4. Maddison

Maddison

L ike he said, River is still waiting for me when I walk out.

When I was younger, my mother would tell me she’d wait for me when I did things like run to use the restroom at a store, went to school orientation, or ran into the store for her. She never did. So, even though River has been nice to me, surprise trickles through me at the sight of him.

When he spots me, he rises and crosses the empty waiting room. “How did it go?” he asks worriedly.

“I’m fine,” I tell him. “Well, except I have a concussion.”

His eyes widen. “What?”

I shrug. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I just need to rest.”

“Please don’t downplay it,” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

I grimace. “I’m just worried about my training. I already missed today, and the doctor wants me to rest for three to four days. I’m never going to get on the team. And yes, I know, it’s probably the last thing I need to worry about, but it’s important to me.”

“Hey, I get it,” he assures me while taking my hand. “But it’ll be fine. I’ll do some research, and we’ll figure out a way to catch you up. But you need to rest. It’s always important to do that whenever you injure yourself.”

“I know.” Doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.

We start toward the door, and then step into the sunlight. The sky is nearly cloudless, as if making up for the rainstorm of hell that it created last night. The wind is light and airy, and the air smells like lilacs. It’s a nice day, and yet, my chest feels heavy with darkness.

“Will you come to my dorm with me?” River asks as we cross the campus yard, walking underneath the shade of the trees, the leaves fluttering against the breeze. “So we can talk?”

“Sure. I can’t even get into my dorm, anyway.” I swing around a small statue of a crown—the academy is all about its statues.

River’s brows furrow as he glances at me. “Why not?”

Dammit, I didn’t mean to bring this up.

Way to put your foot in your mouth, Maddy.

“It’s nothing really.” I’m as casual as I can be about it. “I just don’t know where my phone is, because … well, either it fell out of my pocket yesterday when I was getting dragged into the trees, or they took it while I was passed out.”

The corners of his pretty lips tug down into an even deeper frown. “I don’t like the casual way you’re talking about your attack. It worries me that maybe you’re in shock.” He pulls me to a stop in front of a stone water fountain and places his hand against my forehead. “Or is it because of the concussion?”

I can’t help but smile. “Do you think you can feel the concussion?” I tease.

He gives me a tolerant look but doesn’t remove his hand. Then he trails his fingers down to my cheek. “No, smartass. But I’m worried maybe it’s messing with your mind a bit.”

“It’s not,” I assure him, resisting the urge to lean into his touch, no matter how desperately I want to. “Honestly, this kind of crap is pretty typical for me.”

The crease between his brows deepens. “You’re used to getting taken by”—he lowers his voice—“a secret society.”

I shake my head. “No, but I’m used to being at risk for getting robbed, assaulted, and jumped by people who are after my father.”

“Right.” His frown is so deeply etched into his face that I almost want to kiss him to remove it.

Thank God, I don’t.

I think …

He slips his fingers up my cheek and into my hair. For a guy who’s never really dated, he sure knows how to use his touch to make me feel as if I’m being kissed everywhere.

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore,” he promises, his gaze carrying mine. “Drew’s paid off. And we’ll figure everything else out.”

“You keep saying we ,” I murmur, my pulse thudding as his fingers drift to the side of my neck. “I already told you I don’t want you to take on my problems. They’re mine. Not yours?—”

He fucking kisses me. Just like that. Without warning and taking me by surprise.

When he pulls back, I can barely breathe evenly, my chest rising and crashing. And for a wind-kiss of an instant, I stand motionless, stunned into silence, my lips tingling from the feel of his.

But then I pull my head out of my ass.

“Did you seriously just kiss me to shut me up?” I accuse with an arch of my brow.

He offers me a remorseful look. “I’m sorry, but I wish you’d realize I want to help you.”

“And you thought kissing me would make me realize that? Or was it just to keep me quiet?” I give him a challenging look.

He sinks his teeth into his bottom lip and pauses for a beat. “Actually, I’ve wanted to kiss you since I found you in the woods yesterday, because I was so fucking relieved to see you. But I also knew that it definitely wasn’t the time to do it.” He swallows hard, his hand in mine stiffening. He releases a breath as he stares down at the ground. “I was so damn scared when I saw your location that I could barely think clearly.” He elevates his gaze to mine. “And it’s all my fault.”

