Page 121 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

Eli grunts. “You’re another matter entirely.”

Yikes.

“Let’s go,” Caleb says.

I shake my head. “The last time we went with you, bad things happened.”

He raises his eyebrow. “And if you don’t come with me now, worse things will happen.”

I lean back and cross my arms. “No.”

He sighs, but I can tell he’s enjoying this. My stomach flips.

Caleb exchanges a glance with Eli, and then he’s leaning down, hauling me over his shoulder. I squeal as he rises. I’m upside down, my ass in the air.

“Oh my god.” Riley laughs.

“Are you going to come quietly?” Eli asks her.

“Yep,” she mutters, rising. She touches my arm. “Sorry!”

Caleb moves. I grunt, holding on to his shirt. His arms are banded around my thighs, keeping me in place. The four of us pass Amy’s office. She glances up, but quickly buries her head back in her book.

Traitor.

Caleb walks right into the cafeteria with me over his shoulder. My face gets hot, but I know begging won’t stop him. Things have to be done his way. Always.

Without Amelie and Savannah here, the cheerleader table is quiet. No one wants to step up and own the bullying or their hatred of me. Still, they all whisper when Caleb and I pass. Eli and Riley follow us, and the whispers double.

Caleb pats my ass, then lowers me back to my feet.

I glare up at his grinning face. “Not cool,” I mutter.

He shrugs. “I gave you a choice.”

“Not really.” I shake my head. “It’s not a choice if the end result is the same.”

His grin turns sly. “You could’ve walked here on your own two feet. Instead… I enjoyed the view.”

Theo and Liam are already at the table. Eli and Riley sit next to Liam, and I slide onto the bench next to Theo. Caleb comes over with two trays of food, setting one next to me. He shoots a glare at Theo, then sits on my other side.

Theo grins at me. “Thanks for bringing my girlfriend out of hiding, Asher.”

I snort and grab Caleb’s arm before he can do anything crazy—like punch his best friend. Again.

“Watch it, Alistair,” Caleb growls.

“Calm down,” I snap. “He was joking. Right, Theo?”

Theo appraises me with dark eyes. “Right.”

“See?” I turn to Caleb, triumphant.

Caleb’s face is still shuttered. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and leaves it there for the rest of lunch. The others joke around. Eli and Riley share a few looks and smiles. It’s weird being part of their table—at the center of it, really—but so separate. Is it Caleb’s doing or mine? I’ve never fit in. And I suspect, even though Caleb could charm a snake, he doesn’t try it on his friends.

They accept him as the monster he is. And me, I guess I’m just the possession he’s been trying to acquire. They ignore it, or they’re comfortable in it. Comfortable with their own demons, with the thrones they sit on. The golden boys of Emery-Rose Elite are cherished from afar… because no one wants to get close to them.

The bell rings, and Caleb takes his time getting up. His hand is still on my neck, holding me to him. I like the feel of his fingers on my skin. The way his short nails bite.