Page 50 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)

We’ve been driving along a tree-lined road for a few miles, and he turns onto a gravel driveway. It goes through another grove of trees, and then the lake house appears. It’s surrounded by tall grass, set on a hill. Lights pour out of the windows, and music floats toward us. There are already a bunch of people spilled across the lawn. We park and hop out, and I take a second to swipe on the lipstick.

Skylar watches me, wearing a slight smile. “Take your hair down.”

“What?”

“Trust me, it’ll help. And…” She undoes the top button of my shirt, then pulls my hair tie out for me. She loops it around my wrist and fluffs my hair, flipping it forward over my shoulders. “Shake it out?”

I do, mimicking her movements, then raise my eyebrow.

“Perfect. They won’t be able to resist.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not trying to seduce anyone.”

“Well, speak for yourself. I just wanted you looking hot so guys would approach us. Then I’ll sucker them in with my personality.” She links her arm in mine and laughs.

“You want that?” I ignore the part where she called me hot, or else my face will get hotter than it already is.

She shrugs. “I wouldn’t mind a summer fling. Or even a boyfriend, you know?”

Amelie, Jake, and Ian have disappeared.

I draw Skylar to a stop. “Eli… is he really dating someone?”

“What happened between you two?”

I scowl. “Literally nothing. Well, just that seven minutes in heaven…”

“Ah.” She grins. “Got it.”

“No—”

“It’s fine. I got you.” She tows me to the house.

There’s no sign of Eli, and I release a slow breath. The tension fades the deeper in we get. It’s a beautiful inside, decorated like a true beach home—although it’s sort of hard to tell, packed with people.

Skylar gets us both cups of the jungle juice Jake mentioned, and I take a hesitant sip. The flavor of the vodka is still on my tongue, but this is surprisingly sweet.

And maybe a little dangerous.

“Cheers,” she murmurs, clanking her drink against mine.

There are shouts outside, and we follow the noise down a path through the dunes. It leads to the beach, where there are a lot more people. Shirtless boys and girls in bikini tops and tiny shorts. Some kick the water at each other. A few are already kissing in the shadows.

And the fire…

Pallets have been stacked in a ring of stones, and someone is crouched beside it, striking matches. Smoke trails up into the sky.

“They’re actually starting it the right way,” Skylar murmurs. “I’ve heard horror stories of bonfire parties where they go crazy squirting accelerant into the flames. Just don’t get too close if you see that stuff happening.”

I bite my lip. “The last thing I want to happen is catch on fire.”

“Exactly.”

The more I drink, the more I relax. And the next thing I know, Skylar and I are dancing in the sand next to the fire, our drinks held high above our heads.

Someone catches my waist and pulls me close, and I tumble into him. My head falls back, and my gaze finds Eli’s face.

“What do you want?” I ask.

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