Page 4 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

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Nash hadn’t come back to the room, not that I was surprised.

He was lucky that Myles had jumped on him because if it had been me, I would’ve made sure to knock his ass out.

Still couldn’t believe the fucker had hidden being married for months.

I had a feeling something was up, but I didn’t listen to my instincts.

That pissed me off more than him not telling me.

Theo had touched a nerve with his comment. Was I slipping? I glanced at him sleeping in the recliner, and he looked way too comfortable. I was really tempted to wake his ass up and drag him into a storage closet.

I rubbed my lip, staring at his relaxed expression. I was just about to make my move when my phone vibrated. Had to be Nash. Pulling it out of my back pocket, sure enough, there was a text from our notorious leader. I contemplated not answering him.

N: Hey.

N: I know you’re awake.

N: You really going to ignore me?

Fuck he was as persistently annoying as a porcupine quill stuck in my ass.

L: I’m tempted never to talk to you again.

N: Bullshit, you’d miss me too much.

L: At the moment, no, I wouldn’t. I can’t believe you kept this from me even after our talk.

N: I planned to tell you all that night. The marriage contract stipulated that Ren would not find out her heritage until her eighteenth birthday. The plan was for Edmundo to speak to Ren first, then we would tell all of you. I never meant to keep it this long, but we’ve had a crisis on our hands.

L: You still could’ve told me over the last four days.

N: You sound like a needy girlfriend.

L: Fuck you.

N: Okay, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Honestly, it was the furthest thing from my mind. I’ve been consumed with thoughts of failing Ren, putting her life at risk, and what would happen if she didn’t wake up.

It annoyed me that I actually understood that last part.

I’d been the voice of reason and calm since the accident, but every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Ren’s bloodied body lying still in the grass.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for the wave of fear that had pressed in on my chest and stopped my heart.

We dealt with life and death every day. But confronted with the reality that Ren could’ve been dead…I shook my head to rid it of the horror movie playing on repeat.

L: I get that, but I’m still pissed at the way you handled Myles.

N: You’ve got to be kidding me.

L: No, the fuck I’m not. I’m not the emotional feelings guy, so if I’m saying that was a shit thing to do, then it was a fucking asshole way to remind him of his status.

We’ve never treated each other as lesser.

It has always been part of our strength and bond.

You kicked him in the gut, and then all but laughed in his face.

I hate to say it, but that’s the kind of fucked up thing your father would do.

N: … … …

The little bubbles came and went, over and over, but there was only one word that finally came through.

N: Fuck.

L: Give him a couple of days to cool down, but you’ve got some serious repairs to make.

N: Sometimes I really understand where Lawrence is coming from. It’s far easier not caring and ordering people around than it is to deal with feelings and keeping you all happy.

L: You’re not keeping us happy. You’re showing us respect. Respect buys you loyalty that fear cannot. Fear and oppression make the oppressed want to rise up and take over. You and Lawrence are a case in point.

N: Don’t get all fucking philosophical and logical on me. It’s too late for that.

L: Too early, technically.

N: Shut up, you know what I mean.

I smirked, picturing the annoyed expression on his face.

N: Don’t smirk at me.

I looked over my shoulder at the window in the hospital room, but no one was standing there, and there was no shadow under the door. I narrowed my eyes at my phone.

L: Don’t try to be like me. I wasn’t smirking.

N: Liar, you always smirk when you piss me off.

That made me smile because it was true. One of my favorite pastimes was pissing Nash off. If it were an Olympic sport, I’d win gold every time.

L: True.

N: How is she?

L: Why don’t you come in and see for yourself? I know you’re still skulking around the hospital somewhere.

N: I’m sitting in my car. I don’t skulk, I observe.

L: Uh-huh, whatever you say. Point is, everyone is asleep, and as pissed as Myles is, he won’t start a fight in here.

N: Maybe, but no. I’ll just stay here and keep an eye out.

L: You really think your father will show up at the hospital?

N: Better fucking believe he will. The only question is if he’ll show up during the day like a sane person or try to sneak in after hours. The Emergency Room doors are the only ones unlocked at this hour, so I’m camped out in the back of the parking lot.

L: He won’t get past me if he does arrive.

N: I know, but I would prefer for him never to reach her door. Now tell me how she is.

L: Scared. She put on a brave face when we got back to her room, but she’s terrified.

Ren’s identity is wrapped up in her intelligence.

It’s part of what makes her, her. If she thinks that she may lose that, along with all the other blows she’s had to endure…

I don’t know, man, we need to watch her closely.

N: You think she’d hurt herself?

I glanced at the bed. Even with the bruises lining her face, Ren was still gorgeous. A shining beacon of strength and love.

L: No, but she can slip into a depression. She’ll try to hide it, and I don’t want her to take a trip down the same road as Blake.

N: I feel that.

L: When do you plan on telling her that she is your wife? LOL!!! God, I can’t wait for that conversation.

N: Funny, asshole.

L: I’m not the one who secretly married her and now has to tell her, but you can sure as fuck believe that I’m buying the popcorn to watch the show. I may even sell tickets.

N: Such a dick. And…I don’t know.

L: You don’t know?

N: You’re right, she’s been through a lot. She doesn’t remember who Edmundo is, let alone that he is her father. Telling her that, and then saying, “Oh, hey, btw we’re married,” is probably the kind of stress the doc wants her to avoid.

L: I’ll give you that one, but…

N: I know, I know. The longer I leave it, the worse it’ll be. You don’t need to state the obvious.

L: I’ll speak to the others and make sure they don’t say anything.

N: Thanks, man.

L: Uh-huh.

N: I mean it, thanks for…you know, being my friend and shit. I can feel you cringing through the phone, and it made me laugh.

L: You’re welcome.

I set the phone down and decided to get a little bit of sleep in while my mind was quiet, but then Ren gasped. Her eyes snapped open, and I jumped up from my seat. I grabbed her hand as she blinked like she was trying to remember where she was.

“You’re in the hospital, do you remember?” I rubbed my thumb in soothing circles. She nodded, and I let go as she reached for the pad of paper and pen we’d purchased from the gift shop downstairs.

I dream…car crash…water…no breathe.

I looked at what she wrote and tried to keep my face from giving away my confusion. There was no water at the crash site.

“Water?”

She nodded.

Little. No remember. Car, cold water, stuck.

Her hands started to shake, and she dropped the pen. I gripped her fingers and made her look up at me.

“I will always push you to be your best, but this isn’t the time. Stop trying to force yourself to remember. I know it’s frustrating, but you can be making the memories retreat further.”

Ren ran her lip through her teeth.

“Want to play a game of war?” I pulled a deck of cards out of my hoodie like a magician, and she smiled. “I’m having trouble sleeping anyway, so you can keep me company.”

Lifting her hand, she signed.

Okay.