Page 45 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

On the pieces of conversation that stand out.

What will you do?

I might just kill them.

13

Theo

The bonfire is insane, as promised. Last year, one of my teammates and I spent the better half of the night searching for the damn thing. It wasn’t until one of the upperclassmen saw us and took pity that we found it—or rather, they led us to it.

I’ve spotted Hale and Sebastian, as well as half of the football team. They slap me on the back and thrust a drink in my hand when they spot me. I have a joint in my pocket itching to be smoked, but I refrain. Instead, I toss back the vodka and refill the cup with beer from the keg.

“Didn’t expect to see you,” Sebastian says. “Remember—”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m not here to seek out Lucy.” It irritates me to call her that. She’s been Lux for as long as I can remember. But I won’t give Sebastian any more ammunition with her. “Just plan on getting wasted.”

He chuckles. “Great. We’d hate to have to up the stakes.”

I straighten and scowl. “Don’t test me, Redmond. There’s only so much I’ll take.”

He smirks. “Sure.”

“There she is.” I gesture with my chin to our left.

Lux breaks through the clearing with Hale’s sister. She draws my gaze like a beacon—and that’s exactly why I turn away. If I look at her, I’ll remember her expression from this afternoon. The deep betrayal etched in her eyes.

I hate it. And I’d love nothing more than to burn this whole place to the ground… but doing so would prove her right.

Her earlier words float in my head. What’s breaking a promise worth to you?

Us and our promises. We were stupid, childish, naïve. And stubborn. Neither of us will cave. Neither of us will give in.

“Go get the girl, hot stuff.” I smack his arm and hope it bruises. “Make sure to tell her how good she looks.”

He grins. “Well, don’t mind if I do.”

I slip away from the crowd and the heat of the giant fire in the center of the clearing. Someone cranks the music, and the students around me cheer. There’s a commotion near the keg, and everyone seems to shift in that direction. People can’t help but be drawn to fights.

It’s in their nature to be attracted to dark things.

I step into the shadows and wind through the trees, pausing once I get close enough to Lux and Sebastian. I don’t trust him not to try something—and I don’t trust her not to go full crazy on him.

Every fiber of my being wants to shove Sebastian aside and throw Lux over my shoulder, caveman style. Brand her as mine.

But I can’t.

School is important. My family depends on my reputation. And Lux… she and I can’t be happy together.

“I don’t really understand the point of this,” Lux says to Sebastian.

He’s put a drink in her hand, but I have yet to see her sip from it. Smart girl. His gaze flickers around the crowd, then back to her.

“You don’t understand a party?”

She shrugs. “I don’t understand the secrecy. Was the point of not telling everyone the location—”

“It’s part of the fun.” He nudges her.

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