Page 52 of Wicked Court

“Why.”

Most people would phrase it as a question. Not Cav.

The four of them circle me, their eyes feasting on mine as if daring me to deny them the chase.

They’re all so different yet so similar—dark, hungry creatures who seem to know exactly what I was up to but want me to say it anyway so it gives them the excuse to bite.

“I was...” I have to think fast. “...looking into my heritage.”

“And you ended up at the mines on the outskirts of town?” Kaspian inclines his head, his green eyes shifting from charming and inviting to calculating in an instant.

“Yes, we track you,” he says to my surprised expression. “Nothing you have is off-limits to us. Your room. Your belongings. Your car.”

I inwardly curse. Of course they’d have access to all the creepy electronics this fucked up world has invented and get to use them for their own twisted pleasure.

“How about my bathroom?” I retort with a rush of defiance. “You like seeing that, too?”

Kaspian doesn’t flinch. “Parts of it.”

Frustration, the sheer feeling of ineptitude when battling them, makes me want to vomit.

Wilder’s fingers trail down my arm slowly. “You’re as intriguing as you are frustrating, sweetwitch. There aren’t a lot of people who’d continue sparring with us at this point.”

“None alive,” Axe murmurs, but I catch it.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask. “You’re going to kill me?”

I mean, these guys clearly aren’t just rich boys enjoying power-plays in their secret club. But killers? Murderers?

My throat nearly closes up. I turn to Cav. “Did you have something to do with Maverick’s death?”

Cav’s eyes crinkle with a soulless smile. “No, sweetheart. We wouldn’t be playing with you so much if we had.”

I shrink into my seat, unsure if that was an answer or not.

I feel Wilder’s hot breath against the side of my neck, his lips trailing up to nip at my earlobe, sending another thrall of shivers through me.

Damn him. Damn them.

“Such a tease,” he whispers, his voice rough with desire. “Probably should’ve warned us you were going out tonight.”

His hand slides on my knee and starts tracing slow circles just above the hem of my skirt. “I would have prepared myself for how fucking irresistible you look tonight.”

I bat him away, but his fingers curl like spider-legs, claiming their spot and daring me to test his fangs.

My body doesn’t hate it. Heat, slick and wet, practically coats my inner thighs even as my mind screams at me to end this.

The scent of alcohol and sex fills the surrounding air, making it thick and heady as if we’re all drowning in it.

As if in sync, they all press closer.

Kaspian’s fingers dance across the back of my neck before trailing to untie the clasp of Maverick’s simple gold necklace, pulling it off over my head with a wink. “Not the one we’re looking for, but pretty and warm from your skin. I think I’ll keep it.”

“Give that back,” I snarl.

Axton bites his lip as he watches me intently, seemingly aroused by their playful assault.

Cav doesn’t touch me, either, but his watchfulness is pure, mind-fuck intimidation. “You’ve pushed enough of my buttons. Getting the Vultures involved in what is purely our territory, our find, was too much. You’re coming with us. Now.”

---