Page 13 of Lords of Ruin: Savage

“You disappeared in the middle of the semester,” Rudy says, quieter. “I know you’ve been through shit, but I also know you did some bad things.”

My stomach drops. “What do you mean, bad things? What are you talking about Rudy?”

“Freshman week,” he says quickly. “When you were drunk, after Vincent left, you told me you were a bad person who did bad things. Which, for the record, I don’t believe. But now you disappear? That can’t be a coincidence, right? Are you running from the mess you made?”

My fingers press against my temple, but it doesn’t help.A bad person who did bad things.I can still hear my own voice from that night, the bitterness in every syllable.

I swallow hard, trying to shake off the words, but they cling to me. “Partially. But that’s exactly why I’ll be back. In a week…” I trail off, looking around the unfamiliar room. “…A month, tops.”

“I can cover you for a month.” His voice is almost teasing, but I hear the underlying strain. “You owe me a damn burger and sake bomb when you get back to RISD. I’m gonna need it.”

I grin despite myself, leaning back into the bed. “Rudy,” I squeal, “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”

“Yes…” he drawls.“But I’d love to hear it again because I’m gonna have to lie to Santiago, and that bitch is scary.”

“Rudy…” I sing his name. “Literally the most perfect man in the world. Rudy?—”

“Wow, little devil.” A smooth, raspy voice says and I nearly jump out of my skin at the sound. I turn and see Vincent standing there with his arms crossed over his expansive chest. “I knewyou were cruel but professing your love to a guy in the middle of our home is just diabolical.”

“Diabolical?” I repeat, trying to keep my voice steady. “You know, I’ve never been called that before.”

His lips twitch again, but this time, there’s a smoldering glint in his eyes. He takes a slow step forward, closing the distance between us, his presence overwhelming. His blue eyes are dark with intent, studying me as if I’m the very thing he’s been hunting.

“Well, isn’t that what you are, little devil?” he murmurs. “A diabolical little mastermind here to manipulate us... A pawn who comes to bring the King to his knees?”

His words slide over me like a caress, but the way he says them—low, dangerous—makes my pulse quicken. Every muscle in my body tightens, as if some primal instinct is warning me.

I open my mouth, but my breath catches in my throat as he steps closer, his chest nearly brushing mine. The heat from his body is almost unbearable, sending a shiver down my spine. His scent, rich and intoxicating, surrounds me. It’s familiar—cedarwood and a familiar aroma that makes my head spin.

I’m trapped, my heart hammering in my chest, but I can’t pull away. I want to be closer than I am now and there is not a body part of mine absent from the touch of him.

“Willow?” Rudy’s voice breaks through the haze, but I don’t move to speak.

And then Vincent smirks, leaning in just enough for me to feel the heat of his breath against my ear. Without breaking eyecontact, he reaches down, snatches my phone out of my hand with surprising gentleness.

He brings it to his ear and says, his voice calm but firm, “Willow is going to be preoccupied for the foreseeable future. Don’t call back.”

My mouth opens, but no words come out at first. It’s only when I can finally breathe again that I manage to choke out, “Hey, that was rude.”

“No, it was effective.” Vincent’s leering smile widens, and he leans in closer, his voice dropping lower, a teasing undertone creeping in. “You’re not allowed to have boyfriends, Willow.”

I blink, my breath hitching. My fists clench at my sides.

“Iamnot allowed?” I repeat, my voice icy, cutting through the charged air between us.

Vincent’s eyes darken, the playful edge in his smile slipping away as his brows furrow. He steps closer, closing the space between us until there’s barely any air left to breathe. The heat from his body presses against mine, and I fight the urge to retreat. His presence is suffocating, intoxicating.

“Yes, Willow,” he says, his voice low and deadly serious now, no hint of teasing. “You are not allowed.” His gaze locks onto mine, almost daring me to contradict him. “Not after what you did in Rhode Island.”

“Vincent-”

“If you are allowed to say no, then I am too, princess.” He hisses in my ear, and my blood runs cold. “No.”

7

WILLOW

Two Yearsago

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