Page 132 of The Forbidden Note

The stone is so tiny, so inconsequential that it doesn’t even make a sound when it hits the rocks.

I pull back sharply, my eyes descending to the rocks below.

It’s all dark. All black. All death.

My body buzzes with electricity.

My hands, my mouth, they’re full of her.

But I can’t help feeling like our kiss tonight sealed our fate. We aren’t just falling. We’re both a little too close to smashing into pieces at the bottom.

And the worst part?

I don’t think anyone will hear us when we shatter.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE

GREY

My head pounds with the kiss of regret as I wake the next morning.

The sights and smells around me are unfamiliar.

High ceilings. Filmy curtains. Giant balcony. Enormous bed.

This isn’t home.

I’m in one of The King’s lavish guest rooms.

After Jarod issued his not-so-subtle threat, there was no way I could stay in his house. I accepted the invitation to crash at the boys’ place, but it’s just a temporary solution. The next step is to get my own apartment and drag mom as far away from this mess as possible.

My body sinks into the bed as I think about my complicated life. Looks like I have to add my step-dad to the growing list of people who want to hurt me.

I close my eyes to hide from the sunlight. In the darkness, last night’s kiss explodes in my mind. I see it all. The way Zane’s mouth pressed into mine, burning, searing, taking over. The way his hand slipped up my shirt. The way I moaned. The way I never wanted it to stop.

“Last night meant nothing,” I mumble to myself, but the words are hollow. It doesn’t feel like ‘nothing’ at all.

Trying to run from my thoughts, I force myself to get up and start preparing for the day.

The masquerade ball is tonight.

There are a ton of details to take care of.

Still, I don’t just bound outside. I stop to take off my hair bonnet, run some product through my curls and slap on some lipgloss.

I’m just trying to be presentable, I tell myself.

Carefully, I wrap my fingers around the doorknob.

The hallway is clear.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I tiptoe outside and hasten toward the stairs.

At that moment, the bathroom door bursts open.

Smoke curls from the room and crawls behind Zane who’s stepping out wearing nothing but a towel.

I am not prepared.

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