Page 29 of Tyrant

The two guys at the front door open it for us. The house is packed with people, as expected for a party for people around my age. Honestly, part of me expected to see everyone in masks or togas or maybe even naked. The sense of familiarity and normalcy eases me.

The Xannyis helping too.

We go into the living room where the lights are off but there are neon glowing lights moving to the beat of the music. Naya breaks away from us right away and starts dancing with some guy. She’s practically fucking the guy and then she tilts her head back and opens her mouth like a baby bird waiting for food. The guy drops a pill into her mouth and she swallows it with ease and continues to dance.

I stay with Lia and we go from the living room to the dining room where a game of strip beer pong is being played. There are two shirtless guys and three girls who are in their bras. Next it’s the kitchen where a tall guy with messy black hair and black sunglasses stands behind the counter, mixing up drinks and popping the caps off beer bottles for everyone.

“This is Mac,” Lia says to me. “And don’t let his smile fool you. He’s a fucking psycho asshole.”

“Whoa,” the guy behind the counter says. “Cheat on a bitch one time and this is how you get treated?”

“You cheated on Lia?” I ask.

He leans against the counter and takes his sunglasses off to reveal emerald-green eyes. A wickedly handsome smile. I’m talking instant tingling throughout my body just looking at this guy.

“Mac is short forMacabre,” he says so cool. “It’s all about death, deception, gory and gruesome. That’s what’s in my heart.”

I’m flustered. Lia stands with her arms folded, not impressed.

“Now what are you two beautiful ladies drinking tonight?” Mac asks. “Or should I just pack up a few drinks and the three of us choose a bedroom and we’ll enjoy ourselves until the morning light…?”

“You think you’re fucking smooth, huh?” I ask.

“Rock-hard and smooth,” Mac says.

I feel an arm suddenly go around my shoulder. A large hand squeezing my right shoulder. I look to my left and quickly gasp when I don’t recognize the person next to me. He’s touching me and I don’t want him to.

“Careful, Des, she’s claimed by Ty,” Lia says in a beautifully bitchy tone.

I don’t know who this Des person is…

… but he looks right at Lia and tells her that I’m going to be his wife.

“Wife?!”I cry out.

“It’s how this goes,” he says, pulling me closer to him.

I throw an elbow and resist. I look at Lia. I look at Mac.Someone? Help?

“I love when a new arrival…” he says with a laugh that makes me shiver. “Don’t worry, you’ll get your time withTy. He’ll break you in. But then you’re mine forever.”

He puckers up his lips and moves toward me. He’s got a hold on me I can’t really fight off at the moment. My brain screams,What the fuck is going on?!

His lips are moving toward me one second and then the next… he’s gone… It’s almost like an evil magic trick. It takes me a second to realize that a fist has hit him in the face. The edge of the fist has very slightly brushed against my upper lip. I realize the fist belongs to…

“Tyrant,”I whisper as I watch him bring his fist back once more.

“Stay the fuck away from her,” Tyrant bellows.

I’m caught in the middle of a fucking war right now.

Mac jumps over the counter, sending bottles and cups scattering to the floor. Glass shatters, gaining the attention of anyone nearby. As Mac hooks his arm into Tyrant’s arm to stop him from striking once more, Tyrant throws a left hook into Mac’s side. Mac almost crumbles to the floor.

Desis standing, rubbing his face, flexing his already swollen jaw. And he’s laughing. It’s not a maniacal laugh. It’s just a deep laugh. The tension between this guy and Tyrant is way too thick to try and breathe in.

I feel the room start to get a little bit shaky. I reach for Tyrant and grab his shirt. I reach back, desperate to feel Lia. She’s the only one I really know here. This feeling of being a stranger and constantly in danger is getting old.

“Take good care of my wife, Ty,”Dessays.

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