Page 7 of Wicked Games (Fallen Royals 2)

“I’m most curious about this question. Why is Caleb set on ruining your life?” He taps his pen on his lip. “Dare I answer?”

“Knock yourself out.”

“You ruined his life first,” he reasons. “At least, that’s the way my parents explained it.”

I stare at him. “What?”

“What part of that was confusing?”

“The part where your parents were talking about it.”

He chuckles, setting the notebook down next to him. “Ah. Caleb’s aunt and mine are second cousins.”

“Holy shit. You’re related? I didn’t—”

“Distantly,” he says in a tone that ends all of my other questions.

He stands, and I take a quick step backward.

That door really needs a lock.

“You think he won’t come here searching for you?” Ian walks to the door.

Does he realize that by standing in the doorway, he cages me in? Boys like him have all the power. I shouldn’t be taken aback by that.

He’s still watching me, and I realize he asked me a question.

“He might,” I admit. “He’ll probably search high and low for me.”

Ian scoffs. “Well, I guess that’ll put you in a predicament tonight.”

“What’s tonight?”

“Party.”

Of course. It’s Saturday.

“We just had the ball,” I protest. “And you’re hosting a party? Here?”

He shrugs. “Yep.”

It must be a desperate bid to cure his loneliness. He’s all alone in this big house for the whole winter. I’d get lonely, too. And lonely people do dangerous things.

The predicament must be whether or not I’ll show my face. “Is Caleb going to be here?”

He smirks.

I groan, throwing my hands up. “You couldn’t have warned me before—”

“Before what, Wolfe? Before you got settled?” He looks pointedly at my bag by the door. “You didn’t even take off your shoes.”

True. It’s a runaway kid habit. Be ready to go in an instant.

I shake my head. “There’s not even a lock on the door—”

“You can hide out in my room.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Just imagine if Caleb found you? How pissed he would be.”

He’s positively gleeful.

---