Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals, #1)(52)

“They’re great.” I flop sideways, my head hitting the pillow. “I just… I’m worried, okay?”

“Listen.” Claire has never been a rational one. Her ideas are half-crazed most of the time. Of the two of us, she’s been the instigator. The troublemaker. “Sneak out and meet me on Friday. At lunchtime.”

Yep. She’s crazy.

“I have to be back for last period,” I tell her. “My foster dad is my teacher.”

“Brutal.” She clears her throat. “Anyway, let’s meet at the mall! Friday. You’ll be back before anyone notices.”

There’s no use arguing with her. Claire with an idea is a girl on the warpath.

“I don’t have a ride,” I try.

“Get one of your friends to drive you,” she says. “Or the guy who got you drunk.”

I shake my head. Maybe Riley will do it if I bribe her…

“I’ll let you know. Okay?”

“Love ya, sis,” Claire says, making a kissy noise into the phone.

The line goes dead before I can respond.





22





I walk into the courtyard and spot Riley almost immediately. She has a bubble of space around her, which is unusual. The golden boys are the ones who get breathing room—not us.

As I make my way closer, the courtyard slowly drains of noise.

It’s so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Riley’s eyebrows crease, and Savannah is suddenly in my path.

“Following in Mommy dearest’s footsteps, Sheep?” She laughs. “It only took a few weeks for your true colors to come out.”

I shake my head and push past her. Stares follow me.

Riley rushes toward me, towing me back in the direction we came. Out into the parking lot.

“Oh my god, Margo!”

I flinch. “What? Why is everyone acting so weird?”

She bites her lip, pulling me farther away from the courtyard. Even as kids filter in, they throw me weird looks.

“Um, everyone got an email this morning…”

I shake my head. “I didn’t.”

“It’s…”

My stomach drops at the expression on her face.

“Riley,” I snap, “spit it out. Please.”

She opens her email and passes me her phone.

It’s a picture. Much like the video Unknown sent me, this has Caleb and me in high-definition. His lips are on my neck. His hand is clearly down my pants. My eyes are closed, lips parted. Hell, I look like I could be orgasming. I’m… disgraced.

There’s no more air in my lungs.

She grabs my shoulder, and suddenly I’m sitting on the ground.

“Breathe,” she says, rubbing my back. “It’s okay. It’s not even…”

“I can’t,” I choke out. “I can’t do this. I can’t go in there.”

How could Unknown do this to me? Especially since I did nothing to them. Nothing. And with a single email, my life just got ten times worse.

“Given the circumstances, I think they’d understand if we skipped… oh no.”

I lift my head.

Caleb storms toward us. His face is impossibly angry.

He doesn’t stop until he’s right in front of us. He pulls me to my feet by my wrists, although I’m not sure I can stay standing. My knees wobble.

“She’s hyperventilating,” Riley says.

He touches my cheek.

I can’t stop gasping. Something heavy has planted itself on my chest. I grab at his shirt, my eyes wide.

“Panic attack,” Riley says. “Honestly, I don’t even blame her. But it’s going to be okay, Margo. It’s just a picture.”

“Give us a minute,” Caleb growls, not tearing his attention away from my face.

I feel like a damn fish gaping for air.

“Margo.”

I shake my head. “I can’t—”

He slams his lips to mine, cutting off my words. My body automatically relaxes into him. His tongue forces my lips apart, taking ownership of my mouth.

I shudder against him, finally sucking in a deep breath through my nose. Then another. He’s not kissing me—he’s resuscitating me.

He finally takes a step back, and his eyes search mine.

He’s still holding my wrists.

“Wow,” Riley mutters, a few feet away. “That was hot.”

“I’ll find out who sent it,” he says. A mask slips over his features.

“Mr. Asher!” The principal comes toward us. “Mr. Asher you are suspended!”

He drops my wrists and faces her. “I know.”

“So what on earth are you doing here?”

He shrugs, keeping me mostly behind him. Maybe he thinks she’ll turn her wrath on me, next. Or maybe…

Oh my god. Did she get the picture, too?

“Don’t worry, I’m on my way out,” he says. “See you Wednesday.”

She sniffs, turning on her heel and marching into the school.

Caleb turns to me, tapping under my chin until I meet his gaze. “You’ll be fine. Ignore them.”

I nod. “Right.”

“I’ll see you later.”