Page 24 of Wicked Court

“Actually, I believe I can, Miss Wraithwood.”

He advances, lips curving. My nostrils flare at the scent of his tobacco cologne, mixed with something darker, more sinister. Like … soil on a grave.

“Leave me alone.” I spit out, blinking away my fear. “I’m not interested in any of you. How many times do I have to say it?”

I fist my key ring in my hand, the jagged ends of my keys poking out between my fingers like homemade brass knuckles. It brings me comfort when I turn my back on him and continue the walk to my car.

“Wilder tells me differently,” he says.

Cav follows me, swooping around and placing a hand on my car door when I try to open it. I yank at the handle again, then push at his arm, but neither budges.

I snarl, “Get away from me before I screa?—”

Cav flips me around until my back slams against the car and his arms frame me on both sides.

He leans down and whispers in my ear. “Scream all you want. That’s what I like.”

My cry dies in my throat.

It hurts to breathe, even when he pushes off the car and steps back, putting space between our bodies.

Cav draws out the moment, his focus moving from my eyes to my mouth when he says, “You’ve been asking about the Court. What a brave little soul you are.”

My heart deafens my hearing.

I’m not sure if Darcy told him about our chat, or if he knows enough rats around the university to alert him whenever his name’s brought up. Both could be true. But I look at him with a straight face.

“Not exactly. I wanted to know about you and your friends. It never occurred to me you were part of a secret boys’ only club. But I’m curious, do you meet in a treehouse in your backyard?”

Cav’s amused smile drops. For a convincing second, I think he’s about to kill me until a low, deathly chuckle escapes his lips. “Your kindergarten insult tells me all I need to know about your ignorance.”

He’s all corners and edges under the dim glow of the streetlights. Cav Nightshade is not someone you forget; his name is as unique as his attractiveness. Pale, but with so many angles, he carries shadows on him at all times.

I can’t allow him to get under my skin, no matter how much of a dangerous heartthrob with an agenda he is.

If Sasha could see me now…

“I’m not the one who sought you out to insult you,” I say. “So if you don’t mind, I’d like to get into my car and leave you in my rearview mirror.”

I turn to the driver's side door, but he follows with ease, cutting me off. We stand there, a breath between us. My skin responds with heat I can’t understand, so I retreat, but he keeps up, maintaining our heated proximity.

Cav inclines his head, then lifts his hand, running his fingers through my hair.

I want to flinch, but don’t. I’m too focused on his face and how mesmerized he is by my strands flowing through his long fingers.

“Tell me about your brother,” he murmurs.

My muscles spasm at the word brother.

Cav senses my unease because his smile widens. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pins me to his body while his other hand strokes my cheekbone gently.

“Your brother’s death has haunted you for far too long, hasn’t it?”

It’s not a question. His voice resonates against my skin like living darkness as he leans in closer.

I struggle, try to lean my face away as much as I can, but it’s useless.

I nod stiffly, unable to speak past the lump forming in my throat. Cav is cruel in his pain, knowing full well how raw this wound still is after all six years of living with Maverick’s unsolved murder.

---