Page 53 of Wild Fury (Fallen Royals 6)

But Theo… he’ll be furious. And that’s what I need. That’s who I want.

Like calls to like. I knew it on the playground, witnessing the darkness in him. When he realized we were the same. His dark and twisted mind is like me.

I mean, look at me. I killed someone almost two weeks ago, and that’s the least of my concerns. The car vibrates under me, and I push it faster. I’m desperate to outrun these feelings. The questions I ask myself.

The tires momentarily lose their grip around a sharp turn, and I skid sideways. I scream—not because I’m afraid but just to make noise.

God. I’ve been cramming myself down to fit in. Not just today, or these past two weeks, but way longer than that. Since I moved back in with my parents, maybe?

The urge to hit the highway and never return washes over me, but I ignore it. For now, I just need to park, disable Theo’s GPS, and then hide it. I get closer to LBU West and pull over. It only takes me a few moments to figure his car’s system out—it helps that I’d already spent time in here as a passenger—and then navigate toward campus.

I park it at the public entrance to the conservation forest and take the keys with me, cutting down the track that will take me back to campus.

It’s eerie in the dark. The moon hides behind clouds. Every little noise reminds me of the man I killed. That crack is his foot stepping on a branch. That huff is his breath. An owl hoots—yep, just like out of a murder mystery—and I drop into a crouch.

Paranoid.

“Did you hear that?” someone calls, a lot closer than I could’ve anticipated.

I spring off the path, pressing my back to one of the larger trees.

“An owl,” a boy says. “Come on. They don’t like it when we’re late.”

They pass right by me. There’s a rushing sound in my ears, adrenaline mixed with fear. I don’t know what they’d do if they found me.

“Why is it so freaking dark out here?” a familiar voice asks.

My stomach knots.

Ruby.

My curiosity is almost too much to bear, and I wait a beat before peeking out around the tree. She must’ve bailed on her date with Sebastian? Is the movie over already? Did he realize I stole his car?

God. I’m sweating again. I creep behind Ruby and the three people with her—the girl who first spoke, the boy, and another boy. They head back the way I came, to the public parking lot, then step off the trail altogether.

I can’t follow them.

I should definitely not…

But I do.

I creep-run to catch up, sticking to the deep shadows. Only their harsh breathing leads me along. I step on a branch and freeze. I strain to hear if they noticed.

The glow of a fire draws us forward. Well, draws them forward. I resist the temptation to go even farther. And honestly, what is it with this school and fire? At least they’re not wearing cloaks and chanting in Latin…

“Welcome,” a voice booms.

I’m out. I navigate all the way back to the campus and slip inside. An hour has elapsed since I left the movie theater—definitely not enough time for Ruby to finish a movie with Sebastian. But my room is empty.

There are too many mysteries in my life.

At this school.

And I’m officially freaked out. If I hadn’t stolen Theo’s car, or Sebastian’s, I might be in a better mood to push the whole dangerous secret society thing. And I will sure as hell interrogate Ruby as soon as possible.

16

Lux

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