Page 73 of The Villain's Beast

“Why would I want to see them?” he asked.

I cleared my throat and slowly raised my hand to the dark purple bruise developing just beneath his eye.

“Forgive me,” I whispered. “It was a stupid question.”

“I know,” he agreed. “So, what are you waiting for?”

Part Four

The Fall

Chapter 51

Luca

Bellamy was beyond diligent about tending my bruises, about picking leaves and branches out of my hair. He nestled against me, tucked into the crook of my arm and I petted my fingers through his hair.

“I don’t understand any of this,” he murmured against my chest.

I made a thoughtful sound in the back of my throat, pulling him closer. “I’ve grown up in it, and there’s a lot I don’t understand either.”

“Will you try to explain it?” he asked. “Don’t I deserve to know?”

Kissing the top of his head, I inhaled the smell of his shampoo. It was Daren’s shampoo, and jealousy tangled tight and thorned in my chest.

“It’s like the one-percent of the one-percent,” I said. It hurt to keep my eyes open, so I closed them. “Between Fletcher’s and Gideon’s families, there isn’t a politician or world leader who isn’t somehow ensnared in their web. It’s been that way for generations.”

“But what does that have to do with us?”

“That sort of loyalty and power doesn’t come from nowhere. We’re sort of in the entry levels of it. Even though the rest of us have known what we’re meant for, what the roles and expectations are.”

“The initiation,” he whispered.

“It’s like the knots at the beginning of a bracelet. The foundation. Whatever you want to call it. Everything happening this year is meant to remind us of our place. To make sure we’re ready to step into the real world and do what is required.”

“What’s required?” Bellamy’s breath was hot, his lips smashed against my sternum.

“There’s no way of knowing,” I told him, “not entirely. At least, not at this point.”

“Are you and Daren ever?—”

I interrupted him, shifting him into a more comfortable position that didn’t rub against the bruises on my shoulders. “Going to be able to be together?”

He nodded.

“We’ve hoped that once we’re out of school, the leashes will loosen some. We’ll have jobs and responsibilities. More leeway.”

“More time to see each other.”

“If we’re careful,” I said.

“And what’s my role in all of this?” he asked.

“It was just supposed to be for the ritual,” I answered honestly. “Your father, or someone in your family, is involved in all of this, but far lower down the rankings than Daren’s and my families are. We all just…”

“Took a liking to me?” he chuckled.

“Are bad at following rules,” I said instead.