Page 25 of Wicked Court

“Why do you want to know?” I ask hoarsely. “I thought you were all about trying to bang me like Wilder.”

He stills. If I thought his smile dropped before, it now disappears like his lips have never been weightless with happiness.

Cav’s cold thumb strokes my cheekbone. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand, butterfly. You might get hurt.”

“Stop playing games with me.” I force myself to meet his eyes. “And do not mention my brother ever again.”

He hums and kisses my jaw gently, just below my ear. “You’re so stubborn.”

“You’re pathetic,” I spit out, fighting the shivers racking my frame. Fighting him. “You think that’s the only way to make me weak? Through his memory?”

Cav pulls back just enough to look at me, his eyes sparkling like he’s hiding evidence.

“No, I think you could use our help to solve his murder.”

If Cav wasn’t holding me up, I would’ve collapsed. My bones have liquefied.

“W-what did you just say?”

“Think about what you’ve learned about us. Power. Manipulation. Control. We pop those traits like pills. And since you’re so prickly about answering our simple questions, I’ve decided that perhaps we can work together.”

“That’s not teamwork—that’s using my trauma for your personal gain.”

My voice cracks under the weight of my rage and the desire to slap him away.

He leans in, his breath teasing my lips. “Truer words have never been spoken. I’ll be honest with you, butterfly: Give us what we want, or we make your life hell. If I decide I like you, I may solve your brother’s murder while you’re mine, just because I can.”

I shove at his chest. Uselessly, but I need something to showcase my horror. “Are you out of your mind? I’m not fucking property, asshole.”

Cav continues as if he doesn’t have a furious woman locked in his arms. “We have more connections than Titan Falls’s hick-ass police force, and you’ve intrigued me enough to offer our services. But if you want us to offer you a deal you, ask nicely.”

“And like I’ve told you before, I’m not for fucking sale,” I rage-whisper.

But the thought of finding out who killed my brother, why they needed to take him from this world … it’s too agonizing to put to words. “And don’t you dare talk about my brother like he’s nothing but a bonus-round in your Dungeons & Dragons game.”

An almost-smile crosses his lips.

“You’re more difficult to convince than I expected. That will make this more interesting.”

I stare, bewildered by how much I hate and desire him at the same time. It makes me push him away only for me to inch closer, needing to fist his shirt and feel the heat of his chest under my hand before I let go. To prove he’s human.

And when I look away, embarrassment replaces the lust.

He croons above my head, “I’ll get what I want.”

I push him away roughly with both hands. He allows the shove, taking one step back while fumble for the handle, slide into the driver’s seat and slam the door, clutching the steering wheel once the engine starts. Cav smugly stands aside, but not before his eyes narrow with a warning glance.

My mind reels as I put the car in drive and leave him behind.

My driving is chaotic, blurred. I take deep breaths to calm myself, reasoning that crashing into a pole is no way to get back at Cav.

I blink away enough tears to see Wilder leaning against his motorcycle near the university gates, watching me leave. His jaw tenses as if he could chew through the metal of my car and get to me, his hands digging into his leather jacket pockets.

I spin my tires, narrowly avoiding plowing into him.

He slams my car’s hood with the flat of his hand, his eyes an umber storm as he stares through the glass and forces me to screech to a stop.

“Roll down the window, Elara.”

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