Page 87 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)

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The music was loud, but not so loud that I couldn’t hear what anyone said.

Nash had really put a lot of effort into making Volatile feel like a celebration for the night.

He’d brought in a projector that was streaming New Year’s parties from all over the country.

Everything was decorated in black and gold, and half the bar was filled with an assortment of finger foods.

I had no idea how he got this all organized in a day, but if we couldn’t have the party at Eddie’s, then this was perfect.

It had taken a few minutes of walking around to feel comfortable. It was the first time I’d been back here since Halloween, and when I stepped up into the VIP area, I had to take a steadying breath as images from that night raced through my mind.

“Okay, here you go,” Nora said.

Smiling, I picked up my drink. It was some sort of virgin, fruity concoction. There were three layers of color, and it was topped with an umbrella and two cherries. I lifted it toward the light to try and figure out how she’d managed to make three perfect rings of color.

“Stop staring and just try it,” Nora said, and I laughed, taking a sip.

I moaned. “Wow, that’s good,” I said, as the sweet taste touched my tongue. It was a refreshing mix of blueberry and strawberry, a hint of something tropical with a fizz that gave it a lift.

“I know. Come back when you’re done. I’ve got another one I’m dying to try out on someone,” she said.

I laughed. “Always wanted to be…a guinea pig.”

“Trust me, you’re going to love it,” she said, wiping the black counter.

“Okay, I’ll trust you,” I said, and Nora smiled, walking away.

Myles, Blake, Liam, and Rory were yelling and throwing insults at one another across the foosball table.

I wandered over to see what all the commotion was about, but quickly regretted that decision.

Myles leaned over like I was his personal refreshment holder and took a sip of my drink.

Scratch that, it wasn’t a sip, it was more like he was trying to inhale the whole thing while keeping his eyes on the game.

As soon as he un-mouthed my straw, I glared and stepped away.

They were acting like this was serious business and not some fun game.

The cheers whenever they scored were overwhelming, and I half expected them to run around the room hyping the crowd like the soccer players on television when they scored a goal.

The party was small, but perfect. Other than Eddie’s guards, who were standing in the shadows around the room, we’d kept the invite to just close friends.

That translated to the guys’ friends, Chantry, Ivy, and Sabastian.

But so far, Ivy and Sabastian were no-shows.

I hated that there was a strain in our friendship.

The leather couches had been pushed closer to face the games that Nash had purchased for the relaunch.

Along with the foosball table, there was also a pool table, air hockey, and a basketball toss game.

We’d opted for a more casual vibe and were all in jeans, but the guys had worn matching black dress shirts that made my mouth water.

Someone brushed my waist, and I knew it was Nash. He tucked me in close to his side, and his warm hand rested on my hip.

“They’re insane,” he said quietly, and I chuckled.

“You’re just as bad.”

“I’m not.” He sulked and stared down at me.

“Who you trying to fool?”

“Hmm, fine. I’ll concede that I may have a bit of a competitive streak,” Nash said, and Theo laughed from the couch nearby.

“Bit? Now that is funny,” Theo teased as he stood.

“When did all of you assholes get so annoyingly bold?”

“We always were, but now we’re more open about it. Blame Ren, it’s all her fault,” he said, laughing when my mouth fell open.

“Why am I getting blamed,” I asked, laughing.

Theo shrugged. “It’s true, you just hate admitting that I’m always right.”

Before I could say anything back, Theo’s smile faltered, and my heart jumped, expecting something terrible. After everything, my body was tuned to expect it.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I looked toward the door and saw that Ivy and Sabastian had arrived.

“I don’t know how you talked me into letting him come tonight,” Nash whispered under his breath.

“Be nice, please. I don’t think he’s the enemy,” I said, almost feeling like my old self now that the words came easier. I was still using shorter sentences, but my confidence had grown.

I tugged Nash toward my friend and sorta-brother as security finished checking them over for weapons.

“So, you keep saying,” Nash mumbled.

“Hey!” Ivy squealed as we embraced. She pulled back, smiling wide. “I’m so happy that you’re going to be back this semester. School has been miserable without you,” she said.

“You’ll have me, too,” Sabastian said, and she gave him a shy smile.

“Yes, but it’s not the same as girl time. Unless, of course, you want to paint my nails while we debate about who wore it best and I tell you all about my menstrual woes,” Ivy said, and both Sabastian and Nash made a sour face.

“Nope, pass on that,” Sabastian said.

