“Bitch.” John staggered back. “What was that for?”
I shoved my way through the crowd, desperate to breathe. I caught the flash of Trey moving forward, his eyes locked on John as he descended to dish out his own justice. Tillie grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the circle. Two girls stepped toward me, but one look from Tillie sent them back.
“I understand why you did that,” she whispered. “He’s hurt a lot of girls over the years.”
A shudder ran through me as I fought to keep my shaking limbs under control. John had never succeeded in hurting me with more than his fists, but to think he’d done it to others… and I was going torewardhim with his freedom.
“I’m unleashing that monster on the world,” I whispered. Suddenly, everything I’d been working toward seemed stupid and dangerous. I’d been so focused on how the Kings had changed. They saw that they had done horrible things, and they’d already started on the path to redemption. But they were only three of the 245 students. These students had spent twenty years locked inside this hellhole, believing that they could do whatever they wanted to the scholarship students and the staff who served them. And until now, that had been true. They’d had no consequences for their cruelty. So why would they stop?
“Trust me, when John Hyde-Jones gets out into the world, he’s going to be watched carefully,” Tillie hissed, and the venom in her voice sent a chill down my spine. “And not just by me. But wherever he goes, I’ll be there, and if he makes one false move I’ll report him to the police. Or cut off his nuts.”
The venom in her voice stung the air. I believed her. “What about Derek? What about everyone who tortured scholarship students? I can’t watch all 245 students. There’s no way to…”
“To make everyone obey the law? To turn us all into upstanding citizens and liberals? You’re right – there’s no way to do that. And you shouldn’t try. There are monsters among us; I’m not denying it. Hell, I was a monster once. But I think I’ve changed. Or at least, I want to change. And I’m not the only one. The wanting… you made us feel that, and maybe it will be enough, but that’s out of your hands. It’s not your responsibility to save our souls, Hazel. You’ve done more than enough by saving our lives, even though we don’t deserve it.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. “Um… you’re welcome.”
Tillie laughed. She wiped her eye, and I noticed a tear forming in the corner. “When you first came to school, I hated you so much. Trey couldn’t stop talking about you. Hazel this, Dead Meat that. He put more effort into torturing you than any of the others. That’s how I knew he liked you, and I hated you for it. Isn’t that fucked up?”
I nodded in agreement. “That is themostfucked up.”
“The truth is, Trey and I were never a good match. We dragged each other down into our own misery – because that was the only thing that connected us. But seeing him with you… he’s a different guy. A better guy. It’s like his eyes have been opened, and he makes me want to open my eyes, too. But not as much as you. I’ve been a seventeen-year-old girl for twenty years, and I still don’t know who I am. Not like you, Hazel. You’ve always had such a… determination about you. A solidity. That’s why he loves you – because you’re the stone wall he can throw himself against, and you won’t break. The way he looks at you… maybe I’ll meet someone who loves me like that one day, but I have to figure out who I am first. And even though I was horrible to you, you’re giving me that chance. You’re all right, for a charity case.” Tillie held out her cup for me.
“And you’re okay, for a stone-cold monarch bitch.” I grinned back. We clinked cups, splashing alcohol over each other.
Quinn danced over. “Ladies, you need to be on the dance floor, grinding against me. That’s an order from your King.” He yanked us into a lopsided circle where students bumped and ground against each other to the eerie, tribal beat. A thick fog of sweetly scented smoke clung over the group.
“What’s this stuff?” I waved my hands in the swirling mist.
Quinn took a drag from a long-stemmed pipe. He held it out to me. “Paul’s dad gave it to us a few years ago. It isn’t even on the streets yet. Want me to hook you up?”
I shook my head.
“I’ve seen enough horrors at this school without a head full of drugs.” My brain already felt fuzzy from the confrontations and various substances mixing in the air. I didn’t know if it would impact my ability to draw my fire.
Hands clamped over my thighs. I stiffened. The familiar whiff of fresh herbs and springtime caressed my palate. “This party is awesome,” Trey yelled over the noise as he danced in close. I relaxed into him, his body raising heat where it grazed mine. “There’s only one problem – where’s this pillar of ours? I thought you were going to do it when you swung at John – you looked angry enough.”
I smiled. Beneath my feet, the god rumbled in anticipation. “Nope. I have another plan for pillar-raising.”
I took Trey’s hand, stroking my fingers over his knuckles. With my free hand, I picked up Quinn’s wrist, draping his hand across Trey’s. I looked up. Without me needing to do anything, Ayaz shoved his way through the crowd and stood before me, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smile. He laid his hand on top. Three pairs of eyes met mine – one ice, one warm amber, one dark as night.
I sucked in a breath. I deliberately hadn’t told them about this. I didn’t want to give them time to think it over, to back out, to come up with excuses. I didn’t want them to wonder why I’d been pushing them away, only to draw them to me tonight.
I didn’t want to explain that I wanted one last, wonderful memory to carry me across the cosmos before I said goodbye to the Kings forever.
My three bullies. My Kings. The three guys I loved more with every breath, who challenged me and infuriated me and made me giddy with the force of my passion.
“Come with me,” I spoke my wish into the air.
“Where are we going?” Quinn raised an eyebrow.
“To the cabins.” I met their eyes, letting my desire pool. “I need all three of you. Tonight. With me.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Quinn’s lips curled back into a smile. “You mean, slacks off, cocks out, Hazy’s body at our mercy? I thought you’d never ask.”
Trey’s eyes narrowed. “You’re asking—”
