Page 143 of Shameless Royalty

ConnorandIhavemore or less been “dating” quietly for the last week. He hasn’t been pushy, hasn’t popped up at my dorm unannounced again, and has even held back on blowing up my cell phone. I know it must kill him not to go Full Connor, but that’s just something he has to live with if he wants me back.

Am I taking advantage of this? Fuck, yeah, I am. But at least he’s giving me the space and freedom I asked for.

The dorm door opens, and I glance up from my laptop to see Aiden stepping in, kicking the door shut behind him with a casual ease. He tosses his keys onto the small table by the door and leans against the frame, giving me that mildly curious look I’ve gotten used to over the last couple of weeks.

“You going to the bonfire tonight?” he asks, shrugging out of his leather jacket and hanging it over the back of a chair. The easy way he says it makes it sound like I should already know what he’s talking about, but I have no fucking clue.

“What bonfire?” I ask, closing the lid of my laptop and swiveling around in the chair to face him fully. He raises a brow, and there’s a faint twitch at the corner of his lips, almost like he’s amused that I’m so clueless about campus life.

“The Five Crowns’ welcome back thing,” he says slowly, dragging a hand through his dark, messy hair. “It’s at their suite. They always throw one after they get back from whatever the hell they’re doing off campus. Basically, everyone shows up, drinks too much, and tries to impress them.”

I sit up straighter, my pulse suddenly kicking up a notch at the mention of the Five Crowns. Connor. Fuck. My throat tightens a little, but I school my expression, trying not to let my excitement show too obviously.

I haven’t met Connor’s friends yet, but apparently they want to meet me. I’m still wary, so I’ve been putting it off, but I guess I can’t keep doing that. It must be why he didn’t tell me about this bonfire thing.

“Sounds pretentious.”

He smirks. “It is. But it’s also the biggest party of the semester. And, you know, free booze.”

I hum, pretending to think about it, then glance at him. “You going?”

“Yeah.”

“Can I go with you?” I ask quickly, probably a little too fast considering the surprised look Aiden shoots me.

He eyes me for a second like he’s trying to figure out why the hell I’d care, then shrugs one shoulder. “Sure, why not? You never leave the damn dorm, anyway. Maybe you’ll have some fun.”

I nod, pretending not to feel that embarrassing flutter in my chest. I shouldn’t feel excited. Fuck, I shouldn’t feel anything, especially since I’m supposed to be taking this time to findmyself and all that crap. But just knowing I’ll see Connor again has me feeling stupidly hopeful. Like some fucking lovesick fool.

Yes, I saw him earlier today—but it doesn’t matter. I still get those stupid butterflies every time I see his stupidly gorgeous face. Now that I’m out of that room, away from expecting him to just show up like he used to, every glimpse of him feels new. Unexpected. And way too exciting for my own good.

At seven-thirty, I’m pulling on my shoes and following Aiden down to his sleek black Charger. He revs the engine once as we pull out of the parking lot, a subtle smirk on his face as he catches my expression. He drives fast; the music is loud and the windows are down, the cool evening air whipping through the car. I relax slightly, letting the anticipation and anxiety bleed away a bit.

The second I see where the Crowns live, I roll my eyes.

Five massive brownstone townhouses sit in a grand cul-de-sac, each one a statement. The grand arched doors, the wrought iron balconies, the decorative edges on the roofs—everything about them screams old money, power, and untouchable status.

“Of course they live here,” I mutter dryly, glancing at him. “Nothing screams humble like a fucking palace on campus.”

Aiden chuckles softly, shaking his head. “Welcome to the world of the elite, Malachi,” he drawls sarcastically. “Try not to choke on all the pretentious bullshit.”

Aiden parks the Charger with practiced ease and we step out, making our way to the bonfire already blazing behind the suites.

The place is packed, students milling around holding drinks, laughter mixing with chatter and music from hidden speakers. We grab a couple of beers and linger near the edges of the crowd, watching as everyone talks and laughs, waiting for something—though I’m not sure exactly what.

I keep glancing around, scanning the faces, but there’s no sign of Connor yet. The disappointment that hits me each time I don’tfind him is almost embarrassing, and I shove it down, forcing myself to listen as Aiden starts talking music, something safe and easy.

We’re deep into a discussion about Sleep Token’s lore when suddenly, the entire atmosphere shifts.

Heads turn, whispers ripple through the crowd and conversations quiet down until only the crackling bonfire fills the silence. A group emerges from the direction of the suites, the five figures walking in perfect synchronization, black matte masks covering their faces. Each mask has a unique silver engraving over the left eye—spade, diamond, club, heart, and one with a jester’s hat.

My eyes latch onto that one immediately.

I know those tattoos, the sharp lines and the dark ink against pale skin. Fuck, I’ve licked them enough times to know exactly how they taste. My face heats instantly, embarrassment and longing twisting in my chest. He’s wearing black jeans that hang dangerously low on his hips, his heavy black boots crunching against the grass.

He’s shirtless because, of course, he fucking is; the sculpted muscles of his chest and stomach are on full display. A leather holster crosses his chest and biceps, holding god knows what.

Fucking hell, he looks dangerous. Like something out of a nightmare—or a fantasy, depending on how fucked up you are. And judging by the way people are looking at him, I’m not the only one thinking it.

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