Page 136 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

“No faces,” I tell him. I stand back and let Theo get his anger out. After all, the principal only told me not to hit him.

Theo readjusts, but as soon as Ian coughs up blood, I stride forward and grab Theo’s arm.

Liam and Eli release Ian, letting him fall to the ground.

“How does that feel?” I ask, crouching next to him. “Kind of like a kick in the stomach?”

He glares up at me.

I wrap my hand around his throat, pinning him flat to the ground. I see red at the idea of Margo in this position, him hovering over her.

I squeeze until Ian grabs at my wrists. He can’t pry me loose.

He grins. His teeth are tinted red.

“Caleb,” Eli warns.

“You don’t touch her,” I say to Ian. “You don’t look at her. You don’t—”

“This isn’t really about her,” he wheezes. “She’s just your soft spot, Asher.”

I dig my fingers into his neck.

I’m not myself.

His face turns red, and I still don’t let go.

I can’t, when he’s staring at me with a fucking challenge in his eyes.

He’ll have bruises around his neck… much worse than Margo’s, I’d reckon.

His eyes flutter shut. Theo and Eli grab my arms, pulling me away from him.

I struggle for a second.

“Any more and you’ll kill him,” Liam admonishes, shoving me away. He kneels next to Ian, who’s passed out.

Theo drags me to the door, shoving me against it. “That wasn’t part of the plan.”

I shake my head. “I know.”

“You lost it.”

“I know.”

He grunts. “Go. We’ll take care of the rest of this.”

I roll my eyes. “You lost it, too.”

“Nah, he had it coming.”

I shake my head. Yeah, Ian has a lot coming. Had. With lacrosse looming, we need to figure our shit out sooner rather than later. A broken team won’t bring championships.

I go to my car and slide in. Skipping isn’t something that I push often, but no one ever says anything. A few other students indulge in the same luxuries. Theo could mail in his final and still get straight A’s.

Lenora is at work, and Robert is at school, which means Margo is alone.

My phone rings halfway to her house. One glance at the caller ID, and I frown.