Page 212 of Satan's Spawn

“I’m sure you did awesome, Arch, you’ve aced every single test so far.”

Archer shrugs his shoulders. “You’re probably right, just got a lot of pressure from the parents. Gets me in my head sometimes.”

Archer’s two older brothers have both graduated from Riverside and went on to become well renowned defense attorneys, along with the rest of the men in his family.

Archer always says how his heart is in the arts, but it’s only a pipe dream because of the big shoes he feels required to fill.

“I know I’ve asked this before like a hundred times, but are you sure it’s not something else? Maybe my relationship with Crayton and being around the Royals so much?”

We stop at a red light, and Archer uses this as an opportunity to stare straight at me. “Bex, I promise you it has nothing to do with you dating Shaw. I’m happy as long as you’re happy and he’s treating you well.”

I breathe a loud sigh and reach for his leg, squeezing it. “I just want you to know you can talk to me about anything. I’m always in your corner.”

“I know that, trust me. But I’m fine. Just usual teenage drama”—he pauses, gifting me one of his signature smiles—“no pun intended.”

Feeling an iota of relief, I lean over and kiss his cheek. “Let’s have fun tonight, yeah? We’ll save our teenage worries for tomorrow.”

The ride takes us about a half hour, and the second we step into Levi’s stone mansion, it’s a blast from the past like it was entering Sampson’s house.

Only this is the winter version.

Ten foot Christmas trees decorate every single room. From the foyer where we leave our coats, to the formal living room, and even the outside patio looks like a scene out of one of Mom’s favorite Hallmark Christmas specials.

We find the Royals spread along the L shaped couch next to the outdoor fireplace, and Crayton is at his feet once he lays eyes on me stepping through the sliding doors.

I’m wearing sheer leggings and an off the shoulder oversized sweater, but I might as well be in my birthday suit from the way his eyes peruse my body.

It sends shivers trickling down to my toes.

“She has arrived!” Levi’s words slur as he stands, his arms spread wide. “Now our boy can finally fucking relax.”

Hendrix and Archer park themselves in an empty spot on the couch as I’m pulled possessively into Crayton’s lap next to them. We’re sitting across from Saint and Riggs who are busy pouring a bunch of drinks.

Which we spend the next two hours indulging in, especially yours truly.

According to Levi, his parents are holidaying in the Maldives, and he’s been too “busy” studying for terms to join them.

Which leaves us here, staring out into another blanket of white in the distance of his ginormous backyard, the only indication of the weather being cold since this area is completely heated.

There are some random guys he hired cooking up burgers and kabobs on the hibachi grill, along with some help to disperse the alcohol for an underaged party.

These guys literally live in another dimension, one where there are no rules that prohibit kids to partake in drugs or alcohol.

Because, yeah, there’s no ignoring the lines of cocaine on the small glass table next to Levi.

“Want a bump, gorgeous?” Riggs leans across the table separating us, under the influence of God knows what.

Before I get the chance to answer, Crayton slaps the hand held in front of me away, making the powder that was on the small spoon fall like snow onto the ground.

“The fuck, Cray Cray? That was pure shit you just wasted.”

“I’ll have you swallowing the rest of it if you try offering my girl drugs again, motherfucker.”

Riggs shrugs, leaning over the glass table, using a rolled hundred dollar bill to snort a line. He rises, letting out a satisfied sigh. “It’s a party, man. Let her live a bit.”

“No thanks, Riggs.” I try to ease the tension by holding up my glass. “I’ll stick with vodka.”

Crayton slides me closer to his chest, hugging my middle tight with one arm. The protectiveness of his touch reminds me he’s the only one out of his friends who never touches the stuff.