Page 8 of Now You're Mine

Thump, thump, thump.“Your queen consort.”

Everyone stomps, causing the wood floor to vibrate, then finishes the greeting with a unified“Hoo-ah!”

Lux emerges in her white robe, looking fucking gorgeous and ethereal. Her long chestnut hair flows in waves over her shoulders, under the deep hood that’s pulled over her head. Wyn walks in behind her but stops just as she enters. Lux continues on to the throne.

As she walks, her robe flows out behind her, making her look every bit the queen I always knew she was. The scared Lux from a few weeks ago is now a queen, and it’s a sight to see.

People are looking over their shoulders at the four of us, wondering, I’m sure, if we’re going to let this shit stand. It must be strange seeing the four Sacred Sons on the sidelines, just as clueless as they are.

Another thump from Austin, calling everyone to attention, silencing them. As soon as the room is quiet, Lux lowers herself onto the throne like she fucking owns it.

“You’re probably all wondering why I brought you here tonight,” she starts. “There has been an injustice that I feel we, as a society, must correct…”

Aninjustice?What the fuck is this?

“My friend, Bree Langley, was brutally murdered just a couple miles from here, washed up on the beach with multiple stab wounds...”

As Lux speaks, Wyn carries out a stiff poster board with photos on it and props it up on an easel. It’s a photo of Wyn’s smiling face, looking carefree, a photo of a silver knife, and a sketch of the tattoo Jackson had gotten from a witness.

“The person she was last seen with had a knife with the initials W.H., and a fresh tattoo that looks like this—” She indicates the poster. “And I suspect this person, whoever he is, might be in this very room. So if you have any information, come see me.”

I glance around the room. Okay, so this meeting was about Bree? And she suspects it was a Burning Crown member who killed her? That’s fucking news to me. What makes her think that?

“Now that we have that out of the way, there’s another matter I would like to address…” she continues.

Her gaze wanders over the crowd of faces until her eyes land onme.I widen my stance and cross my arms over my chest, not sure what I’m preparing myself for.

“Roman Rush,” she intones. “Step into the center of the circle, please.”

Lucas and the guys all look at each other, likewhat the fuck?

Dropping my arms, I do as instructed, because why the fuck not? I could argue with all of this, but I’m curious. Where is she going with all this?

Moving to the center of the circle, I settle into a wide stance. Then I lift my hands and raise a brow. “Here I am.”

This better be good.

CHAPTER FIVE

Lux

Roman is standingin the center of the semi-circle, as instructed. I’m shocked, actually. He’s always the one in control, and I’ve never seen him take direction from anyone.

But the look on his beautiful face says everything. He hates this, and he’s barely tolerating it.

Fuck him.

He can see how it feels to be moved around like a pawn, unsure of what’s happening. Being toldnothing.

I rise from the throne and step off the dias, so I’m on level ground with him. Then I approach, until I’m only a few feet away.

Fuck, this is harder than I imagined it would be. Just seeing his face is like a punch in the gut, and my heart is beating so fast, it feels like a jackrabbit thumping against my ribcage.

“Kneel before your queen,” I say, my gaze unflinching.

He hesitates, his eyes narrowing, his jaw tightening. But after a few heartbeats, he falls to his knees in front of me, head bowed, his face covered by the hood of his robe.

I suck in a long breath and try to calm the anxiety that’s rioting through me. I have Roman Rush, the all-powerful campus king, on his knees. And seeing him like this sends a buzz of energy rushing through my bloodstream.

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