Page 39 of Sweetheart: Part One

Rook’s usually rich skin was ashen. Love was white as a sheet, staring between us, aura still out.

Ebony, however, burst into laughter. “You fuckingprat,” he said, eyes dancing as he hauled Rook upright.

Rook flinched as Ebony tapped him on the cheek with a glinting silver spoon.

ROOK

Ebony dragged me from the room by the collar of my robe. I ripped from his grip, a snarl on my face as I caught his grin.

My mind was reeling.

She’d threatened me. Worse, she’d told me she didn’twantme?

Fucking liar.

There was no way. She was just pissed I called her bluff. She was here for the fame and the money my fucking pack had earned. Spoiled, rich betas—that was what Sweethearts were. Most of them were upfront or obvious—but she was acting noble, as if thatwasn’twhat brought her here?

I wasn’t fucking having it.

Drakethough, he was still in her room, falling for her sh—

"Rook!"That was Love's growl, snapping me back to reality. I turned. "And Ebony, both of you, in the living room.Now!"

I groaned, following him down the hall. He ignored me, and I slumped down on the couch feeling like a kid in trouble, veins still alight with adrenaline.

My aura was fading at least, but the heat in my cheeks was not, not with the smirk still on Ebony’s face and the spoon—the fuckingspoon—clutched in his fist. Rage boiled in my chest. I’d fallen for that. “She’s fucking with Drake. Doesn’t that bother you?” I demanded.

“This isn’t about Drake,” Love snapped as Ebony refused to sit down, instead glaring at us both with folded arms. "Why are you both losing your minds over a goddamned Sweetheart?"

“She wants our signature, doesn’t she?” I asked. “I’m not giving it if I don’t know her first.”

“You’re not honestly thinking of signing her in after that.” Love’s words were much more statement than question.

“Don’t tell me what I’m fucking doing.”

Well, no, he was right, but—

The thought cut off at the low growl from Ebony. His gaze was locked on me, fucking deadly at the suggestion that I might still consider signing her. He still twirled that fucking spoon in his fingers, and I felt the white-hot vindictive need to lash back for that.

“I’m giving her honest consideration,” I said, flashing a bitter smile to match his.

Fuck me.

I shouldn’t, not after that. But then, I had been curious about the little beta tying Ebony and Drake up in knots.

And now I had a score to settle.

AndEbony’s jaw was ticking.

“She threatened you,” Love said. “I’ll have her out by morning.”

“Fuck no.” I waved a hand, straightening, the glint of the spoon still in my periphery. I gathered my most chill voice. “We were just messing about.”

I’d known Love for as long as I could remember. He knew my bullshit back and forth, and the look he gave me was flat. “If I go and ask her if that’s how she sees it?”

“No idea.” I grinned, and it was feeling a little more natural now. “But if you want to nuke the contract on those grounds, you’ll still needmeto say I was threatened.”

The spoon stopped moving, and when I looked to Ebony I saw his lip was curled back in a snarl.

---