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I don’t think I’d stumble anyway—I feel like I’m floating, with my hand wrapped up in Miles’ and my feet barely touching the ground.
Nothing could ruin this moment.
Until we come out of the trees that border the vineyard and a horribly familiar voice says, “There you are. We thought we missed you.”
Four figures stand in the field south of Kingmakers: Wade Dyer, Dax Volker, Jasper Webb, and Rocco Prince. They form a barrier between us and the castle.
Miles’ fingers lock tight around mine as his body goes tense as stone. He casts a quick glance behind us. I know he’s contemplating telling me to run. But the only thing behind us is the cliffs, and the path down to Moon Beach, which is another dead end.
We got sloppy. Rocco hasn’t spoken to me in weeks. He lulled us into a false sense of security, which I’m sure was exactly his intention. He let Miles and I get wrapped up in each other, forgetting that Rocco even existed. While he never forgot about us at all.
“What do you want?” Miles says.
I know he’s afraid, because he can see the ugliness of our situation just as well as I can. But there’s no hint of fear in his voice. He sounds as strong and clear as ever.
“I want what I always wanted,” Rocco says softly. His pale face looks flat and waxy in the moonlight. “I want Zoe.”
Before I can open my mouth to reply, Miles steps in front of me.
“No,” he says.
Rocco laughs. His laugh is more breath than sound, eerily repetitive.
“We’re going to beat you until you barely blink, Miles. Then I’m going to take what was promised me. I’m going to fuck Zoe right in front of you. Maybe I’ll let Wade and Dax and Jasper take a turn. You’ll lay there watching, choking on your own blood. When I’m finished, you’ll both finally understand the truth. She belongs to me. She always has, and she always will.”
He jerks his head toward Chay and Ozzy. “You two can go.”
Chay scoffs right in his face. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to? You’re not touching our friends.”
I’ve never loved Chay more than in this moment. But unlike Miles, her voice isn’t calm and confident. It’s tight with fear, coming out an octave higher than normal.
Ozzy backs her up, addressing Wade, Dax, and Jasper, because he knows there’s no point reasoning with Rocco. “Don’t be stupid,” he says. “This won’t end well for any of you.”
Wade smirks, his handsome face not looking handsome at all when it’s twisted up in disdain.
“Please tell me this wasn’t a double-date, Chay,” he scoffs. “Fucking this grubby little degenerate is one thing, but actually going out with him . . . say it isn’t so.”
Chay meets Wade’s scorn with a cold stare.
“He’s ten times the man you’ll ever be,” she says.
Wade stops smiling. “He’ll be ten times the man when I rip him into pieces,” he seethes. He strides forward.
I scream, “No!” trying to step out from behind Miles, but he won’t let me, he blocks me with his arm.
“Leave them alone!” I shout over Miles’ shoulder.
“Come with me now and I will,” Rocco hisses, his eyes dark and gleaming in his white face.
“Nofuckingway,” Miles barks, before I can answer.
“So be it,” Rocco says, flicking out the blade of his knife.
Wade, Dax, Jasper, and Rocco all charge us at once.
Wade and Dax run at Ozzy, Jasper at me, and Rocco at Miles.
It’s a blur of motion and confusion in the weak light.
