Page 84 of Pretty Lethal
Do it. Do it. Do it.
The voice in my head chants, always thirsty for blood.
Not sparing him a glance, I shoulder past him and down the steps.
“Not talking to me?” he calls, chasing after me.
“Fuck off, Robbie.”
It’s all I’m capable of saying right now. Anything more, and the iron-clad restraint I have over my control will slip. If that happens, there will be no stopping until Robbie is nothing but a bloody, unrecognizable pulp of flesh at my feet.
“Seriously?” Laughter tinges his voice, only making me more furious. “You broke the rules!” he calls when I don’t slow down. “Now you’ve been punished. End of.”
“End of?” I snarl, spinning on him so fast that he nearly crashes into me. “You chased my girlfriend through the motherfucking forest. You scared the absolute shit out of her. Why the fuck did you even need to involve her in the first place?”
“It had nothing to do with her,” he deadpans, not flinching an inch in the face of my wrath. “Youbroke the rules, Wilder. She was used to make a point. Don’t do it again, and we’ll have no reason to touch a hair on her pretty little head.”
My lip curls in a snarl at the glint of malice in his cold dead eyes.
“I was a little offended you hadn’t confided in me, though.”
“She’s none of your fucking business.” He continues to stare at me, and despite checking to make sure my mask is firmly in place, it feels as though he’s slipping beneath the surface and peering into the most private part of my soul where I keep all thoughts of Emilia safely tucked away from prying eyes.
“I couldn’t tell you,” I relent, simply because I need him to stop poking around. “She’s a teacher here. I didn’t want her to get in trouble.”
He smirks, but thankfully I feel him pull back. “No judgment here, man. You forget you’re an Elite. You’re free to fuck whoever you want.”
I turn away and continue my path across campus. I’m sure my reaction on Friday night gave away how much Emilia means to me, but just in case, I don’t need to give him or the Elites any more ammunition.
Regrettably, I hear the clap of his footsteps against the stone path as he continues following me.
“What you did that night was impressive, man. That type of rage… we could really use that.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snarl. I’m fairly certain I killed at least one and maimed several other Elites. Shouldn’t I be locked up in some cell awaiting a death sentence for my crimes? Given their long list of ridiculous rules, I’d have assumed killing one of them was a big no-no.
“The way you zoned-out in there. You weren’t going to let anything get in your way. It takes true talent to be able to do that. To have that level of focus and determination.”
I was fucking determined because they had sadistic rapists chasing my woman through the motherfucking forest!
“Didn’t I kill someone?”
I’m not asking because I’m curious. I truly could not give a shit. If anything, I regret not killing more of them. I should have gone on a goddamn spree. Painted the walls red. Bathed the floor in blood.
Robbie waves away my question. “Don’t worry about that. The King will sort it out. He sees real potential in you.”
The King. The King. The King.
I’m so goddamn sick of hearing aboutthe King. Of bowing to him. Of everyone taking his word as gospel.
“Aren’t you all about moving chess pieces? Silent infiltration? I’m not of any use to you. I don’t do politics or play the long game. I’m not subtle. I can’t be some sleeper agent you send in only to have me raze the ground later.”
This time, I am genuinely curious about what Robbie thinks I can offer the King’s Elite. Other than being a Clearwater, why are they so intent on bringing me into the fold?
Robbie tugs on my arm, forcing me to stop as he moves to stand in front of me, blocking my path.
“You’re right,” he agrees readily, confusing me further. “Some people put on suits and plaster smiles to their faces, and no one is any the wiser as to their true calling. Although there are also people who work behind the scenes. Who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty.”
“And let me guess, you think that’s me,” I drawl.
