale. I loosen up, but I watch what I drink, mixing in a few canned seltzers.

Eventually, Asher wanders outside to get a beer from a cooler. He’s completely into mixing music and looks sexy moving to the beat as he walks around. I slip in beside him. “I thought Halloween would be the perfect holiday to play metal,” I tease him.

Asher smiles. “I have strict orders to keep the ladies dancing. I’m dusting off the Backstreet Boys.”

I gag. “You must be joking.”

He winks and heads back toward the house. A pretty girl stops him before he goes through the door, the same one who checked him out at the first party. She’s dressed like a cabaret dancer with shapely legs in glitter tights. Asher grins as he opens the door wider and then follows her into the house. I stare at the screen door as if I can watch him through it. I hide the scowl on my lips while I sip my beer. I shouldn’t be jealous, but I feel it pinch my heart.

“What are you thinking?” Hudson asks, looking at the door, then at me. “Greedy girl.”

I shove him playfully and then quickly cloak the attitude. Finally, I’m having fun at a party and not focusing on myself. But Wren might be right. I should be looking out for husband material or at least SO material. And Hudson, Jaxon, and Asher aren’t it, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have a fun time.

That girl Raine comes out the back door. She’s dressed as a lumberjack in her flannel and knit cap, looking a little lost in a crowd of goth creatures. I wave her over.

“You decided to come.” I give her a hug.

“Yeah, but I’m feeling a little out of place.” She looks around at the amazing costumes. “None of these costumes look homemade.”

“Here.” I place my top hat on her head. “Now, you’re a ritzy lumberjack.”

She laughs, modeling the hat as we head over to the cooler to get another wicked ale.

“I saw your friend inside,” she says, “but I wasn’t getting a good vibe off her.”

“Are you talking about Wren?” I ask, and she nods. “Don’t sweat it. We went to boarding school together.” I laugh when Raine’s eyes widen.

“I didn’t know you’re rich,” she says. “You don’t act snobby.”

I smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Not everyone who goes to boarding school is rich, by the way.”

She grins. “You’re def more down to earth.”

“That happens when you take a fall and land on your ass,” I mutter, and she eyes me, but I laugh it off. We head over to the grill to get a plant burger to avoid filling up on alcohol.

I do the wave to Wren, Prisha, and Tracey when we go inside. Raine is introduced to the other girls, and then we dance a bit before we split up again. My gaze catches on Kurt, who keeps checking me out, and I end up dancing with him. I’m feeling smug as we slow dance, and I let him lean in close, knowing that Asher is watching the entire time. I laugh and throw my head back, casting my gaze in his direction, and my heart halts a beat.

He’s not looking. The pretty girl is standing beside him, and they’re studying the playlist on his laptop. The light illuminates their faces, and she keeps smiling at him. I have to force my eyes off them and place them back on Kurt, but I’m not as into flirting anymore. I hope my feelings aren’t going to get in the way of hooking up with the right one. Lord knows, I don’t need the wrong one.

Chapter 30

Charlotte

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