“Something we can agree on,” Nash said.

He took me by surprise when he held out his hand to Sabastian. But I wasn’t the only one shocked.

Sabastian looked down and then at Nash’s face before accepting the gesture.

“Is this a truce,” he asked.

Nash shrugged. “For tonight, and who knows what the new year will bring. Let’s take it one step at a time.”

“Fair, I’ll take that deal,” Sabastian said, glancing over at me.

Taking a chance, I stepped up and hugged him. Sabastian was stiff at first, but then he slowly squeezed me back.

“I wish I remembered more of you,” I said, and then moved away. I hadn’t expected to see so much raw emotion in his eyes. “If you have time one day…will you show me the other pictures,” I asked, loving that I had an opportunity to reconnect with Sabastian and maybe mend some fences along the way.

Sabastian nodded. “Yeah, I can do that,” he said, and I smiled.

“Come on, I challenge you to some air hockey,” Nash said, and Sabastian smirked.

“You’re on,” he said, walking away.

“Is that safe,” Ivy asked, and I shook my head as they stepped up to the table and squared off.

“Not even a little. They’re all crazy,” I said, making her giggle.

Ivy grabbed my hand. “Thank you for inviting us, and for trying again with Sabastian. He won’t talk to me much, but he is hurt by everything that happened. I really don’t think he is out to get you.”

Her eyes were so hopeful and earnest, and to be honest, I believed the same thing. Maybe it was my endless optimism, or my longing for more family who didn’t hate me or want to kill me, but I didn’t get the feeling that Sabastian was a threat to me. Nash and the guys were a lot harder to convince.

“I believe you, and…I just hope…” I sighed and shook my head. “I hope his father hasn’t done too much damage.”

“He’s always been nice to me,” Ivy said, shrugging. But I couldn’t agree with that, so I said nothing.

Chantry jumped up from the couch where she’d been lounging and watching the foosball match and jogged over.

“Let’s play basketball,” she said, grabbing our hands and dragging us toward the flashing game.

The shadow that had crept over me with my concerns about Christov lifted as Chantry stopped us in front of the tall machine. Theo’s name glowed at the top of the champion list…oh, that had to change. I was going to kick his ass.

Twenty minutes later, the three of us were doubled over and laughing hysterically as one of Ivy’s balls didn’t even come close and sailed across the room.

“I’ll get it,” I said.

Walking to the front of the club, I crouched down near the windows and started looking under the tables for the small orange ball.

It was harder to find than you would think with the lights dimmed.

I finally spotted it wedged under a bench.

On my hands and knees, I reached under and brushed it with my fingers.

“What?” Myles yelled, and I looked over my shoulder to see him walking closer. “I can’t hear ya.”

I grabbed for the ball again and this time managed to get the pesky thing. Standing with a smile on my face, I held it up. Ivy and Chantry cheered before turning back to the game.

“What?” Myles turned to yell at the guys. “Turn the music off!” Nash looked over. “Music. Off!” Myles made a cutting motion with his hand, and Nash grabbed a remote from the wall and hit mute. “Lip, are ya still there?”

Myles’s face had drained of blood. I froze while my heart hammered out of control. An icy dread was seeping into my bones like a cold wind that cut through all your layers and ached deep inside. Something was wrong.

A flash of headlights caught my eye. I looked outside and watched in horror as Lawrence exited the driver’s seat.

Myles had his back to the glass, but I couldn’t seem to move.

Memories of Halloween raced through my mind—the windows shattering, running for my life, the car flipping, and the darkness.

“Lip…slow down, I can barely understand ya,” Myles said. “Yer on speaker, try now.”

I needed to warn him, to warn all of them. But my feet were glued to the floor, and my body had been gripped by some sort of paralysis while I stared at the new terror unfolding outside. The passenger door opened, and Mya climbed out.

Loud sobs came through the speaker of Myles’s phone.

“He shot them,” Lip yelled, his pained cries reached in and gripped my already out-of-control heart.

Mya opened the rear door and hauled Neal out.

“Oh god no,” I whispered under my breath.

“Shot who?”

“Uncle Lawrence shot our new mommy and daddy!”

Lip’s desperate wails broke whatever spell was holding me in place.

“What,” Theo asked, taking a step toward us. All eyes were now trained in our direction, and I waved them over to the window.

I grabbed Myles’s arm.

“He means Ethan and Ella, and Lawrence is here,” I said, my own panic now forcing me to act.