Page 1 of Lovely Deceit

1

Alaric

Shock.

Horror.

Dread.

Icy fear slides down my spine as Eden Astor plunges into the black sheet of frigid river water.

But I don’t move a muscle under the dark robes hiding me. Staying stone-faced has been more difficult than I thought, especially when the taunts began. And more so when Eden called out for me.

Me.

Heir to the Barclay businesses and fortune. Heir to everything my predecessors began before me. My name is like a physical restraint holding me back.

Now I stand and watch another girl mistreated by the power of the Knights of Arcadia. When will it end? When will we stop?

Oliver breaks the holds of the Knights keeping him back, and dives into the water after Eden without a second thought while Leo and I stay with the others on the dock, just watching like the pussies we are.

Is it the money that holds us here? Is it the promise of power? The world’s riches, monetary and otherwise, hanging like a carrot above our heads?

I used to think it was a pretty big fucking diamond-encrusted carrot I was willing to do anything for, but it’s fading now. Fading even before Eden came into my life, but she’s all but left it a disgusting memory.

The Knights like to play with people. To prove themselves the victors. To prove to the players that they want to be part of the elite because no one wants to be the one in the water right now. They want to be the ones on the dock.

That’s how the Knights get you. Manipulation is the greatest seduction.

And I don’t know if I want to play anymore.

Heart stuttering in my chest, I frantically search the water for any sign of the two of them. Panic clings to me. I’ve never been one to get anxiety attacks, but I’m terrified for them both. My heart drums in my ears like death knolls, and I can’t suck in a full breath for the life of me.

Oliver crests the surface first, tugging a lifeless Eden beside him. I’m stunned by her eerie resemblance to the mannequin head that floated to the water’s surface during one of her Trials. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Knights had all of this planned.

My stomach squeezes as he pulls her to the barrier wall. I step forward on instinct, attempting to help get her out of the water, but my father places his hand on my shoulder. A warning.

The restraints tighten a little more, shackling me to where I stand.

Oliver curses, breathing out heavily. With Herculean strength, he braces himself against the retaining wall and heaves Eden’s body onto the island.

No one helps.

I turn my head, searching for Leo. He’s not even watching them. His gaze is still on the pulley system they used to hoist Eden into the air above the freezing water. His lips are a cruel slash against his face. Arms crossed, his tattoo-riddled skin bulges in the shadowy light.

I don’t know who I see when I look at him. A pawn of the Knights. Someone trapped, scared. He’s always been such an asshole, but I thought Eden was getting through to him. Who fucking knows? We’re taught from young ages to hold all emotion in, and by the time we’re this age, we’re so fucking good it hurts.

Leo himself probably doesn’t even know who he is.

Sir Jarvis chuckles when Oliver puts his ear to Eden’s chest, the moonlight reflecting off the droplets in his hair.

I sigh when he droops over her in relief, using his body as a blanket. He must be satisfied that she’s breathing, and I finally take a breath to ease my own suffering.

“I guess not exactlytwopretty little dead girls,” one of the robed men boasts with a hint of humor. I can’t put a face to his voice, but honestly, it could be any of them. The Elders all get off on this shit.

“Welcome to Fledgling status,” Sir Jarvis grinds out. He turns in a flourish, his robe billowing around his feet. I catch a glimpse of disappointment painting his narrow features.

Sir Jarvis has got it in for Eden, and if she’s on his radar, she’s fucked. Without a doubt. What I’m unsure of is whether his grandson is in on it, too.

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