I’m taken back by that. “What? No, it’s not. How could it be?”

“Because …” He summons a deep breath. “Come with me to my dorm, and I’ll tell you what happened?”

Perhaps I should be worried, considering what he’s saying. I’m not. I’ve been around a lot of awful, sketchy people in my life, so I can pick up on bad vibes. River doesn’t have any at all. He’s a good guy. That much I do know.

He’s also a fantastic kisser. That’s something I wish I didn’t know.

I’ve never fallen for a guy before, so I’m no expert on how it feels, but as River and I wander toward the domed entrance doors of the academy, I can’t seem to let go of his hand.

And it’s weirding me out.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks as we step into the hallway and the door swings closed behind us.

“Yeah, totally.” I sound like a dumbass. But I’m twitchy. And uneasy. I feel entirely out of my element.

Pull your hand away, Maddy. Just let this go before you get too attached. You’ve got bigger problems, anyway.

I fail miserably, and by the time we arrive at his dorm room, I’m still clutching his hand as if it somehow belongs there. Which it doesn’t.

When we enter the main living quarters of the room, with our hands are still clasped, Finn is sitting at the table, eating what looks like an early lunch. His attention magnetizes to our interlocked hands and curiosity floods his features. Then his lips quirk as he glances at River. But when his attention wanders to me, apprehension floods his features.

“Hey, how are you feeling?” he asks, seeming too tentative for him.

River was so sure that he wasn’t involved in what happened to me. I want to believe that’s true, since I thought Finn was my friend, but I’m wary by nature.

He must sense what I’m thinking because he swiftly says, “I swear I didn’t know the society was going to do that. If I had, I would’ve stopped it.”

“Would you have even had the power to do that?” I wonder as I release River’s hand, but only to scratch my wrist. Anxiety is whispering through me over the subject.

His lips pull into a frown. “Well, I probably couldn’t have stopped them from trying, but if I had known, I would’ve come to you and warned you.”

I study him closely, searching for lies hidden in his eyes. But genuine honesty is flowing from every inch of him, so either he’s a fantastic liar, or he’s telling the truth.

“Fine, I believe you.” I sigh heavily, exhaustion flooding my body.

River pulls out a chair at the table. “Sit down. The doctor said you need to rest.”

Finn is mid-bite in his sandwich and pauses. “You saw a doctor?”

“Only because your brother was persistent.” I sink into the chair and lower my head into my hands. “Apparently, I have a concussion and have to take a few days off from training.” I pull a face, but my hands conceal it.

“Jesus, Mads,” Finn mutters. “I didn’t realize …” A shaky breath eases from his lips. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve been paying more attention, but I was distracted by something else.”

“It was an important something else.” River takes a seat beside me. “Something to do with you.”

I lift my head, my brows pulling together as I look at him. “What’s going on?”

River glances at Finn. I track his gaze just as Finn blows out the heaviest sigh. Then he slants forward and rests his arms on top of the table. He slips a ring off his finger then on again.

“The reason I was so distracted and didn’t realize what the society was up to was because I was digging into some stuff about you and that necklace.”

I perk up at that. “Did you find something out?”

“We both did,” River explains, trading a hesitant look with Finn before looking at me. “You remember how I was getting the necklace looked at by an appraiser?”

“Shit, I forgot about that.” I shake my head. “My mind is a little more messed up than I thought.”

“You have a concussion.” He lightly brushes his fingers across the side of my head. “Of course, your mind is going to struggle.”

He has a valid point.

“What did you find out?” I ask then direct my attention to Finn. “And you? What did you find out?”

Finn repeatedly continues to slip that ring on and off, a nervous fidget evidently.

“The necklace is genuine,” River finally answers, rotating in the chair to face me. “The appraiser confirmed it.”

“Okay.” I absorb what he says with a frown. “So, I’m guessing my aunt stole it or something?”

“Would she do that?” Finn asks, crossing his arms on the table.

“I don’t know. Stealing isn’t her thing.” I waver, resting back in the chair. “It’s my father’s thing. And sometimes my mother’s. My aunt was always the more stable one.” Or, well, that’s what I believed.

But with the text she sent me, I’m questioning everything I know.

