Page 71 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

“Little wolf,” he greets me.

“Where’s Caleb?”

A muscle in his jaw jumps.

I fold my arms. “Come on, Theo. Don’t make me beg.”

His eyes darken, and I involuntarily take a step back.

“Don’t mistake our moment in the woods for kindness,” he says. “And as for Caleb, it’s none of your business. He’s taking a sick day.”

“A sick day,” I repeat, my abdomen clenching. When has Caleb ever been sick? As a kid—never. Since then, I don’t know.

Theo brushes past me. “Leave it alone, Margo.”

I shake my head. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s not leaving something alone.

Riley waits for me outside the library, her foot tapping. “Eli invited us to sit with them,” she says. “Caleb isn’t here, so I figured—”

“It’s fine,” I say, walking by her. The encounter with Theo has me thinking… and plotting. “What’d you bring?”

“Figured I’d get hot lunch today,” she mumbles. Her cheeks turn red.

“Look at you, Riley Appleton.” I laugh. “Eli’s influence, huh?”

“He might’ve offered to buy it. And who am I to mock hot lunch, when it means I don’t have to eat another tuna fish sandwich made with ‘love’ from my dad?”

“Fair enough.”

She’s been griping about tuna for weeks. It’s about time she’s done something about it.

We go to the lacrosse table. Only a few weeks ago, I was welcomed with open arms. The guys don’t exactly roll out the red carpet this time, but Liam shuffles to the side and pats the seat next to him.

I sit, emptying my bagged lunch, while Riley slides in across from me. Eli already got their lunches, and the table is suddenly full. Ignoring Theo’s pursed expression, I turn to Liam. “Where’s Caleb today?”

Liam coughs. “Um, sick.”

“With what?”

“Huh?”

“A cold, the flu, pneumonia…?” I shrug. “There are just so many things, some more serious than others.”

“Drop it, Margo,” Theo snaps.

I raise my eyebrow. “Eli?”

He lifts his head.

“Why’s Caleb out with a mysterious sickness?”

Riley groans. “This is why you didn’t even hesitate—”

“You live with him, for God’s sake,” I continue. It shouldn’t bother me this much, but it’s just another mystery that I don’t want to deal with. I need answers. Crave them as much as I crave Caleb’s touch.

When did I become a junkie? Addicted to Caleb—no better than my mother and her drugs—no matter how bad he is for me.

It takes his lack of attention for me to realize it.

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