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CHAPTER 14

After practice, I came home to two half-naked girls draped across the couch like decorations. They tried to get my attention with their arched backs and pouty lips, but I didn’t even blink. Just walked past without a word.

They were dressed and out the door within minutes. Guess the party ended the second the attention did.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Aidric and Seb kicked them out of bed before the cum even dried between their thighs.

Now, the living room's empty except for the three of us and the energy has shifted dramatically.

Seb and I are doing our best to get Aidric to chill the fuck out, because he’s pacing and muttering about how he needs to take care of Evan. Which could end really bad for all of us.

“So, he’s awake.” Seb shrugs as he grabs the barstool beside him. He spins it around before straddling it with his arms draped over the backrest. “Big fucking deal. He’s not talking, so we’re good.”

“No!” Aidric snaps. “We’re not fucking good. Just because he isn’t talking now, doesn’t mean he won’t be soon.”

Out of all of us, Aidric is the most upset about this. If the Lords get blamed for the mess then he’ll be the one taking the heat from The Society. And after what I saw happen to Julian, I have no idea what they would do to him, or even to all of us.

“Wait, wait, wait, guys,” Seb says, holding up a hand, his eyes locked on his phone screen. “I just got another update.”

Aidric and I turn to him with bated breath—me pacing and him fuming. Each second feels like it’s stretching unbearably long as Seb reads over the message. We watch his face for any sign of hope, or maybe the kind of hopelessness that tells us we’re screwed.

“Fuck, man,” he grumbles, dragging his hand down his face. “I think we just bought ourselves some more time. Turns out, our boy Evan isn’t going to be saying anything for the time being.”

“Let me see that.” I snatch the phone from his hand and scan the message from Olivia, a girl who leeched on to Seb after he fucked her. She’s a student at Rosewood U and works at the hospital as a nurse's aide.

Olivia: I just heard the doctor talking to his family and he told them Evan has what they call trauma-induced paralysis. From my research, that means he’s in a state of catatonia. He’s awake and his eyes are open, but he’s not talking or moving. When I went in, he was just staring at the wall.

A weight settles in my chest. He’s awake, but he’s lost to the world. Seb is right—this gives us more time.

I scroll up, skimming through the texts to read the previous updates. I have no idea who this chick is or how we are getting these very detailed updates that are one hundred percent a breach of patient privacy.

Olivia: Vent is out. He’s definitely awake.

Sebastian: All right. Keep me updated.

Another…

Olivia: He’s got visitors. I think it’s one of your teammates and a girl I’ve seen around on my campus.

Fuck. She saw me and Avery while we were there.

Sebastian: Keep your eyes on them.

Olivia: Hard to do when they just pulled the curtain on the window shut.

Hell yeah, I did. I pulled that curtain shut and reminded Avery who was in control here. I will never forget the sight of her coming on my fingers like that. The way she tried to hold back, how she bit her lip so hard I thought it might bleed. Then, how her walls gripped my fingers while my other hand silenced her, keeping her cries of pleasure for my ears only.

Yeah, that probably wouldn’t have gone well if the curtain wasn’t shut.

I keep scrolling…

Olivia: I’ve been missing you, baby.

Olivia: Every time I close my eyes, I swear I can still feel you inside me. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone like this before.

Olivia: I hope I get to see you again soon. I NEED to see you again soon.

Olivia: You didn’t just rock my world that night. You WRECKED me. I’ve never been touched like that. My body still remembers you, and I already know one night wasn’t enough.

Olivia: You’ve been on my mind all day. Have you been thinking about me, too? Please tell me you have.

Jesus, this bitch is obsessed. And the messages just keep going without a single response from Seb. That is, until he needed something from her in return.

“Hey, man,” Noah calls out as he steps into the kitchen, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room. “How much booze do you want me to pick up for our guests? And did you have a theme in mind this time?”

I tear my eyes away from the phone, the weight of everything pressing down for a split second before I remember the party I told Avery we were throwing. The one I ordered a few of the guys to throw together and to make sure she shows up.

I level Noah with a look. “Enough for at least a hundred people,” I say, barely giving it a thought because my mind is anywhere but on fucking party planning right now. “As for a theme…” I lean back, thinking.

Then, something clicks—something that mirrors the chaos we’re currently drowning in. “Let’s go with death.” I raise my hands, drawing out a scene of mayhem. “Skulls, coffins, tombstones. Black lights and dark corners. Face masks and haunting music. You get the idea, right?”

Noah raises a brow but doesn’t question it.

“Can’t you see we’re in the middle of an important meeting?” Aidric growls, his patience thin. “A meeting that’s being held because of your fuckup.”

Noah’s dull expression drops. With his tail tucked firmly between his legs, he turns and leaves the room without another word.

A little harsh for one of our own, but Aidric isn’t exactly in the mood for leniency. Not when the pressure of being our leader is demanding he prevents everything from falling apart.

The Ice Lords look to him to hold this shit together. And I can tell the pressure is really getting to him.

Once Noah’s out of listening range, I pass Seb his phone back just as my own buzzes in the pocket of my hoodie. I reach in and pull it out. Without hesitation, I swipe open the message from Avery.

Little Devil: I need to talk to you. I’m on my way over.

My fingers move fast as I type out a quick response.

