Page 24 of Conquered (Highgate Preparatory Academ:y Compendium)
CHAPTER SEVEN
ASH
A s Highgate Prep royalty, it's traditional for us to hold a party in the woods that surround the campus on the first Friday night of the new semester. It's been like that since my father's days, and far be it for us to renege on our duties.
God, I hate that fucking word, duties. My mouth fills with bile at the mere thought of it. I've done so much in the name of duty. If they were to carve me open, they would find it stamped across my blackened heart.
It's still warm in the evenings, although once the sun goes down, there'll be a chill in the air, so I make sure to keep my suit jacket on.
Not that I'm often seen without it. Can't disappoint daddy dearest by looking like a mess.
I know the guys rib me about it, wearing suits like I'm an old man, but it does lend a certain stay-the-fuck-away-from-me air.
As dusk approaches, Jax, Kai, and I head out of the Academy’s back doors towards the forest. It really is beautiful at this time of year, the evening birdsong accompanying the faint music that’s playing.
Loki is behind us, his arm wrapped around Lilly like a possessive asshole.
I don't know why he doesn't just piss on her and mark his territory properly.
My heart fucking leaped in my chest earlier when she came out of his room, proving the organ is not as dead as I would like.
She is wearing a striking mini dress, in kaleidoscope colors that make me think I’m tripping on LSD, and hurt my damn brain.
The dress skims her delicious curves and ends just under her pert ass.
Fuck, I want to bite that ass until she begs me to stop. Though I’d not admit that little weakness out loud. You never know when it might be used against you.
I had to hold in the growl that wanted to escape my throat as Loki reached for her, pulling her close, and kissing her like he was eating her pussy. He's still got her lipstick smeared across his lips, uncouth bastard.
I hear her giggle behind me, and I grit my teeth so hard I'm sure one will crack, my fists clenching at my sides. I don't want to admit that I might be jealous of him, that a small part of me might want to bathe in her light too.
Shaking those thoughts away, I take a deep inhale and look around to see that we've reached the woods. There are strings of bare bulbs lighting our pathway, to a clearing where the party is. The decorators have done well. The brief was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which I changed from what had previously been discussed because, if I’m being truthful, I heard a certain English girl comment that it was her favorite Shakespeare play in our class this week.
It does look like a fairyland, with glittering lights hanging from the trees in glass jars, colorful blankets, rugs, and pillows all arranged in groups, and surrounding low wooden tables.
Tables which are groaning with delicious delicacies, the best that money can buy.
Our fellow students are already lounging around them, talking and laughing as more nymphs bring them wine and food, like this really is the fairy court.
There's even a folk band playing reworks of popular songs, and a circular dance floor edged with flaming torches.
When we arrive, a guy dressed as a nymph, chest bare and sparkling with glitter, passes each of us silver goblets of chilled white wine, Rhenish, I believe.
A scantily clad female, wearing some sort of silk scarf that exposes one glittering breast, steps up to Lilly, who's now beside me, and pins a crown of silk flowers in her tumbling brunette hair.
Somehow, they match her garish dress perfectly, and as I look at her, I'm taken aback, the hair rising on my arms and nape by how utterly spellbinding she looks, and the wonder in her eyes. She thanks the woman and takes in the scene.
“It's beautiful,” she whispers in awe, looking around us, her eyes wide and sparkling.
She's practically fucking glowing in the twilight, the candles and fairy lights shining gently on her beautiful face. She is exquisite. I can admit that much. And she seems to belong in these woods, surrounded by fairies and nymphs.
Turning her hazel eyes on me, I’m captured in her gaze, unable to look away, holding my breath.
“Ash organized it just for you, Pretty Girl,” Loki tells her with a smirk, breaking the spell she had woven around me.
“I thought you said that you always host the first party of the year?” she asks him, her eyebrows squashing together, her voice soft and turning to face him.
“We do. It was meant to be a Saints and Sinners party, but Ash changed the theme yesterday when he heard A Midsummer Night’s Dream was your favourite play,” Loki answers back like a fucking douche. This time, I don’t stop the growl from escaping my lips. Fucking Loki and his big mouth.
“Well, in that case,” she says, turning her gaze back to me, and I can see a delicate flush in her cheeks. “Thank you, Ash. I love it.”
