Page 30 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

I nod now. “I never saw it, but I’m pretty sure I’d only have smiled if we won a game.”

I don’t know why she never showed it to me, and I’m annoyed that I have to find out from these two shitheads.

“Miserable bastard,” Sebastian mutters.

“Go fuck yourself, Redmond.”

He scowls. “Good grief, Alistair. We’re trying to be nice.”

I laugh. Loudly. Them being nice is the furthest thing from the truth—I think Sebastian’s been doe-eyed over Lux since the party, and now he’s discovered competition.

As if.

“You can’t handle Lucy Page.” I lift my chin. “If you can…”

“You’ll back off,” Hale supplies. “If she goes on a date—”

“A date means nothing. You could take her to McDonalds and call it a date. The true test would be if she kissed you.” I can’t believe I’m saying this. I can’t believe I’m throwing this on the table, because this is Lux we’re discussing.

My Lux.

The demons in my chest rattle, refusing to give up claim to her. But they asked point blank, and I denied it. She must’ve, too.

Sebastian grins. “A kiss is easier than a date. We were dancing close enough to kiss last night—”

I lunge forward, my patience snapping.

Hale slides between us, grabbing my shoulders and propelling me backward. He only releases me when I shake him loose, tearing my gaze from Sebastian’s smug face.

Fuck. They danced? I missed that. I don’t miss much, either. Not when it comes to her. There’s a part of me that is desperate to tell them she is mine, that I changed my mind. But as she so subtly reminded me, I promised her I wouldn’t.

Our darkness is intertwined, but I can’t kiss her. Can’t touch her, not without force. Sometimes our anger is the only thing that allows us contact. My hand on her face, wrapped around her throat, touching her full lips.

We abandoned hope of gentleness—or kindness—long ago.

She murdered someone, and I helped cover it up. That’s about as far from good as we get. But it hits me suddenly that she shouldn’t have to put up with me. With everything I can’t give her. For a moment, I war against the instincts that demand she’s mine and mine alone. I fight the waves of possessiveness.

“A kiss,” I say. “You have two weeks. Fail, and you leave her alone for good.”

Sebastian grins. “And what do I get if I win?”

I narrow my eyes and don’t reply. I don’t know what he wants—and maybe I’m too confident that he’ll lose. That Lux won’t pick him, even if I set her free of me.

Hale smirks. “How about if you win, Theo here will get a front row seat to the first time you fuck her. Initiation and all that. He’ll give you his blessing.”

I turn away before they can spot the revulsion and catch a quick glimpse of Sebastian’s face. It says, Checkmate. I curl my hands into fists.

“Or…” Sebastian sighs. “I’d hate to tell the school board about your cheating. The football team has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to that.”

I wheel back around. “Excuse me?”

“Sebastian’s grades are excellent,” Hale cuts in. “Last year, he took the literature class you’re in this semester. It would be a shame if your paper accidentally got swapped out with one of his old ones… and they found out about it. In the interest of being a good sport, you’ll stay away from Lucy for the next two weeks. But if you so much as talk to her…”

Fucking hell.

I’m not short on money, but this school was going to help me go places. Football has been a way of pushing me away from my father’s lofty goals of being a shark-like businessman. I just don’t want to sit behind a desk my whole life, and LBU has a good football team. Division 1.

If I’m wrapped up in a cheating scandal, would any other school with a decent football team even touch me?

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