Page 129 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

He rolls his eyes. “Does it matter?”

No.

I push myself up and walk toward the bed. There’s a picture on the dresser of Caleb and Eli. It makes me do a double take.

Am I really that dense?

“Caleb… do you live here?”

He stops behind me.

It would explain the sheets covering the furniture at his house. But then… what about his parents?

His finger runs down my spine. “The basement is mine, yes. If and when I ever need it.”

“You took me here when I was drunk.” I pivot until I face him.

“Well, I hate to break it to you, love. You kind of have a bad reaction to my house.”

I shudder. I do.

“Bed.” He looks pointedly at the mattress.

I climb in and lie down, pulling the blanket up to my chin. It smells like him, the same as the shirt. I almost bring it up again—why he’s living here, why he’s being nice—but I can’t do it.

He crawls in beside me, lying flat on his back. His eyes close.

“Sleep,” he says.

If I close my eyes, I might see him.

Caleb exhales and tucks me into his side. I cling to him and force my eyes shut.

“I’ve got you,” he whispers into my hair.

I relax. And eventually, I sleep.

29

Lenora rushes out of the house, down the steps. She throws her arms around me, holding me close. The scent I’ve come to associate with her—orange blossom from her shampoo—envelops me.

Tears prick my eyes.

She pulls back and looks at me. “Robert said something bad happened, and then you didn’t want to come home?”

Caleb didn’t let me out of his sight until I was safely tucked in Riley’s car. Now, Riley stands awkwardly behind me, fidgeting.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

Today, there are new bruises. My stomach looks terrible—worse than yesterday, even—and my neck… there’s no hiding the marks on my skin. Caleb got the marker off my arm, but the bite? That’s going to stay for a while.

I showered this morning, moving slowly. I almost vomited at the thought of reaching up to wash my hair. But then Caleb came in, eyed me, and took over.

The memory of his hands massaging my scalp will keep me warm tonight, that’s for sure.

“My dear girl.” Lenora cups my cheek. “I understand that sometimes it’s better to have a friend’s comfort. Especially since you two have become so close.” She gestures for Riley to come closer and loops her arm around Riley’s shoulders. “Thank you for taking care of her.”

Riley shifts from side to side.

---