The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (42)

“I like this color on you,” he purred.

“Is it your favorite?” Ever and gray had much in common: cool, balanced, sophisticated…emotionless.

“No, actually. It’s green.”

He pulled me up by a fist full of my shirt. Recalling what he was wearing the day I met him, I slurred, “Like the forest?”

He smiled faintly as if he didn’t want to. “Like the forest,” he confirmed.

“Mine’s yellow,” I offered. I doubted he cared.

“I noticed.” The ball in my stomach ignited, and before I could recover, he slipped my shirt over my head.

“I’ll be cold.” Wordlessly, he peeled back my covers and waited for me to climb inside. It took a while since I was dizzy as fuck, but I felt his warm hand on my skin guiding me. “Was babysitting part of the deal?” I questioned once I settled.

“My father would have skinned me alive if I left you to fend for yourself.” Of course, Ever wouldn’t care otherwise.

“So only blackmailing me is allowed?”

He shoved his fingers through his hair and frowned. “I could have hurt you,” he quietly admitted, referring to the night I followed him. “I wanted to hurt you.”

“What stopped you?”

“Does it matter now?” he countered.

“I bet your mother would be proud.” I caught the doubt in his eyes before he looked away. “Tell me something about her.”

He chuckled dryly, and I didn’t understand why until he said, “She would have loved you. You are the karma I deserve.”

I stretched and buried deeper under the covers to hide what his words did to me. “This doesn’t change anything. I’ll still hate you in the morning.”

Standing, he said, “You don’t hate me, Four, but you will.”

“Oh yeah? What makes you so sure?” I challenged with a yawn. My eyes were already drifting shut.

“Because for the first time, you’re going to do what you’re told.”




I had a foul taste in my mouth, and my dry lips felt like they’d been sealed shut when my tongue tried to break free to wet them. Sunlight poured in through the open blinds, and I cursed its presence when I opened my eyes. Judging from the way I felt, last night had not gone well. I sat up and took inventory. The clothes I’d worn were folded neatly at the foot of my bed, and another note waited for me on my nightstand.



Once upon a puppet, the peer awaited her in his chambers.



I dug the heels of my hands into my eyes and groaned as details from last night came flooding back. I’d gotten shitfaced to spite Ever, but I never imagined he’d be the one babysitting me. I knew I couldn’t risk defying him again, but there was no way I could face him without toothpaste, a hot shower, and a brush.

The house was quiet when I emerged from my room and tiptoed to Ever’s half an hour later. I debated if I should knock, and after a second of deliberation, I grabbed the knob and pushed open the door. My hope that I would invade his space as thoroughly as he had my mind died when I looked around the empty room.

It was the same as before: clean, gray, and meticulous. The picture of his mother was the only proof that a boy with a beating heart lived within these walls. I was debating if I should leave or wait for him when the door to the bathroom opened and he stepped through.

I knew I was staring, possibly drooling, but it was impossible to look away. He wore nothing but a towel, and water dripped from the ends of his silky brown hair and down his chest before disappearing under the towel.

He didn’t seem surprised or at all bothered by my ill-timed presence. With a nod toward his desk, he said, “Have a seat.”

“Most people say good morning.”

Ever didn’t react other than to stare at me until I obeyed. From his desk chair, I watched him disappear into his closet and listened as he opened and closed drawers. When he came back, he was still bare-chested, but now wore navy blue track pants with three white stripes down the sides, and in his hand was one of his red uniform ties.

“After last night, I suppose the least I can do is wish you a happy birthday.” I smiled, but he didn’t smile back. Okay, getting weird. “Ever?”

He tossed the tie on the bed and came to stand behind the chair. “I gave you an order, and you disobeyed me. Again.”

“You don’t speak to me unless it’s to order me around.” I shrugged. “I was pissed.”

“Being a brat isn’t part of our deal.”

“Well, maybe I want to renegotiate.”

“It was never a negotiation.”

“Then our deal is off. Tell your dad that Rosalyn has a past. I have news of my own.” I stood to leave but his hands on my shoulders, shoving me down, ensured that I didn’t.

“A little advice?” His fierce whisper sent a chill down my spine. “How I make you feel is irrelevant. What I’ll do if you piss me off should be your only focus. You need to fear it…for your own good.” A sheet of paper and a pen appeared in front of me. “Now write this down: I will not drink to excess. Fill the page, front and back.”

I peeked over my shoulder and just as I feared, Ever was dead serious.

“You’re out of your mind.” I tried leaving again, but he planted his hands on the desk, caging me in.