Page 78 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

He goes in the opposite direction, the door to the hallway banging against the wall, and he returns just a few moments later. Jack and Hale are still standing there.

“Move your asses,” the coach barks. “You. You’re not one of my players.”

I flinch, for a split second thinking he’s caught me. But then Liam says, “Just here to take Theo home, sir.”

“So be it. Check in with the doctor on your way out, Alistair. I want a full report on my desk before the game is over.”

And then… we’re alone again.

Theo moves toward the stalls. My door rattles, the flimsy lock barely holding it together, and he sighs. “Open up.”

I hop down from the toilet seat and slide the bolt. He pushes the door open slowly, and I meet his gaze. He seems… smug. Meanwhile I’m lost, unsure of what the hell just happened. The bottle, Hale’s anger, Theo’s… Theoness. None of it makes sense, except I came down here because I was worried.

“Are you going to explain it?” I ask, crossing my arms.

He straightens. “If I do, you’re an accomplice.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s if you get caught, and if I get dragged into it. I know you.”

I know you. I thought I did, anyway. I would’ve wagered anything—until he let these two weeks pass without a fight. Until I had to steal his car to get a response from him.

“Lux.” He reaches out and cups my cheek. “Do you really want to know?”

I scowl. “I’m dark. I can handle whatever you’ve done.”

I don’t even point out that I’m still here, even after he burned that body. Even after everything—the torment of being near him but not, and him almost drowning me. In a way, that seems like a fitting way to go, the opposite of how he destroyed the one who tried to hurt me.

He sighs and lifts his gaze to Liam. “Lux will drive me home.”

Liam narrows his eyes—not at his friend, but at me. Still, his words are directed at Theo. “I’ve seen her drive. You sure about that?”

“I drive perfectly well.” I fold my arms over my stomach. “When I’m not fleeing a crime scene.”

Theo purses his lips and grabs his own bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He wraps his free arm around my shoulders, cinching me to his side.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re helping me balance.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. He smells of sweat and sandalwood, and I have the unruly instinct to put my arm around his waist. I don’t, though. I keep them locked across my front so I don’t do anything stupid. But I don’t resist the way his fingers bite into my skin, or the weight he leans on me.

We navigate the hallways and outside, toward his car. It’s in perfect shape, as I expected. No one would’ve harmed his baby at the conservation parking lot. Or in general, I suspect.

It isn’t until we’re inside—me at the wheel and Theo taking up space in the passenger seat—that he finally speaks.

“Steroids,” he says.

I glance at him. “He’s on them?”

“He just started.”

“They don’t really work like that…”

He shrugs. I start the car and zoom out of the lot. His car handles nicely, even if I’m rough on it. And being an aggressive driver is easily my favorite way to annoy Theo. The car catapults onto the road, and we’re both shifted back by the force of my acceleration.

“Come on, I’m dying of curiosity.”

“And I’m going to die in this car.” His voice is strangled.

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