Page 82 of The Villain's Beast

With every thrust, Gideon named off another way Fletcher had faulted him, and by the time his confessions had milked an orgasm out of me, we were both covered in sweat and tears, a hundred new secrets spilled between us and a promise that Gideon was going to save us all.

The problem was…

I didn’t believe him.

Chapter 57

Luca

Listening to Bellamy come his brains out from the privacy of Gideon’s bedroom was the final straw for me. I shoved my feet into a pair of sneakers, grabbed a hoodie that probably at some point had belonged to Daren, then I stormed out of the house, slamming the door hard enough for them to hear. I had no direction in that moment or at all, but it was no surprise to find myself across campus with Thorn Hill in sight. The lights were on, but I knew better than to take that as an invitation.

It was just shy of nine at night when I flung myself down onto the curb, bending my legs at the knee and resting my forearms stretched out above them. More than anything, I wanted to call Daren. I wanted to see him, kiss him again, but my anger over our last goodbye was still too visceral of a thing for me to manage. He’d chosen Fletcher over me, chosen the Thorns over me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I’d thought the love we shared surpassed his misplaced sense of familial loyalty.

Groaning, I stretched my legs out and leaned back, thinking of how hilarious my life had become. The one thing I’d been trying to do before I met Daren was get in the favor of the North family. It was the only way I could prove to my father I wasworth anything, even though I only shared half his blood. And before I met Daren, that had mattered. It had meant everything. Now, with the sound of Bellamy’s release still ringing in my ears, the memory of Daren and Fletcher taking me at the same time, everything that had come since…the favor of the North family—and my father—seemed insignificant.

I suddenly didn’t want to tear anyone down. I didn’t care about wrecking any foundations. All I wanted was to walk away unscathed and live a life on my own terms. I hoped that life could include Daren, but…

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out with a sigh.

It was a text.

Bellamy: Where are you??

Bellamy: Gideon is looking for you.

I wanted to tell him Gideon could fuck himself, but the actions borne from years of trying to earn a place at his side weren’t an easy habit to break.

Me: I went for a walk

Bellamy: U should come back.

Me: I will later.

Next was a text from Gideon that simply readnow.

Jamming my phone into my pocket, I stalked back across campus toward Rose Hall, surprised to find a car I’d never seen before parked in the driveway. The lights were on and more than two figures milled about behind the sheer curtains. The door wasn’t closed all the way, so I heard Daren’s voice before I saw his face and, much to my dismay, all the anger I’d been building toward him evaporated as soon as he set his sights on me.

“Luca.” He breathed my name and pushed past Bellamy, past Fletcher, past a man who looked vaguely familiar but not enough to matter. Then his arms were around me, his face buried in my neck, and my back was against the wall.

“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask.

He kissed my neck, breathed me in. “I missed you.”

“That’s not why you’re here.”

He pulled back slightly, scanning my face to get a read on why I wasn’t returning his affection with the same level of fervor as he offered. I wanted to, but I was so far beyond tired. Instead, I gave him a small smile and reached for his hand, dusting a kiss across his knuckles.

“What’s going on?” I asked, taking time to scan the faces of the men in the room with me.

“It’s time to make a move,” Fletcher said.

There was no chance of stopping the amused sound that built in the back of my throat. It tumbled out like the scoff I’d meant for it to be, and I dropped Daren’s hand.

“Oh, has his majesty decided?” I sneered, narrowing my eyes.

“Luca,” Daren warned.

“Don’t defend him.” I stabbed my finger into the middle of his chest, pushing him back. “Don’t you dare come into this house and take his side.”