Me: Bring us our fucking rock!

I stare at the screen for a response. Seconds pass, but still no reply. With a sigh, I shove my phone back into my pocket, rolling my shoulders before looking up.

“Avery’s on her way,” I tell the guys. “Says she needs to talk.”

I glance at Seb, then Aidric, reading their expressions easily. We may not have grown up together, but there is a certain bond that is created when you fight together.

Seb looks amused, eyes glinting with mischief like he’s ready to play with our new toy. Like this whole thing with her is just entertainment to him.

“Wonderful,” Aidric growls, voice low and venom-laced. “She better be bringing us our fucking rock. At least then, one loose end is tied.”

Aidric might say she’s a loose end that needs to be tied, but I know better. I see the mischievous glint in his eye and I know the way his fucked-up mind works. I’ve watched him wrap his hands around girls’ throats just to see the fear flicker in their eyes. He doesn’t just crave chaos, he orchestrates it. Control isn’t a means to an end for him—it’s the whole goddamn game.

As long as she exists within reach, he’s gonna keep her dangling just close enough to manipulate. The thought stirs something unexpected inside me. It’s not quite jealousy. No, it’s something worse. Something more depraved.

The idea of him thinking he holds the reins on her makes my blood boil. If anyone is going to keep her within arm’s reach, it’s gonna be me.

Before I even have time to untangle the twisted thoughts in my head, a knock at the door snaps me back to reality.

That was fast. She must have texted when she was already on her way, which means whatever she needs to talk about is important.

Aidric’s eyes stay cold as he leans forward. "Go get her," he hisses, each word laced with ill intent. "Then bring her down to me in The Chamber."

“What the fuck?” Seb snaps, his jaw tight. "She’s not a member. She should have never been down there in the first place, and as the Lord speaker, I’m putting my foot down. Rule is members only. She can say whatever the fuck she needs to say in The Vault.”

My eyes widen, surprise flickering through my features. “The fuck?”

The Vault is rarely used as it’s reserved for only the most serious situations. It’s a place for outsiders who know more than they should—a place for snakes and liabilities. Since my initiation, I’ve only been in that room twice and neither of those times ended well for the person on the other side of that door.

"The Chamber," Aidric barks. "Now!"

Seb shakes his head, frustration rolling off him in waves as he spins around, barely containing his anger.

Not gonna lie, a wave of relief crashes over me. Had Seb pushed harder and she ended up in that black hole of a room, things could have taken a wrong turn.

The kind of fear that room instills doesn’t just paralyze, it breaks people and makes them wish for death.

Avery isn’t stupid, she’s cunning and smart. If we take her in that room and she really does have shit written down about us, we’ll be screwed. The thing about controlling people is that they still need to have something to live for to keep them under your thumb. If they have nothing to lose, then there isn’t anything to fear. Not even death.

I make my way to the door, my steps slow and deliberate because truth be told, I’m not exactly eager to hear whatever the hell she has to say. Any news from that girl is bound to be bad news. Unless, of course, she has our rock. But somehow, I doubt that’s why she’s here.

Avery may be fire, but she’s never been one for face-to-face confrontation. If she had the rock, she’d more than likely toss it in the mailbox, shoot us a text, and pray like hell it ended there.

Flipping the lock, I pull the door open and come face to face with our little devil. Her hair is damp and clinging to her face like she jumped out of the shower, threw on some clothes, and drove here without a second thought. She's wearing a pair of gray joggers that hang loosely on her hips and white sneakers. The light pink sweatshirt hangs loosely from her shoulders and has in my archery era sketched across the front.

The sight of her almost makes me smile . Her face is free of makeup, yet she remains flawless—on the outside, at least. There’s something about seeing her without her mask and armor that has my chest stirring. I actually prefer it. She comes off as weak and vulnerable—more destructible.

A slow smirk tugs at my lips as I lean against the doorframe. “Well, well, well,” I sing, dragging it out just enough to get under her skin. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your unexpected visit?”

With a scowl carved deep into her face, she shoves past me, brushing against my shoulder like she owns the damn place. “We need to talk.”

I arch a brow, turning slowly as I push the door shut behind me. “Better be good news, Avery.”

"It’s not," she deadpans.

Her words hit like a match to gasoline, and a force of rage heats my skin. More than her words, it’s the lack of fear on her face that has my fists curling at my sides. If she has bad news, sheneeds to feel the weight of it as much as we do.

“What the fuck did you do?” I spit, knowing she had to have done something that only benefits her. If not, she’d be terrified right now.

“I don’t have the rock.” She shrugs casually, too casually. “I did have it, but someone took it from me.”

Everything inside me begins to erupt at once—hatred, fury, pure fucking evil. Someone took our fucking rock?

Without a second thought, I grab her by the back of the neck and pull her toward the door to The Chamber. My footsteps thud against the hardwood, each one sounding like the slow toll of death. Not just for her, but for all of us.

She curses and fights, trying to shake off my hold, but I only dig my fingers in harder, imagining snapping her pretty little neck. The only thing holding me back from that is knowing my boys want a piece of her too. All I see is blinding rage as I practically drag her down the stairs to the dimly lit chamber. She tries to put her hands out to stop us from descending, but I laugh maniacally and push her forward until she’s exactly where she needs to be—directly in front of our leader.