Page 21 of Vicious Desire (Fallen Royals 4)
Was it him in the woods the other day?
The way he runs, the way he’s smiling at me—it’s all familiar. My bones ache with the weight of his presence.
He stops. I’ve unclipped the Mace and have it balanced in my hand.
“You gonna hit me with that?” he asks in a low voice.
I pause. Would I?
He takes a step forward, eyes narrowing, and I lift it.
“You want to test me?” I ask.
That stops him.
“I don’t know why you’re back, but just stay away from me.” I show him my back. His attempts to scare me haven’t fooled me—but that doesn’t mean I’m an idiot.
I get out of there fast, rushing all the way home.
It isn’t until I’m in the front hall, kicking off my shoes, that I realize I have a death grip on the Mace. Slowly, I set it down beside Noah’s keys and release it, one finger at a time. Eli’s done the one thing I wouldn’t have thought he would: he rattled me.
He took away my sanctuary.
But then again, so did my accident a few days ago. The illusion of being safe in Rose Hill has fractured.
Dad comes down the stairs and frowns. “You’re back early. I thought it was two miles today.”
I force myself to act normal and shrug. “I just wasn’t feeling it. I forgot we’re doing sprints this afternoon.”
He nods, taking my words at face value. “Okay. I’ll make breakfast.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a few minutes.”
Shower, get dressed, pretend everything is fine.
Noah and Mom are probably still asleep, and Dad is going to be on his way out soon. Suddenly, I don’t want to be alone. I leave my room, grabbing my bag and water bottle on the way out.
“Anything fun happening at school today?” Dad asks. He slides a plate across the kitchen table to me.
Eggs and bacon, and a slice of toast cut diagonally.
“I have a test in math.” I shrug. “Nothing exciting. Practice is going to be tough, though. They’re doing a fitness test next week, and this is a trial assessment.”
He grunts. “With all your running, I’m sure you’ll do fine.”
Between bites, I manage, “I hope so.”
He leaves soon after that, and I go to school. I’m early, but Amy’s parting gift—she went off to get her master’s degree last year, leaving the librarian position that she’d held for almost four years—was a copy of her keys.
If only the school knew how devious she really was, I’m sure she would’ve been banned from Emery-Rose. As it stood, she gave her notice and left soon after. On to bigger and better things.
It’s been taking longer to get lighter as winter creeps closer. The sky is still twilight-blue when I arrive at school. It’s been hovering there since I went for my run and encountered Eli.
I unlock the greenhouse door and slip inside, going to the back row of raised beds. I’m not sure who takes care of these plants, but if anyone besides me even cares… they don’t do a good job.
I spend the next hour plucking little weeds from the soil, running my fingers over leaves and flower petals. I water them, then brush off my hands on a rag. It’s still too early, so I finish my homework. Stretch. Contemplate starting a book, but then I’d get sucked in.
So my thoughts turn, inevitably, to Eli.