“There’s more,” Finn proceeds with heavy reluctance. “I looked into the family name that necklace is linked to—Everford.”

“River told me about that.” I shift my weight as this horrible feeling overcomes me that something terrible is about to happen. “He said the bloodline was extinct.”

“From everything I found out, that’s true.” Finn thrums his fingers on top of the table. “I also found out why. And it’s …” A visible shiver rolls through his body. “It’s bad. It’s really bad, especially if you are linked to the family somehow.”

“I’m not,” I insist, growing frustrated. River brought this idea up, too, and it’s completely implausible. “I don’t have royal blood in me. There’s no way …” I trail off, my mind drifting back to that message my aunt sent.

I’m not who you think I am.

You’re being targeted by a powerful group.

“What is it?” River hedges, his eyes searching mine.

I wet my lips with my tongue. I’ve been hesitant to talk about this aloud, but maybe I need to.

“What did you find out about the family?” I direct my statement at Finn with my arm resting on the table.

He begins fidgeting with his ring again. “That they went extinct because they were … being hunted.”

Shock whips through me. “What?” That definitely wasn’t what I expected.

“I’m unsure about the details as to why. It took me a lot of digging just to get that information,” Finn explains, dragging his fingers through his hair and leaving blond strands sticking up everywhere. “I need to find out more.”

I trace the lines in the table as I process what he said. “Why? Sure, I have the necklace, but it doesn’t mean I’m an Everford.”

I’m not who you think I am.

You’re being targeted by a powerful group.

Dammit, I need to tell them.

“Although …” My mind is racing a million miles a minute.

What did my aunt mean by that?

“Although what?” River wonders, his stormy eyes assessing me intensely. When I remain quiet, my thoughts muddled inside my temporarily broken brain, he tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “You can trust us.”

I glance at Finn, who’s watching me, then I look back at River. “Fine. I got this text last night from my aunt.” I open it on my watch and angle my wrist toward River so he can read it. His fingers circle my wrist as he does, and my heart pounds against his fingertips.

“What does it say?” Finn inquires after a handful of silent seconds ticks by.

River’s gaze locks on me. “She sent you this last night?”

I nod. “I’m not sure what she means by any of it. However, while we’re laying everything out there, my phone is missing, and if by chance the society has it, and someone figured out my password, they probably read the message, too. And that sucks because I don’t like people knowing my business.”

“Fuck,” River breathes out, his fingers brushing along the inside of my wrist. “This is … This can’t be a coincidence.”

“Hello,” Finn interrupts. “Can you guys please tell me what the hell is on that watch?”

River traces his tongue along his bottom lip, giving me a look that reads: it’s up to you.

God, this guy is too perfect. He can’t be real.

I rotate forward in the chair and slide my arm across the table so Finn can read the message. His expression plunges as he does.

“You have no idea what she means by any of this?” he asks, his gaze colliding with mine.

I shake my head as I bring my arm back to my side of the table. “Nope. Other than either she’s having a mental breakdown, or she’s been lying to me all of my life.”

A crease forms between Finn’s brow as he reclines back in the chair with his arms crossed. “Which one do you think it is?”

“I don’t know …” That’s a lie. In the pit of my stomach, with everything going on lately, I think the answer is hovering right in front of me like an annoying bug. “It has to be the latter. She’s been gone, and I haven’t been able to get a hold of her. And now she sends me this message.” I gesture at my watch. “I think she’s been lying and something bad has happened to her. And apparently, it has to do with me, too.” My jaw spasms, and I lower my head to the table, too hard probably. “I feel like she’s gotten me into a messy situation.”

“Hey, be careful with your head.” River slips his hand underneath my forehead as I move to bang it against the table again. “It’s already fragile.”

“It’s just a concussion,” I mutter with my forehead pressed to his hand.

“I’ve had a concussion before,” Finn says. “Trust me; you need to be careful for the next few days. The last thing you want to do is risk hurting it again.”

The doctor mentioned that, too.

I raise my head and massage my temples with my fingers. “I don’t know what to do. I need to get a hold of my aunt, but I’ve been trying for days and haven’t been able to. And from that message she sent, it sounds like she isn’t going to get a hold of me any time soon.” I slump back into the chair. “I don’t know what to do. She tells me a powerful group is after me but doesn’t embellish.”

