In Peace Lies Havoc (Midnight Mayhem #1)(67)

King tenses. “You don’t have them often?”

I shake my head, my eyes landing on the clothes I was wearing that night when I was with Rose, and she tucked the note inside my shorts. I can see the edge of the paper sticking out from beneath my bikini. “No. Not usually. I actually can’t remember anything from before my father and mother were killed.”

The air shifts, and for the first time since I first met Kingston, I feel unsafe with his proximity. The air thickens, and darkness caves in around me. I swing around, with an eerie feeling that something, or someone is watching me. I haven’t felt this feeling since they stole me.

I haven’t felt this feeling since that night.

I know what this feeling is. It’s like an old friend has walked into the house for the first time in a long time, carrying his aura with him.

“The Shadow,” I whisper, standing. I almost trip over myself and land back on my ass when King reaches out and catches me.

“Thanks,” I say, my eyes traveling up to his. When I land on them, they’re bleak, black, and send chills down my spine. Suddenly, I don’t feel comfortable with his hands being around me.

“King,” I whisper. “Why did something just change?”

His jaw clenches and then his eyes soften. “What? It didn’t. Get changed,” he announces, turning back around to exit the room. “We’re going to another party. This time, it’s with my parents.”





As soon as King leaves my room, Rose is there, glaring at me. “What was that?” The presence of The Shadow has gone, as if it was never there, and it’s left me feeling a merge of emotions, mainly confusion.

“I honestly don’t know.” I stumble to the ground and pick up the piece of paper from beneath my clothes, unraveling it. The image is a sketch of a dove. It’s juvenile, as if a kid drew it, but not terrible.

“Weird,” I say, turning my head to the side. “What does this mean?”

Rose takes a seat on my bed and draws her knees up to her chest. “I don’t know. I was hoping you would. I mean, it’s a little strange that it’s a dove.”

I examine it again. “Yes. It’s weird.”

Rose stands from my bed and kneels in front of me, her hands on top of mine. “Something doesn’t feel right about King, Dove.” Her voice is a whisper, but her eyes are a glare. “And with Jack missing, I don’t think—”

“Wait,” I interrupt her. “What do you mean Jack is missing?”

“What, you didn’t know?” she asks, one eyebrow quirked. “He’s been missing since we all played Killian’s hide-and-seek game.” She exhales. “What I’m trying to say is that we can’t forget how we came in here. Maya? She was born into a founding family. I was a recruit.”

I pause. “Wait, what does that mean?”

Rose waves me off. “That my family had ties to Kiznitch, making me instantly a part of the families. Delila explained it all to me on my first night here, but Dove,” pain flashes over her face as she takes her next breath. “My mom isn’t actually dead. She just doesn’t want me.”

Anger roars to the surface. “Then fuck her. You don’t need her.”

Rose giggles, swiping her eyes. “We’re supposed to be talking about you and this picture, not me.” She takes a deep breath. “So that’s why I’m here, but why are you here, Dovey? That’s what scares me.” She has a point. It’s something I have been thinking about since meeting Delila. When I woke up in the cell, I figured I would be sold or something cliché like that, not be pulled into this strange world. Aside from that, if Jack has been missing since that night, why has no one said anything? Why didn’t I notice him not being around? There are a lot of people here who I see, but Jack made an impact on me, so I should have realized that he wasn’t around.

“Rose,” I murmur. “I know. Something isn’t right, but I need to get ready for this party, and I don’t want King coming in and catching us talking about this. When I get home, I’ll come find you. Okay?”

She stands, her slender body towering over me. “Okay, Dove, but be careful. I’ve heard King’s family is royalty.”

“Wait.” My hand catches her arm. “What do you mean?”

“The Brothers of Kiznitch family is the royal family, but the Axtons are like, next level. His father is like Don Vito, the motherfucking Godfather. They have their…” She pauses. “You don’t know anything, do you?” I shake my head. “I’ll tell you what I know later, but it isn’t much.”

“Wait!’ I repeat myself, just as she’s about to leave. “You have to come to this party.”

“She can’t,” Maya interrupts, standing behind Rose. “It’s against the law.”

“Law?” I ask, standing. “I’m confused.”

“Likely, and make no mistake, that’s how they would want you.” Maya stares at me until it makes me shuffle uncomfortably. “I would come with you.” She sighs. “But Kaius scares the shit out of me, and Dahlia, King’s mom? I swear she’s the worst.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, running my fingers through my hair. “You’re really helping.”