Page 76 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

Sebastian is rolled away on the stretcher, and the coach escorts Theo off the field. He’s not walking all right—he sways a bit, his arm over the coach’s shoulders. His helmet dangles from his fingers.

I can’t stay here.

“Lucy—” Ruby tries to grab me.

I brush her off and jog away. Up the stairs, back down the wide hallway to the student entrance. It’s deserted now, everyone focused on the field. Who even gives a shit about the stupid game.

The ambulance zooms past as I’m stepping outside. I circle the stadium until I find the players’ entrance. It’s a lot less grand, only marked by a painted sign and the buses waiting to take the visiting team home. I pull on the door, surprised when it opens without resistance. I expected it to be locked to keep the crazy fans out.

The hallway is dark, and I creep forward. A plaque hangs at a split-off, directing the visiting team to the left. That hallway is lit, and probably wraps all the way around to be closer to their side of the field. It isn’t long before I come upon the coach’s office, then a conference room large enough to seat the whole team, and finally, the locker room.

I press my ear to the door and hear murmuring, so I draw back. I’m not even sure why I’m here. Theo himself said he was fine, but I don’t believe it.

“Give her a minute,” Theo says loudly, his voice clear as day through the door.

Someone laughs. “She doesn’t know where you are.”

I tilt my head. Are they discussing me?

“She can figure it out.”

They lapse back into silence, and I contemplate it. If he didn’t mean me, then going in could be bad. But… I could always talk my way out of it. I take a step back. I shouldn’t burst in there.

“Not so fast, Page,” someone whispers behind me. Their arm wraps around my waist, and a hand covers my mouth. They lift me clear off my feet and carry me forward, into the locker room.

I kick at my captor, struggling like mad. We get into the room, and I lock eyes with Theo. His eyebrows are raised, but he doesn’t stand from his seat on one of the benches.

My heel connects with a shin, and I bite down on a finger. The taste is disgusting—bitter sweat and copper—and they yell. Their hand rips away from my mouth. Blood lingers on my tongue, and they drop me. Unprepared, my feet hit the floor and I jump to the side, finally seeing who manhandled me.

Liam Morrison.

Theo’s best friend.

I glare at him. Liam and I have never quite seen eye to eye. Maybe it was that he was caught in my pranks against Theo one too many times… Or maybe he’s just a dick. Jury’s still out on that one.

“What the fuck?” Theo drawls.

“She was loitering.” Liam shrugs. “You said to watch her.”

“Ridiculous,” I say under my breath. I’m trying not to think about the fact that this is just another way of Theo exerting control. “You had your lackey stalk me.”

“And look—you burst onto the field the moment something happened.”

“Happened?” I parrot. “Shut up. That’s more than just happened. His leg was broken…”

Theo rises and crosses the room, stopping just in front of me. He doesn’t touch me, although this is another one of those times where I might just die if he doesn’t. I can’t begin to dissect my worry—and my subsequent relief. The shock of it.

“Did you see how it happened?” he asks me.

I shake my head.

“Tell her.” He lifts his gaze over my shoulder, to his friend. “You saw it.”

“Sebastian kicked your head, and your head won,” Liam says. “It isn’t a surprise you’re fucking hardheaded, but in the literal sense.”

“Oh my god.” He’s not even bruised. No visible damage, although his head… “How are you standing?”

A door bangs open, and Theo gestures to Liam. Without a word, Liam draws me down to the bathroom stalls, shoving me into one. “Stand on the toilet and keep silent.” He closes the door, and I lock it behind him.

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