Page 14 of Her Wicked Knights (Their Hallowed Queen #3)

Colton freezes in the doorway, his spine rigid as he turns to glance at her out of the corner of his eye.

What the hell?

“Us?” Rev asks, his eyes darting from Audrey to Colton, who turns back with his jaw hard, irritation clear on his handsome face. “What did I miss?”

“It’s new.” Audrey shrugs. “And Colton is shy about letting everyone know.”

“No shit.” Rev snorts, and I know he’s probably thinking exactly the same thing I am. I would be too.

Audrey frowns at Rev for just a second before turning to scurry to Colton’s side.

“I figured tonight was as good a night as any to let everyone know.” She smiles at him like a viper, and Colton glares back at her coldly. It’s weird.

“Know what?” Marley asks, reappearing in the hall with all the parents in tow. My mom studies Audrey openly, but her face betrays no signs of whatever she’s thinking. Mrs. Lavigne, on the other hand, looks slightly troubled.

“About us.” Audrey grins, tucking her head into Colton’s side. “I hate keeping secrets from you, Mars, but we wanted to be sure this was something real before we told anyone.”

Next to me, Marley blinks in confusion, studying the new couple. “Oh.” It’s all she says, a single syllable. It’s quiet, subdued, and I can’t tell whether she’s as confused as the rest of us or disappointed that Audrey has been lying to her.

“Damn, Colt.” Jake laughs. “Good for you.”

I glare at Jake, who doesn’t recognize his own stupidity, and he just shrugs. “It’s just about time you got a girl. Next we just need Trippy here to meet a nice girl he can bring home to mom and dad.”

“We’re not going anywhere.” My dad assures Jake with a little nod, before his eyes find mine. “No sense rushing these things.”

My parents aren’t fools. They realize that Jake’s been a bit of a douche since he and Marley got together, and though they don’t know the exact circumstances, I think they’ve done well enough for themselves at figuring it out.

“There is sense rushing this, though.” Rev says, gesturing around us.

“Ooh, yes!” Audrey says quickly. “We’re going to be late.”

Rev rolls his eyes, cause that’s not at all the point he was trying to make. But if it gets us out of here so I can go back to pretending Audrey doesn’t exist, I’m all for it.

“Perfect timing!” Mom claps her hands together. “Your car just pulled up.”

I don’t ask her what she meant- I turn and look out the window to see the limousine parked parallel behind Colton’s truck.

“Mom.” I groan, embarrassed that she went and scheduled a driver for us so that we could be chauffeured the twenty minutes to homecoming.

My embarrassment is not matched by Marley, who gasps in excitement. “Oh my gosh! Thank you, Mrs. Archer.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Mom grins, pressing a kiss to Marley’s forehead, gentle enough to ensure she doesn’t mess up her makeup. Marley beams at her, not at all embarrassed that her friend’s mom just kissed her in front of all her friends like an overbearing mother.

“Now you can all ride together.” Mom explains. “No need to split up and no need to worry about drinking and driving.”

I roll my eyes, but grin when she catches me.

“I’m going to be first to get in so I can choose the best spot.” Audrey says, tugging Colton begrudgingly after her. I’d laugh, if it were anyone else. Well, almost anyone.

I watch Marley hug her mom goodbye, hear her mother telling her to have the best time, and mom holds her a second longer.

She whispers something in Marley’s ear, and I see Marley nod, but neither of them says anything to me about it.

They’ve got their own relationship, a bond of sorts.

It hurts, knowing that mom wanted a daughter but got me.

I don’t doubt how much she loves me, but she’s always treated Marley like a daughter, like she’s trying to claim her.

I wonder idly if I’ll be subjected to this for the rest of my life…

looking at my mom doting on the girl I love while she’s with someone else.

Jake and Marley clear out, and she smiles as she passes me, leaving Rev to linger awkwardly. As much as he gets along with my parents, there’s something tense in the air tonight… and tonight’s barely even begun.

“Be careful tonight, hmm?” Mom swallows nervously, her eyes scanning mine like she’s looking for me to agree.

“It’s just a dance.” I shake my head. “We’ll be fine.”

Mom manages a nod, but her smile looks forced as she pulls away.

“I love you, Tripp.”

“Ugh.” I groan, because she’s being unbearable right now. What the hell is her problem? I love my mom, but this is odd behavior for her. “I love you, too. Stop being weird or I’m going to stay home and make sure you’re not doing drugs, cause you’re acting weird.”

Dad laughs, stepping away from the conversation he’d been having with Rev to pull me into a hug of his own. He claps me on the back as we separate. “Just make good choices, huh?”

“Sure.” I roll my eyes and catch Rev’s, nodding toward the door. I lift my hand in parting for Mrs. Lavigne who smiles brightly at me.

“Have so much fun, boys!”

Boys.

I wonder when she’ll quit calling us boys. I’m over six feet, Colton’s behind me, and Rev, though shorter, is built. We haven’t been boys in a few years, since before puberty hit.

“She’s acting stranger than usual.” I say the minute the door shuts behind us. “And seriously? A limo? It’s not a wedding, or even prom.”

“I agree with Marley.” Rev grins. “I think it’s cool we can all go together.”

When he opens the door, Audrey and Colton are seated in the middle, her head on his shoulder.

Across from us, on the opposite side of the limo, Marley and Jake sit close together.

I avert my eyes before I can decide if they were kissing or whispering, and slide onto the open bench across from them.

Rev sits next to me, leaving a decent amount of space between us as the driver shuts the door behind us.

“Looks like it’s you and me tonight.” Rev says quietly, just low enough so that no one else overhears.

I make a sound of agreement, glancing down at my phone to see the message from Axel.

Be careful tonight.

Jesus. I’d love to know what everyone thinks is so damn dangerous about a homecoming dance.

I power my phone down and lean back against the seat, trying to relax.

Except, when I do, Rev’s knee rests against mine, and I suddenly get tense all over again.