Page 52 of The Royal Flame
I blink through the drug haze billowing in my mind. As my vision returns, the first thing I see is a stone arched ceiling with water dripping out of it. I sit up as a few droplets land on my face. I swipe them away from my face then scan my surroundings, only to wish I hadn’t.
A few weeks ago, Maddy and I had been out near the football field, eating and talking when the society had run out of the woods. They were wearing cloaks, and one was donning a knife. This scene is similar, only we’re indoors and I’m laying on somesort of stone-like podium in the center of a circular room lined with brick doorways.
“All right everyone,” Eli step steps forward from the group of cloaked figures with a sword in his hand. “We’re ready to start the ceremony.”
“Like hell you are.” Finn pushes through the crowd and steps toward me.
He’s not wearing a cloak and has on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He’s face is lined with so much rage I’m concerned he might be the hell out of Eli.
That makes two of us.
I stand to my feet, wincing as a spout of dizziness spins through my hear. For a faltering moment, the images that plagued my brain while I was unconscious flash through my mind.
Why did my mother have my blood drawn?
Eli points the tip of the sword at Finn. Finn stops striding toward him, but he looks more annoyed than afraid.
“You don’t get a say in this. You’re not in charge!” Eli shouts, his voice echoing against the domed ceiling. “He broke the rules! He went against me therefor he went against the society!”
Rolling his eyes, Finn shoves the sword away from him. “You have no proof of that. Just like you have no proof Maddy’s the one that gave you that bruise on your face. If it is true, it’s kind of pathetic. I mean, you let a girl kick your ass. Doesn’t that make you not fit to be our leader.”
“That’s what this is about,” I mumble as I careful approach them. I feel high and out of it, but I push through the wooziness, attempting to stay in the present. “Dude, I didn’t do shit.”
Eli’s lip twitches as he glares at me. He’s always been everything wrong in the Royal world—an entitled, spoiled brat that throws tantrums every time he doesn’t get his way. This moment proves that.
“She sucker punched me,” he growls out.
“Sure she did,” Finn snickers while trading a look with me.
Our twin telepathy kicks in and we both silent agree we’re going to push this to the point where he breaks. It might be my only way out of this, whatever this is. Eli said the ceremony was beginning but what fucking ceremony?
“I heard a rumor she knocked him flat on his back,” I chime in while stuffing my hands into my pockets, mainly to conceal the trembling in my hands from the drugs leaving my system. “How embarrassing for you, Eli.” I bite back a smile as a few of the society members snicker.
Eli’s eyelids lower as he narrows his gaze at me. “You have no clue what you’re talking about.” His hands curl into fists. “And if I were you, I’d tread cautiously.Sacrifice.” He sneers the last word.
Shock whips through, but fortunately I’m still too doped up to completely react.
“He’s not the sacrifice,” Finn interrupts, stepping toward Eli.
He’s taller and stronger, and by the way Eli steps back, he knows this.
I barely register his reaction, though, my attention getting snagged on the fact that Finn act as if he already the society was doing a sacrifice. And a human one?
What the hell?
Eli smirks. “You seemed okay with it when it was Zay’s brother.” He nods his head in the direction of Zay, a guy I grew up around and who I always loathed.
But I feel that way about most of these guys.
Zay steps forward and lowers the hood of his cloak. “It should be River. He’s barely been in this society. And he’s dating a north side slut.”
“She’s not a fucking slut,” I growl out with my fists balled. I’ve never been much of a fighter, but I’d throw down for Maddy. “Take that back, now.”
“Or what?” Zay’s brow cocks. “You gonna get your daddy to ruin.”
“No, I am.” I step toward him, but Finn sticks his arm out, stopping me.
“Bro,” I growl out. “Let me go. I’m going to kick his ass.”
