Page 23 of His To Claim

I pull my arm out of his grasp and turn to him scowling. “And you’re about to get kicked in the nuts if you put your hands on me again,” I snarl, walking off with Stella and Jade. Drake and Kai are right behind us and I hear the Horsemen grunt as the crowd disperses. It’s crazy how these people know when they’re needed and when they need to back the fuck off. True kings ruling over their loyal subjects.

About half an hour later, we finally made it back safely to the Dahlia House and up to our quarter. It was supposed to be a slow walk from the private beach but we had to stop every five minutes because someone was toppling over.

Stella’s showered, dressed, and now laying down in my bed. I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone in her room in case she vomits in the middle of the night. It’s happened once before.

My mother got shit-faced one night when Chaz first got locked up and passed out on the living room couch. I woke up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water and found her almost choking on her own vomit. It scared the shit out of me like it would any eight-year-old, but the following day I was reprimanded for making a big deal out of it and crying like a little bitch. Almost regretted saving her that time. Almost.

It’s nearly one a.m. so I grab my pajamas out of my closet before heading to the bathroom to change. Drake and Kai dropped us off at the front of the house not risking coming inside, but we made plans to meet up out front tomorrow before heading over to the assembly all together.

When I walk out of the bathroom, I hear Ruby stumbling in, dressed in only her red bikini, the rest of her clothes bunched up in her hand. She winks at me and heads over to her room. I shake my head laughing softly to myself as I head back into my room.

I slowly sit on the bed beside Stella trying not to move or wake her. She feels me and turns around mumbling.

“Thanks for tonight, Scarlett,” she says, looking up at me with hazed gray eyes. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that much fun,” she slurs.

“No problem, Silver. You were cool, didn’t treat us differently for coming where we come from.”

“Sorry about my cousin and his friends. I can’t believe I stood up to him like that. I’m sure I’ll regret it tomorrow but for tonight, I’m glad I did. Hope it doesn’t cause you any more problems,” she says, closing her eyes slowly.

I place my hand upon her shoulder, and she opens her eyes again looking up to me, a small grin on her face.

“I’m proud of you, Silver, for standing up to him like you did. Besides, it sounds like he’s had it coming. Your cousin and his friends, the Horsemen, they’re just a bunch of privileged assholes who are one day gonna be knocked off their high horse, pun intended,” I say and we both laugh. “I just hope I’m still here to see it happen.” I pull the covers over her as I move to stand. She reaches out to me grabbing my wrist as she turns her body completely to me.

“Oh, you won’t just be here to witness it. You, Scar, are going to be the reason their empire will fall. Scarlett Steele, you will be their reckoning.”

Eight

SCARLETT

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The blaring sound of the alarm I set for seven o’clock this morning, knowing well enough we’d probably not wake up on our own accord, wakes me abruptly. My head’s throbbing, my body cramping, feeling as if I’ve just barely fallen asleep. Luckily enough, I didn’t have too much to drink last night so at least I’m not hungover, just severely exhausted.

A soft groan comes from beside me and I turn to find Stella spread across the majority of my bed, with the covers pulled over her head.

“How are you feeling, Silver?” I ask, pulling her covers down slightly.

“Better than I deserve,” she mumbles, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “I don’t know what got into me. I never drink like that, especially not the night before school starts. I swear I’m more responsible.”

“Well, it looks like our bad influence has already rubbed off on you.”

“Oh please,” she says, sitting up. Her hair is a mess of strawberry blonde curls, eyes puffy and tired, and her facial expression shows exactly how she’s feeling. “You guys have been nicer to me than anyone has in a long time, and you don’t even know me,” she says with a genuine smile on her face.

I nod agreeing with her. “You came in not judging us, not asking questions, not blaming us for ruining your school’s reputation without even knowing us. You just accepted us for who we are and showed us a hell of a good time given the circumstances of the day. You’re the real deal, Silver. An honest to God unicorn.” She laughs, a small blush creeping over her cheeks as she takes in my compliment.

“We’re going to be best friends,” she says with the widest grin I’ve seen on her since we met. “I can feel it.”

I laugh pushing her playfully. “Come on, Silver, we gotta get ready or we’re gonna be late.” She turns to the alarm clock sitting on the nightstand beside the bed and gasps in horror.

“Crap… that’s the time. We’re going to be so late.”

“Well, I’m gonna shower.” I head over to the bathroom as she scatters anxiously off the bed, tangled in the sheets nearly tripping over herself.

“I’ll go make sure Jade and Ruby are up.” I clear my throat and she halts in the doorway, confused by the way I’m looking at her, smirking and shaking my head. “Right, okay I’ll wake up Jade, and you can wake up Ruby. I’d like to live for my first day of school.” I laugh knowing she’s probably right.

Ruby is not a morning person. She’s actually not an any time-of-day person, especially after being out so late the night before. Girl needs her beauty-sleep and anyone who interrupts it better beware of the wrath of the ferocious dragon when they do.

After one of the fastest showers I’ve ever taken, luckily quick showers were essential at the Grayson’s since we were always running out of hot water, I head back to my room and notice a garment bag similar to the one Stella pulled out of Ruby’s closetyesterday. Stella must have laid it out before heading to her room to get ready.

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