Chapter Eight

Valentin

A s I watch Maureen stalk over to Riot, I feel every muscle in my body tense. She's a spoiled fucking brat that dangles her pussy between us like it's the last drop of water in a barren desert. I should've let Zeke do what he wanted with her but for some vile reason, seeing his hands on her made my jaw tick. The thought of some douchebag soiling her before I do pisses me the fuck off. Zeke can have our fucking leftovers when we decide we're done.

"She's not like us, you know?" Libra leans against the bar, following my gaze across the room.

Our families are rich, controlling, and toxic as fuck. It's all we know. I look at Libra. Not a single blonde hair is out of place on her head. With her elongated curves, full lips, and flawless skin, she's stunning. But when I look in her eyes, I see the resemblance to Atlas, and I'm reminded that she's like a fucking sister to me. If I look closer, I see the flaws. The arrogance and superficiality. Those full lips are pumped full of collagen. Everything about her is deliberate and curated. From her overpriced handbag to the designer dress that's tight enough to cut off her air supply. But none of it can change the fact that she's hollow inside. Just like the rest of us. Because money does buy happiness but it's fleeting. We always need more.

"Maureen's a Blackwell. She's worse than us," I retort.

Libra shakes her head. "I don't know… something is off about her. I've partied with Draven Blackwell. He's never mentioned anything about a cousin from Wickford Hollow. And she doesn't seem to know anything about them."

Women can be so cunning and yet so na?ve at the same time. "It's an act. I don't know what she's doing here, but I promise you I'll find out. Keep your guard up around that one."

Libra nods but she doesn't look convinced as she lips her straw. "You never trust anyone, Val. Maybe you're wrong about her."

I'm fucking what? I clamp onto her wrist, and she almost drops her drink. "I noticed you haven't sat down at all tonight, Libra. Your ass still hurt from that spanking you got?"

Her eyes well up for a second, but she blinks any sign of sadness away. "Fuck you, Val. Hope you enjoyed the show cause that's the last time you'll see that again."

I snicker. "Unless you piss Riot off again. Which we both know is bound to happen. You just can't help yourself."

She slams her drink down on the bar. "Why are you like this? I've known you since birth and you just sat there and watched me get humiliated like it meant nothing."

My gaze flickers back over to Maureen and Riot and a little twinge of jealousy rips through me. I want to be the one she throws her fury at. I sigh and let go of Libra's wrist. "I don't fucking care, Libra. Just because I'm friends with Atlas doesn't mean I'm obligated to have any empathy for the rest of his family. You broke the rules and got punished. And you deserved every lashing that came your way."

Her eyes narrow at me as she snatches her purse off the barstool. "Whatever. I'm out of here. This bar is boring me."

Maybe if I was a different person, I'd feel some sort of remorse or compassion for her. But instead, I'm just annoyed. Girls like her expect the world to be handed to them on a silver platter. They take more than they deserve without lifting a finger. Riot, Atlas, and I keep everyone in their proper fucking place. If you mess up, there are consequences. Libra's just sour she got caught for once. But that bitch has been trying to manipulate Riot since we were kids.

She is right about one thing, though. This place is boring as fuck. More than usual. I only came to appease Riot and Atlas, anyway. All these people… they're pathetic sheep. We say jump and they ask, how high? The power doesn't get me off the way it does Riot. Nor do I care for the attention that Atlas so desperately craves.

Fuck all that. I need something else to fuel me. Something more depraved. And I know just who can give me that. My gaze flickers back to Maureen. She's stomping away from Riot toward the back door. Blood rushes to my cock, tingling and burning at the same time, reminding me of the poison that swirls through my veins.

I grab her purse, the one Libra was supposed to be watching, and follow her.

With every step, I move quietly and swiftly, careful not to alert her to my presence. She's so close I can smell her, almost taste her on my tongue. An ache grows in my belly as I stalk her through the darkened hallway, past the bathrooms, and out the back door.

This urge to hunt and trap screams at me. It lives in my bones and drives me to the edge of madness. It's been suffocating not having a worthy target. But now that Maureen has landed in Raven's Gate, I can finally have a little fun.

I catch her scent again on the path up ahead. She's na?ve to think she can walk back to the dorms by herself at this hour. She'll learn soon enough . I'm practically salivating with each sway of her tight little ass. The way it moves under the purpose and guidance of her strut. I get an eyeful of her tattoos under the moonlight—flowers and lace and filigree that twist around her ankles, up her creamy white thighs, and then disappear under her skirt. I want to rip the fabric clean off her, so I can see the rest. Right before I stretch that tight pussy around my dick.

As we move deeper into the woods, she uses her phone flashlight to illuminate the path. But it's worthless. There are far worse things than not being able to see out here. She should be more afraid of looking decay in the eyes.

