Page 39 of Her Wicked Knights (Their Hallowed Queen #3)

Tripp

There's something wrong with me. Maybe I always knew as much, but it's never been more evident as it has since all this shit with Whit began... since we decided to save the girl we love by sacrificing someone else in her place.

Maybe the right thing to do would be to get help from somewhere over our heads. Audrey sucks, sure, but killing her? It's wrong, no matter how fucking obnoxious she is.

But as Halloween draws closer and we devise a plan, my guilt wanes.

She clearly has no remorse about killing the Lavignes, and she doesn't seem to be worried about what fate she thinks is becoming Marley.

In fact, I think she may even get some satisfaction out of planning her best friend's murder, if the way she's thrown herself into planning is anything.

"Okay," Whit says, blowing out a breath. "We need to be a well-oiled machine. Tell me again how you're going to get her there."

"Simple. She does everything I want." Audrey shrugs one shoulder, like she's proud of herself. "I've already told her I wanted to go to the theme park. She's nervous, but I begged until she promised she'd go."

Whit nods. "And you'll be able to get her into the haunted house?"

"We'll be able to help with that." Mark says, leaning forward in the church pew. "Audrey will lead her straight to me, Carson, and Nick. We'll help shepherd her forward to the final house."

Listening to everyone talk so casually about killing the girl I've loved my entire life makes me want to murder every last one of them.

But I catch Whit's eye, seeking reassurance that he's not going to let this all go haywire.

I hate that we even have to put her in this situation, but it's the most effective trap we can set.

Whit was right that this one has to be public; it has to have a witness.

And who wouldn't believe sweet, innocent Marley Lavigne?

When she says she knows nothing, that she nothing, people will believe her.

And if we do this right, she'll never know that her best friend led her there like a lamb for the slaughter.

"The five of us," Whit gestures to Colton, Rev and I before nodding to Jake, "will be waiting at the final house.

It's Wax Museum themed, three distinct rooms. I did some reconnaissance on opening weekend.

If you wait until the end of the night, we can make sure you're last in line.

We shut the door after, sealing you in..

. sealing her in. After that, the only way out is continuing through.

The last room is where we'll be waiting. "

"How are we killing her?" Audrey asks. "And how are you getting weapons in to a theme park?"

"I am the weapon." Whit laughs coldly. "And once we harvest her magic, so will you all. Don't worry about the details of that."

"I don't think we should do this...." Jake huffs, and I turn to see him with his palms pressed together between his thighs, one knee bouncing rapidly up and down. He looks like he's going to be sick, but he's looked that way before everything, and he still does it. "This is too far."

"This is too far?" Rev snorts. "Why? After she dumped your ass, I'd think you want a little revenge."

Jake grits his jaw, and if looks could kill, Rev would be dead, just like the rest of our casualties. But they can't, and Jake is—to absolutely nobody's surprise— a complete and total pussy.

I can't exactly blame Jake for being so pissy.

He lost Marley, and just like that, Audrey dropped him too.

It's weird, how immediately she broke it off with him once he was no longer dating Marley.

In fact, I'm torn on whether she only fucked him behind Marley's back because she liked the thrill, or because in some sick way it made her feel closer to Marley.

I wouldn't be surprised if she's planning on cutting off Marley's face and wearing it around so she can pretend to be her. Hell, she already steals Marley's clothes despite them being too tight for her.

Obsession can look like many different things, I've learned.

After all, I am obsessed with her and all I want to do is worship her.

Colton is obsessed with her, and I think that all he wants to do is chain her to him for the rest of time.

Rev? I don't know if he's obsessed with her.

He cares, of course, but I don't know what the extent of that is.

We've not really talked about it, beyond the brief discussion with Whit at one of the parties where he suggested we share her.

Colton hadn't been there for that, and something tells me that he'd rather light himself and Marley both on fire than share her. But clearly we already did, in some capacity.

Whit hasn't shown us any more memories, but he's insisted that we bound our souls to one another. And as absolutely insane as that sounds, it also, somehow makes sense.

What I feel for Marley is deeper and truer than anything I've ever felt. Maybe that's just first love, or maybe we just have something special. But the fact that we are bound at all implies more than just friendship between us.