Page 46 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

“We didn’t learn a fucking thing,” Eli says.

I shrug. “We learned Matt’s afraid of someone.”

“He’s a pussy.” Theo grabs a flashlight from the floor and clicks off the overhead light. “He plays a tough game, but he’s afraid of his shadow.”

“A lot of people in his life could be threatened,” I say. “And honestly? We’re in no position to threaten any of them.”

“Just his sister,” Liam says. We close up the shed and slowly walk toward the house. “Have you seen her? Instagram model, hot as hell. Lips—”

“All right.” Eli shakes his head. “I love you crazy fuckers, but I need sleep. You two staying?”

Liam and Theo trade a look.

“I’ve got to get home,” Theo says. “Ma will flip out if I’m not there when she wakes up.”

Liam sighs. “Yeah, I’ve gotta take Jake to school now that my car is functioning. So…”

“Keys are in my room,” Eli says. “Come get them.”

Theo doesn’t enter the house, just disappears around the corner without a word. I watch Liam and Eli head toward the stairs, and I contemplate an apology. But what for?

I flip my light on in the basement, half expecting Margo to be waiting for me again. But no, she’s asleep, safe in her room. Away from my darkness.

She sure does know how to bring out the light in me, but the moment she’s gone… she takes the good with her, leaving the broken mess she created.

No, that isn’t quite right. I need to stop blaming her.

I rinse the blood away.

I was willing to break Margo so our pieces would fit, but Matt took that away from me. She’s more damaged than I am now. Fragile. One wrong move and she’ll shatter, and it wasn’t my decision. Hers, neither.

No matter.

I’ll throw myself against the truth until I’m dust. And then nothing will separate us.

13

Margo

I’m not sure what wakes me up. One minute I’m out, dreaming of my father, and the next, my eyes are open in the dark and my heart is racing.

I blink and try to regain control of my emotions. Fear is the predominant one. It surges through me, slippery and toxic. I sit up slowly, practicing my deep breathing.

A trick the doctor taught me before I left.

Panic follows close behind the fear, and I reach blindly for my phone before I realize I don’t have it anymore. I squint around the dark room, but nothing seems out of place.

My attention goes to the window. The nights have been getting colder, but tonight was unseasonably warm. The window is cracked, letting in a strong breeze.

And beyond the window, a light bouncing across the lawn.

I climb out of bed and press my nose to the glass. It’s hard to make out, but it looks like one person rushing away from the storage shed. The light moves erratically, then they disappear around the side of the house.

I throw a glance over my shoulder, checking my door. It’s shut. It doesn’t have a lock on it, but Eli’s parents are sleeping right down the hall. No one would come in here to attack me with them so close… right?

Voices seep in through the window, and I hunch down. It’s ridiculous, the idea that whoever is out there might see into my dark room.

Four bodies moving through the darkness. One flashlight illuminating their feet.

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