Page 4 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

All of which means one thing: I’m fucked.

Levi stands taller, puffing out his thin chest. I always referred to him as “the rat,” which amazingly he didn’t care for, despite how accurate it was.

Like a rodent, he scurries around gathering intel on everyone and everything to take back to his nest of Hell Prince scum. And if you give him the chance, he’ll shit all over you. The only person he is loyal to is John.

Still, rat or not, he is bigger than I am. Stronger, too.

He reaches out and grabs me again. His hand is an immovable cuff around my forearm.

He pulls me close, his breath hot in my face. He must see me glance around, hoping for some last minute savior, because he smiles.

“You aren’t under John’s protection anymore. You know that, right? No one gives a shit what happens to you.”

“Let me go,” I say evenly. “Even if we aren’t dating, I’m sure John wouldn’t appreciate this.”

The fluorescent light makes Levi’s skin look yellow and sickly. When he smiles wider, a shiver moves down my back.

“You’ve been gone almost the whole summer, honey. You don’t know the first fuckin’ thing about what John wants anymore.”

Before I can really react, Levi yanks me into a small alcove in the alley behind the abandoned building where the underground fight is taking place.

I try to pull against his hold, but I can’t break free.

He’s got me.

Levi flings me against the rough brick wall and pins me there with his hips. My head cracks hard against the bricks. I see stars.

My heart is a jackhammer in my chest, but I can’t move. Can’t breathe.

My entire body is frozen in panic.

Then, suddenly, Levi’s mouth is over mine.

His lips are dry and thin, and his kiss is crushing and unrelenting. There is nothing warm or sensual or pleasurable about it at all. It feels like my teeth are being ground into dust and the smell of alcohol on his breath is so strong I want to gag.

I slam my hands into his chest, surprising him enough that he stumbles back a step and breaks the kiss.

“What the hell?” I curse, wiping at my mouth with the sleeve of my hoodie. “What are you doing?”

He spits on the ground. “Seeing what the big deal is about. John was pissed when you left, and I didn’t get it. What’s so special about you?”

He lurches towards me again.

I try throwing a knee into his balls, but my aim is off and he takes it in the thigh instead. He grunts in pain, but it’s not enough to stop him.

Especially not when he rears back and slaps me.

The stars in my vision double. I taste blood.

And still, no one is coming to help.

“Don’t make it worse for yourself,” he slurs. “Relax and this could be real nice.”

His hands wrap around my wrists, and his body is plastered to mine so thoroughly that I can’t even try to knee him again.

His body rolls against mine, pressing the hardness at his center against my hips. I cringe away from him and try to pull myself free, but my arms feel like limp noodles compared to his.

This is real. This is happening.I can’t think straight. Can’t fight back.

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