Page 28 of Wicked Promises (Fallen Royals 3)

“First one back gets—”

Eli takes off before I finish. A laugh bursts out of me. This is what I need—to come home exhausted, to pretend Margo isn’t upstairs. She’s safe here, but she’s not safe with me.

I need to remember that.

I chase after Eli.

9

Unknown

You don’t see me.

None of you SEE me.

Caleb carries your bag into the house. You’re like a little bird, fluttering your wings against the cage. Still trapped, even if you don’t know it.

From one prison to another.

From one master to another.

They’re going to clip your wings, Margo. They’ll keep you locked away forever.

Except you think your cage is a house, and your keeper is your lover.

Foolish. Foolish to believe in love when it’s nothing more than noise, thunder rumbling over our heads.

And luck is just a flash of lightning, brief and bright.

I only need one strike.

10

Margo

Silence settles over the house. I try my best to fall asleep, but the pain medication is wearing off. Angela had given me a prescription bottle before I left, and Lenora had kissed my cheek.

Tears prick my eyes.

Most of all, I want… Robert.

He would know what to say to make me feel better. He’s good with words. He’s good at seeing me. Hell, his entire life is communicating with teenagers. It’s no surprise he took to parenting.

Norah, Eli’s mom, knocks on the open door.

“Hey, sweetie,” she says. “How are you feeling?”

The tears spill down my face.

She comes over and sits on the bed, pulling me into a hug. I wait a beat—maybe this is just an automatic reaction and she’ll realize who I am—but her arms stay wrapped around me. Her palms press into my back, gentle but sure.

I latch on to her, unable to control the sob working its way up my chest.

“Let it out,” she says.

Crying is exhausting.

“I-is Robert going to be okay?” I sniffle, leaning away to wipe my face.