Page 55 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

I don’t give a fuck.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

She stiffens, then throws her arms around my waist. I raise my hands away from her body. I don’t want to touch her more than I have to—and why would I want to, if Margo isn’t here to witness it?

That’s not part of the plan.

I don’t like anyone’s hands on me. Except Margo.

“Amelie is coming back,” she sniffs. “Two months early!”

“And that’s a… bad thing?”

Best I can recall, she and Amelie have been good friends since day one. Margo used to be in their mix, too. The fact that Savannah openly turned on Margo has been nothing short of delicious to watch unfold. Poor girl carried a torch for Margo for about a year, until the bullies beat her down. Eleven-year-olds are ruthless.

It’s hard being the friend of a coke-whore’s daughter.

“No,” Savannah cries, using my shirt as a face-wipe. She nuzzles her head into my chest. “It’s great, it’s just, she’s coming back early, and—”

My lip curls.

And in their friend group, Amelie is in charge. The captain of the cheerleading squad. The queen bee. She’s been gone this semester, studying abroad. And in her absence, Savannah has stepped into her role almost too flawlessly.

I don’t think she needs me to remind her that there are consequences for every action.

“So you’re just upset that she’s going to knock you off the top of the pyramid?”

She pulls back, staring up at my face. She nods emphatically. “Yes, yes, that’s it. But I thought if… maybe you and I…”

I push her off of me. Enough is enough. “You came here to proposition me. To use me against your best friend?”

Devious little devil.

My friends have left the room.

“Well…”

I glower at her, and she cowers. I don’t usually let anyone but Margo and my friends see the demons under my skin, but I let them out for her. She needs to know to be afraid of me. “Bad idea, Sav.”

“We—”

I stalk forward. Satisfaction spreads through me when she takes a quick step backward, then another one. “We, what? We fucked once? You spread rumors about us dating, that I squashed inside of a week?” I sneer. “Tell me. How did that work out for you?”

She turns pale. “I’m sorry—”

“Get off your high horse,” I snap. “Amelie is coming back, and you’ll go back to being second…” I lift my eyebrow. “Well, now third best.”

She gasps. “What?”

“Amelie and Margo were friends, too. And while she didn’t defend Margo… she doesn’t hate her as much as you do.” Probably because we only bullied you about being friends with her. Of the two of them, Amelie is the traitorous snitch.

But I don’t say that.

Savannah lets out a ragged breath. “I’m such an idiot,” she moans. She turns and runs, slamming the front door closed behind her.

I wonder how Margo will react to the news that her ex-friend is back. If there will be fireworks when the two collide… Especially since Amelie still thinks we’re dating.

Part of me hopes the little sheep will drop the act and draw first blood. My dick stiffens at the thought of Margo going after Amelie. Wild fantasy. I doubt either girl would play fair in that fight.

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