What’s hurting me the most is that, out of all the people in my life, my aunt was never the person who brought danger into my life. She was my safe place. But now, she isn’t.

“I think we need to find out more about the Everfords,” River mumbles, staring off into space. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence you have the necklace and it was given to you by your aunt. And then she sends you a message that says powerful people are after you?” He gives me a pressing look.

I want to continue living in the land of denial, but what he’s implying does make a tiny bit of sense. Let me stress the tiny part.

“I still don’t get how I could have royal blood in my veins, but if you think we should look into it more, then I’m in.” I scratch my neck. “But I still want to try to get a hold of my aunt. I’m emailing her every day.”

“Why email?” Finn wonders as he pushes his chair back from the table.

I shrug. “I don’t have a phone. Unless you want to find out if the society has it and get it back for me.”

“I’ll look into it.” He rises to his feet, taking his empty plate with him. “And I’ll try to find out more about the Everfords, too. It could take a while.”

“You need to stay safe until then.” River reaches out and slips his fingers through mine, lacing our fingers together on top of the table. “Let me buy you a phone.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I knew you were going to say that, and the answer is?—”

“Please,” he talks over me. “This isn’t about me buying you things. It’s about you being safe.” He grits his teeth, and his fingers twitch. “After what happened, you need to have a phone. If you didn’t have the watch on you, I don’t even …” He blows out a tremulous breath.

He’s right. I loathe that he is, but it’s reality right now.

“I’ll let you get me one, but I’m paying you back.” I heave a sigh. “Hopefully, I can get this job with the event planner that your mom knows, and then we’ll work out a payment plan.” When his lips part, probably with a protest fluttering on his tongue, I cover his mouth with my hand. “No arguing.”

Finn snorts a laugh, drawing my attention to where he’s standing in the kitchen, watching us with a bottle of juice in his hand. “Man, this is comical.”

My brows knit as I lower my hand. “What is?”

“You bossing my brother around.” He flashes me a cheeky grin. “River’s spent years trying to boss me around, so it’s fun watching him get his ass handed to him.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.” Well, sort of.

I think …

My gaze travels back to River, whose eyes are on me. He’s chewing on his bottom lip. Then he slants forward toward me.

“Whatever this is between us,” he utters quietly, “I like it, so ignore my brother.”

And now I can’t breathe.

Jesus.

This is so bad.

Because I like it so much.

Like him.

“Don’t fall for a royal,” my aunt once told me. “It’ll destroy you, Maddison.”

I believed her at the time, that she was telling me that because of the reputation royals had with northside women. Now I’m wondering if she said it because I could be an Everford.

No, there’s no way …

“I have class,” Finn informs us as he collects his bag from off the sofa. “But I’ll stop by the library and dig around some more later today. And then at tomorrow, at the society meeting, River and I will try to find out what they did with your phone and if they’ve read what’s on it.”

“Wait … meeting?” River turns, glancing at his brother. “Why the hell do I have to go?”

“Because you’re in the society now.” He slings the handle of his bag over his shoulder, items inside jingling. “I’m sure they’ll send you details sometime today, but I thought I’d give you a heads-up.”

River continues to frown as Finn heads for the door, throwing me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Once the door clicks shut, River rotates to face me again. He yanks his fingers through his dark hair, but wisps fall right back into his eyes.

“You’re stressed out,” I state the obvious. “Maybe you should get some rest.”

“What I need is to get you a phone.”

I rub my lips together. “Didn’t you just give me a lecture about resting after you get hurt? And weren’t you just shot?”

“It wasn’t even a real shot,” he mumbles. “It was a graze.”

I point at his side. “Those bruises are crazy, River. They have to hurt.”

“Maybe.” He studies me then reaches out and brushes his fingertips along my temple. “How’s your head?”

“It doesn’t hurt that bad,” I assure him as his fingers sketch down my cheek and to my jawline. “You keep touching me,” I murmur.

He stops moving his fingers but doesn’t pull away. “Do you want me to stop?”

I could say yes and stop this madness of flutters filling up my chest and stomach, but I don’t.

“No.”

