Page 27 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

We watched her go back to the house.

“All right.” Lydia clapped. “Ready?”

She buckled us into our seats in the car. We were old enough to do it ourselves—that’s what Caleb told her, anyway, but she just smiled.

“You’re growing up before my eyes.” She kissed him on the forehead.

Something in my chest tightened and loosened at the same time.

Mom liked me. But she didn’t like me that much.

And Dad…

“Are you okay, Margo?” Lydia asked.

Mom would kill me if I told the Ashers anything, so I nodded.

We got to the park, and Lydia laid out a blanket. It was warm and sunny, and Caleb took off toward some of his friends. I sprawled out next to Lydia and closed my eyes again. The sun heated my body.

In the distance, Caleb and his friends were laughing.

Laughing.

Screaming.

Blank.

No, I need to remember.

Caleb and his friends were playing.

I sat up, confused. Alone.

Blank.

I screamed.

* * *

Present

I open my eyes, looking around slowly. I’m in my old bedroom, curled into a ball on the floor. How I got here is a mystery. One minute I was walking into the house, the next… a memory.

But it isn’t as sharp as I need it to be.

It isn’t as clear.

I stand and go to the dresser, acting on a suspicion. It’s a shock more than anything to see a trail of disturbed dust.

Caleb and I were in here before, and then he shows up with the bracelet at the ball?

I had lost it.

I was helpless, scrambling across the floor of my makeshift room. Then Angela took me away. All that time, I thought a foster sibling had taken it, or the parents tossed it.

He stole it.

He brought it back here, set it on my dresser in a house that hasn’t been touched in seven years.

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