Page 135 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

If I find Ian, I’m going to beat his fucking head in. I’ve already done it once this semester. Already got in trouble for it, too. The principal gave me a stern talking-to about how I couldn’t touch a hair on his pretty little head… but I’m not against ulterior strategies.

Theo glances at me out of the corner of his eye. He’s the darkest fucker I know. It isn’t a surprise that he can tell I’m boiling on the inside. It’s why we’re friends—there’s a madness in him, too.

We file into homeroom, and I nod at him. Ian is leaning against Amelie’s desk. He doesn’t so much as look up as we enter.

Waiting for homeroom to end is torture. Each tick of the second hand buries itself in my eardrums.

Finally, it’s over.

Liam grins at Eli. “Race you.”

They bolt toward the door, and Liam’s foot catches Ian’s bag. Ian scowls, then collects his things. Theo and I linger and exit the room just after of him. We follow him toward his next class, and I look over at Theo.

“You ready?” he asks.

I roll my shoulders.

Liam and Eli are coming back toward us.

The bell rings, making the five of us officially late.

Ian raises his hand toward my friends, and they stop in front of him.

“Thanks for making me late, dick,” Ian says to Liam.

Liam shrugs. “All part of the plan.”

Ian shakes his head. “What?”

“Our plan,” I say.

Ian spins around. “You so much as touch me—”

“You’re coming with us,” Theo says. He crowds Ian’s space. They’re friendly on a good day, but today… today isn’t a good day.

For any of us.

As much as it pains me to admit it, my friends have gotten attached to Margo. And that means they’re in this with me.

Ian holds up his hands in defeat.

Eli leads us through the courtyard, into the green house. Liam and Theo follow right behind Ian, and I slow my pace. I clench my jaw. This isn’t about violence—this is about scaring the shit out of him so he never so much as thinks about Margo the wrong way.

I walk in. Eli and Liam grab Ian, hauling him against the wall.

Theo paces in front of him.

“Just fucking hit me already, Alistair,” Ian taunts. “We all know you’re smitten with the Page girl—”

Theo slams his fist into Ian’s stomach. Ian grunts, lurching forward. Eli and Liam hold him upright.

I sigh.

“Fuck—”

Theo punches him in the jaw. “Shut. Up.”

Apparently, I’m not the only one Ian’s pissed off.