He remains still for another slamming heartbeat before he gently traces his thumb along my bottom lip. His eyes zero in on my mouth, and then he leans in and places a soft, heart-melting kiss on my lips.

I let out the most embarrassingly yet quiet groan. To cover it up, I place my hand on the nape of his neck and guide him closer to me. We’re face-to-face, and our knees are pressed together. He lets go of my hand but only to place his palm against my cheek. Then he angles my head back and parts my lips with his tongue, kissing me so intensely I forget to breathe. When he bites down on my lip, a whimper fumbles from me.

He pulls back. “Did I hurt you?”

I shake my head, my pulse humming throughout my body. “No, not at all.” I start to lean in to kiss him, but he moves back.

“I want to kiss you so fucking badly.” His gaze descends to my mouth, and then he blinks. “But with the concussion, I just … I want to make sure your head’s clear when we do this.”

Do what exactly?

God, the possibilities are endless. I’ve never been super turned on by a guy, but I’m learning that when it happens, my imagination goes wild.

“For fake or for reals?” I wonder, questioning if I’d say the words if my brain wasn’t a bit foggy.

He must sense this, as well, because in typical sweet River style, he says, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow, okay?”

I nod then let out a yawn. “Sounds good to me.”

“You should go rest in my bed,” he says, standing to his feet. “And I can go get you a phone while you do.”

I shake my head. “No, I’m only resting if you are. Remember, injuries mean rest.”

The edges of his full lips tug upward. “Fine. I’ll order one online for you then.”

I feel like I should protest, but the dizziness in my brain is whispering, sleep. So, I end up nodding.

I don’t even remember the walk to River’s bedroom. One minute, I’m standing in the living room, and the next, I’m lying in his bed. He lies down beside me, and in the depths of my mind, I’m aware of how much trust I’m putting in him. I’m out of it and in his bed. He could do anything to me.

He won’t, though.

It’s the first time I’ve felt safe with someone before. Honestly, I’m not even sure how to deal with it.

“You’re so nice,” I whisper to him as my eyelids lower.

“Okay, you have me worried,” he replies, brushing his fingers through my hair. “You’re being so nice.”

I frown without opening my eyes while resting on my side. “I’m not nice usually?”

“No, you are, but you’re also so feisty. You seem … subdued right now.” He brushes his fingers across my cheekbone before withdrawing his hand. “Get some rest, okay?”

I’d argue, but I’m so damn tired. So, I nod and let the darkness swirling in my mind sweep me away …

“Maddy,” my aunt says. “Maddy, you need to run. Go hide out at the playground by the river for a bit. And whatever you do, do not let anyone see you. I need you to be sneaky, okay?”

I nod, staring up at her. “Okay, but why? And where’s my mom?” I glance around the living room, but it’s empty.

“She’s …” My aunt trails off as she crouches in front of me, looking me straight in the eye. “She’ll be back soon. But don’t worry about that. Just get to the playground. Take the trails and be careful.”

I feel nervous as I nod then hurry for the open front door. The sky is cloudy, and lightning is echoing in the distance. It’s scary, but I keep going, rounding the side of the apartment and heading down to the trail that briefly dips into the trees. I walk quickly, heading toward the playground ? —

“Oh, Maddison …” a voice singsongs from the bushes, startling me.

I freeze, frantically peering around, scared and wanting to go back to the apartment. But sometimes it’s just as scary there.

I start to step forward again when a branch snaps from behind me. I don’t turn around; I run, barreling down the path that ends in a parking lot. Once I reach there, I keep going, staying behind buildings until I reach the park. It’s empty, probably because of the storm.

I hurry across the grass and toward the slides. Then I climb into a tubed one and hide there, listening to the sounds of raindrops splattering against the top of it. I start to shiver as the air grows colder and hug my knees to my chest.

The storm grows fiercer. Above the rain, I swear I hear my name shouted.

“Maddison!” a man yells.

He sounds familiar, and yet, he doesn’t.

“Maddison, where are you?” His voice is getting washed out by the rain. “Just answer me, sweetie! I promise I’m not going to hurt you!”

People who say that usually mean the opposite, so I remain quiet, hiding, even when the night comes and I can’t see anything at all.

I stay, waiting for someone to find me.

But it doesn’t happen.

It never does.