Page 21 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

“And it’s an off-limits topic,” I warn. Who even asks that? Callous people, that’s who. “Unless you want to spill all of your trauma secrets.”

She laughs. “I don’t have any.”

Right.

Sebastian chooses that moment to saunter toward us, stopping beside me. “Off-limit topic? Miranda knows no such boundaries.”

She rolls her eyes, but her cheeks’ redness betrays her.

“Psych major,” he tells me. “And, excuse me, I didn’t catch your name earlier.”

I lift my chin. “If I wanted you to know my name, you’d know it.”

He smirks. “Fine. I like a challenge.”

“It’s not a challenge,” I say. “It’s just a fact.”

I leave him standing there with Miranda, more irritated than anything. He’s not Theo. The dance was nice, but… that’s about it. The wild child of the football team, Miranda called him. My mind spins back to Theo. If him and Sebastian get along. If he’s made any friends in the last year outside of his three from high school.

Felicity and others are now dancing inside. The pulse of music assaults my ears, but I welcome the vibrations in my chest. It reminds me that my heart still beats.

I climb the stairs, dodging couples. The smell of weed leads me higher—no pun intended. I follow my nose to one of the last rooms on the third floor. The door is cracked, and cool air blows in from an open window.

I push the door open and pause.

Theo sits on the sill, staring down at the backyard.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

He glances at me. “Contemplating murder.”

I press my lips together. Of course he saw the interaction with Sebastian—even if it was just the conversation after the fire was lit. I wonder if he also saw us dancing but quickly dismiss it. If he had, I’d like to think he would’ve been quicker to act.

“Sebastian seems nice,” I say, coming forward and plucking the joint from his hand. I inhale the smoke and hold it in my lungs for a few seconds, until stars burst at the corner of my vision. I release my breath and repeat, finally closing my eyes and offering it back to him. The high will hit me soon enough. I’ve never been much of a smoker, and I have to resist the urge to cough and look like an idiot. Still, I think I need it to get through this conversation.

He’s just so… infuriating.

Theo doesn’t move to touch me. I don’t even think he sees me. I open my eyes to confirm it and nod to myself. His gaze remains trained down below. Still, his energy is what is directed at me.

“Real charmer.” Something in me just has to goad him about Sebastian. I can’t stop talking, can’t resist poking the bear. I hate that he won’t look at me. I want his eyes on me. Hell, I want more than just his eyes. But he gives me nothing, so I continue. “He’s cute, too—”

Now he moves, rising and grabbing my face. He pivots us and pushes me against the wall beside the window, both hands on my jaw, fingers splayed across my neck and into my hair. He presses his thumbs over my mouth, dragging my lower lip down.

My heart hammers. I’ve got an electrical current under my skin, but I manage to hold on to my wits. I stare at him, wide-eyed, and wait. I don’t see blood when I look at him. I don’t taste it on my tongue. I wanted darkness and ugly thoughts and a man who would destroy anyone who took what was his. I’ve wanted that forever.

So this doesn’t scare me.

Not even close.

He seems to be trying to figure out exactly what to do with me.

“I don’t think you realize how close to losing control I am,” he murmurs. “How infuriating it is to watch you with other people.”

I huff, and his fingers tense on my skin. “Enlighten me.”

“You covered the bruise.” One of his hands dips lower, touching my neck. The makeup I covered it with comes away on the pad of his finger, and my stomach swoops in response.

“I couldn’t very well walk around with bruises on my neck. Everyone would want to know what happened.” I wrap my hand around his wrist and pull it away. “Stop.”

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