Page 71 of Ella's Masquerade
She now lived with me and spent every night inourbed.
Several students were flocking toward her, seeking shelter beneath her growing wings. Something Ella only allowed because the majority of them had endured bullying, just not on the same scale as her.
It helped that Ryan and Carmen were allowing it, mostly because they thought this would only add to their stepsister’s eventual fall. What they failed to realize was that we were slowly swaying the kingdom in Ella’s favor.
Dash seemed to be the only one not keen on this plan.
Charlie, being a perpetual dumbass, thought it was great. I suspected he hoped to be the one to lick Ella’s wounds—whether he had her cooperation or not.
Which was why I couldn’t wait for today’s events to unfold.
We’d decided to take him down first.
By dismantling his status.
I leaned against the wall and checked my watch. It should be any moment now that he received a phone call. One that would destroy his world.
Where’s my kiss?Ella asked, her eyes glittering from across the room.
I smirked at her.Such a demanding little mate you are.
Damn straight.
I started toward her, ready to oblige, when Ryan caught my arm and tugged me backward. My gaze locked on hers, my eyebrow inching upward. “Yes?”
“Meet me in the hallway in five minutes.”
“Why?”
She gave me a seductive look that rotted my insides. “I want to reward you for all your hard work.”
I forced my lips to curl despite my urge to vomit.
In no way did I ever want arewardfrom this vile creature.
“As tempting as that is, this plan hinges on my ability to win over my conquest. Which isn’t going to happen if she finds out I’m playing on the side.” I carefully removed her hand from my bicep, making a show of my rejection for those observing.
Our voices were pitched too low for anyone to overhear, but body language could be a telling indicator of a conversation.
Something I played upon by folding my arms and taking on a condemning stance.
“I’m very close, Ryan,” I said softly. “Unless you’ve decided to skip the fireworks and go straight to my reward?”
She glanced at Ella, her expression souring. “Oh, no. I want to see her face crumble when you tell her this was all a ruse.”
“You really do hate her,” I mused, cocking my head. “But I still haven’t figured out why.” Not exactly true. I suspected jealousy played a large factor in her treatment of her stepsister. Ella embodied beauty in a way Ryan never would. And not just because this bitch possessed a black heart.
She flipped her brown hair over her shoulder and shrugged. “She’s an easy target.”
“Is she?” I wondered out loud, shifting my focus to the female in question. “She’s been one of my biggest challenges to date.” And I meant that.
I also heard that,Ella replied into my mind.
I smothered a grin with my hand and arched a brow at Ryan. “Are we—”
“Oh my god!” Carmen jumped in between us, her back to me. “You need to see this.”
“I’m in the middle of a conversation,” Ryan snapped, gesturing at me over her twin’s shoulder.