I hold my breath when her stiletto heel gets caught in the mud. "Fucking hell," she curses. I creep closer, my heartbeat and adrenaline racing at the thrill of being so close to her fire. She bends over and digs at the dirt with her fingers. I'm harder than a fucking rock now. Her skirt has inched up, giving me a slight peek at those pillowy ass cheeks.

She grunts and groans as she pulls on her heel to no avail. "Fuck it," she snaps. With her bare foot out of the shoe, she hobbles on the other one.

I slither up behind her and whisper in her ear, "Need a hand?"

A blood-curdling scream rips from her throat as she tries to spin on one foot and topples over. Her ass hits the ground with a sploosh and sends mud flying out in every direction. She glares up at me as I smirk. "Fuck. You scared the crap out of me, Valentin. What are you doing, stalking me?"

I kneel down next to her and drag a finger through the mud. She flinches as I smear a chunk of it across her cheek. "Yes," I state.

Her chest heaves. She's completely stuck in the mud with no way out. "What do you want?" There's a quiver in her voice that sounds more carnal than afraid. And it turns me on way too fucking much.

"For you to be a good little girl for me." I smear her other cheek with more mud and then pinch her trembling lower lip between my fingers. "We can help each other."

Her throat bobs. "How?"

I drag my finger down her neck. "You'll let me do whatever I want to you… and in return, I won't share your dirty little secret with the whole school. It would be a shame to be labeled a slut and a liar."

Maureen's eyes widen. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She tries to scoot away, but I grab her ankles and hold them down.

"I did some digging today. Turns out not a single Blackwell has ever heard of you. Riot already hates you, but he might actually kill you if he finds out you are pretending to be someone else." I lick my lips, satisfied with the way her face pales and her hands shake. "You'll lose your seat at the fucking table."

For a second she almost looks relieved, and I'm worried that she's going to call my bluff. "I didn't lie," she snaps. "I am a Blackwell. It's just… complicated."

I don't care if she is, or she isn't. But she clearly does. "Classes haven't even started yet, and you're already a fucking pain in my ass, Firecracker. A pain that I want to reciprocate. But you have made things a whole lot more interesting."

I inch my finger down her chest and finger the top of her shirt. "Perception is everything. The people here are fickle and vapid. They will turn on you in a second. Wouldn't it be a shame if you had to spend your entire time here alone with no friends?"

Her cheeks redden and her jaw ticks. "Why are you doing this to me?"

A little tremor pulses down my shaft. "Because I've been bored for so fucking long and now you're here to entertain me." I tug gently on the top of her shirt. "Do we have a deal?"

She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath. "How do I know you won't go blab about me after you do whatever it is you're going to do to me?"

Mmm, here we go. I knew I had her by the fucking nipples. "You don't. But if you say no, I'll hang a sign on you and tie you to that tree, so everyone can come and spit on your lying face."

"I hate you so much." Maureen's fists are clenched, and it makes me even harder at the anticipation of her possibly punching me in the face.

I fist her shirt in my palm and pull her body in close to mine. "Good. Let's make no mistake about this. I will never care for you. All I want is to use you like the dirty slut you are."

Her nostrils flare. "Fine. I'll let you do whatever you want as long as you keep my business out of your mouth… How long will this little arrangement last?"

A sick and twisted idea takes shape in my mind. I shrug. "When you start to bore me. Could be a week or the entire time you're here."

Her mouth gapes. "I've enrolled for two years, Valentin. What the actual fuck? You are deeply disturbed."

"You have no idea. First thing I want you to do is watch that fucking mouth of yours." I pinch her jaw hard between my fingers. "Say, yes sir ."

She rolls her eyes. "You've got to be joking."

Her feistiness sparks something so feral in me, I could cum without even pulling my dick out. "This isn't a game, Maureen. It's a deal that can't be broken. These are hallowed grounds, and you will soon learn that oaths are forever until the devil releases you. Say it ."

All sarcasm and grit leave her face. "Yes, sir," she whispers.

"Good girl. Now, open your legs for me."

She hesitates for a second before spreading her thighs apart in the mud. It takes all my restraint not to pounce on her. But I want to take my time and savor this. "You still have that knife on you, Firecracker."

Maureen huffs. "Yes. Would you like me to stab you with it?"

I snicker. "Give it to me."

"It's in my purse."

I give her a look, and she huffs again before pulling the blade out of her ridiculously tiny handbag. She slaps the blade in my expectant hand. "Is this where you cut me up into little pieces, you weirdo?"

This mouth on her. Fuck. "Not yet. Your clothes first." I grab the side of her panties and slip the blade underneath. "Let's start with these. Hold very still."

I press the flat of the blade against her slit and a little whimper spills from her lips. She's just as fucking turned on as I am. As I jam the tip of the blade through her panties and begin slicing through each lacy thread, her wetness pools against my fingers. I'm not even touching her yet .

"Look at that needy pussy, crying for me." I jerk the knife all the way down until her moist panties are split wide open. Her juices trickle down her legs.

I told her it wasn't a game but that's exactly what this is. And I am already winning.