I give Loki a smug look over her shoulder, trying to hide the sudden warmth pooling in my gut at her statement.
“Shall we?” she asks, taking me by my arm in her soft grip, and making my heart race.
“Of course,” I reply, clearing my throat and leading the way to a table that has been left clear just for us.
LILLY
As Ash leads us to our table, I am filled with wonder at the sight of the most beautiful party that I’ve ever seen, a sense of giddiness coming over me. It’s like a magical wonderland, full of twinkling lights, and with soft melodic music wrapping round us like a fairy’s spell.
I’m astounded that he did this for me. Why? Up to this point, he’s mostly been in arsehole mode, so why would he suddenly change the party theme just because I like a certain play?
He surprises me further by guiding me to a tasselled, colourful cushion, helping me to sit down like a perfect gentleman, and my heartbeat picks up at the gesture, even as my eyes narrow up at him and his suddenly gentlemanly manner.
I’m sure that I don’t look like a lady with my arse hanging out of my micro sixties mini dress, but looking round, at least I’m not the only one almost flashing her lady garden.
Loki passes me my goblet of wine, and I take a sip, my lips tingling with the rich fruity flavour.
He sits to my right, Ash on my left, with Kai and Jax opposite us.
The low table is positively bursting with all sorts of food that looks fucking amazing.
Silver platters with fruit, tarts, cured meats, and a hundred other delicacies cover the surface.
“Here, try this,” Loki says, his fingers coming before my lips, holding what looks like a piece of pear that has been soaked in some kind of sticky sauce.
I open up my mouth, looking him dead in the eye as he places the fruit on my tongue, his pupils wide and his touch lingering. A burst of spicy sweetness erupts in my mouth as I chew, my eyes rolling and a moan sounding from my lips at the same time.
My eyes open to see his fingers, a drop of sauce making its way down his thumb, so before he moves his hand away, I wrap my lips round the digit, sucking the drop off.
Passion flares in his eyes, making the emerald shine like the brightest of gems. I’m sure that I hear a groan or two from the other guys at my move.
I release it from my lips with an audible pop and a cheeky lopsided smile.
“Delicious, thank you,” I tell him, our stare off interrupted by Ash offering me a silver tray of canapes.
We settle into eating and chatting about the first week of classes.
I’m not going to lie, it was crazy intense, but I loved it.
I was so busy and so tired after each day that I didn’t have time to think about anything else.
And with sleeping in Loki’s bed every night, him beside me, the nightmares seem to be kept at bay too.
We haven’t taken it further than, I think they call it, third base.
Basically, fingers, hands, and tongues. Well, his fingers, hands, and tongue.
I’ve not got so much as a glimpse of the crown jewels.
He distracts me with multiple orgasms until I basically pass out.
It surprises me, his lack of wanting anything in return, especially if the rumours I’ve heard about his promiscuous ways are true.
But so far, it’s been all about my pleasure.
My thoughts are disrupted by one of the servers presenting us with another gleaming tray, this time with rows of colourful pills on it. I look round to see the other tables being offered the same platters.
“What’s this?” I question, a flare of adrenaline rushing through my veins at the opportunity of a new oblivion.
“This, Pretty Girl, is tonight’s high, brought to you by the Black Knights of Highgate!” Loki announces, raising his voice and standing up, throwing his arms wide to cheers from the crowd. I can’t help but laugh at his antics, bouncing in my seat.
“Made by the finest chemists in Israel, we give you our own personal high. Choose blue for a giggle, orange if you want to expand your mind. Pink is for if you're feeling naughty, and red,” he turns his gaze to me, an understanding look in his eyes. “Red is if you require complete oblivion.”
My breath hitches and my heart rate picks up at this. How does he know?
He settles back down, still looking at me. “What'll it be, baby?” he asks, one brow raised.
“Red,” I whisper, my eyes locked with his.
He pauses for a second, and I can hear Ash behind me, muttering under his breath.
“Allow me,” Loki says, taking the little red pill off the tray and placing it on the tip of his tongue, a daring look in his eyes.
So, accepting the challenge with a wide grin, I lean closer and suck it off.
Then he hands me my wine to swallow it down, watching me with an intensity to his gaze that I struggle to fully interpret.