Page 10 of Twisted Elites

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We arrived at the Academy in time for lunch. With the spring sunshine brightening the brick facade and reflecting off the arched, floor-to-ceiling windows, the building looked like it could be a spa. But its breathtaking beauty was lost on me. All I could think of was a poisoned apple that hid its corruption within a beguiling exterior.

As we walked through the hallways, younger students whispered and gaped. Gossip traveled fast in such an enclosed environment, and I imagined everyone wanted to know why I was standing by the best friends of the boy arrested for hurting my sister.

If they’d thought beyond the latest scandal, they’d remember that Ashley had done the unforgivable, and our relationship was irreparable.

In the dining room, all conversation petered out to the barest of whispers. The usual students who rushed to serve the kings turned their backs on the boys, and we walked to the serving hatch to fetch our own meals.

After we had settled in the royal table, Geraldine and Bianca sashayed over. I cast them the barest of glances before busying myself with my chicken biryani.

“How the mighty have fallen,” said Bianca.

I glanced up. The two girls stood with their hands on their waists and with one hip cocked out like mirror images.

“Do tell,” said Leopold. “After a trying day, I welcome the entertainment.”

“Kash, of course,” said Geraldine. “We heard that Ashley offered herself up to him for a spit roast, and he was so offended by her porcine pussy that he beat the pig shit out of her.”

“I suppose you’d know about that,” I muttered.

Geraldine reared back. “W-we’re not into girls!”

Sebastian placed his fork on his plate, leaned back in his seat and fixed his gaze on the self-styled queens. “That’s not what I heard. Every recruit has to hone her cunnilingus skills on the pair of you.”

Bianca’s cheeks reddened.

“He’s not complaining,” said Leopold. “Just stating the facts.”

“I would never turn my nose up at girl-on-girl action.” Sebastian picked up his fork. “Unless it involved either of you.”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. This conversation was so juvenile yet so effective. Geraldine’s lips trembled, and she cast the scholars’ table surreptitious glances. Perhaps she didn’t want Cormac to overhear that she’d been cheating on him with younger girls.

“Go to hell,” Bianca spat.

Leopold snorted. “Right now, with the pair of you hovering over us like ravenous succubi, it feels like Dante’s Inferno.”

I continued eating my chicken biryani, wondering when the girls would give up and return to their seats, but three figures appeared behind them. The large, dark-haired figure of Bruce Wilmington, flanked by the auburn-haired Riley twins. Three of them were on the football team and led the Knights of Brittas Academy.

Bruce rubbed his dimpled chin. “It’s a sad day to see a pair of self-styled kings squabbling like queens, what do you say, Barrett and Jarrett?”

The twin on the left snorted with laughter. “Nice one, Bruce.”

Bruce curled his fingers around his lapels, revealing bruised knuckles.

I sucked in a sharp breath. Were they bruised from continually pounding his fists into Ashley? I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone.

“What are you doing, Pigsty?” Bruce cast me a withering glower.

“You’re quite witty for a boor. Did you know that?” After pressing the record button, I held up the phone and zoomed into his hands. “Say something for the camera, Bruce Wilmington.”

“Sorry to hear about your sister.” He winked.

Disgust rippled through my insides, and I made sure to twist my face to encourage him to say more. Meanwhile, I zoomed out to take in his smug features.

Bruce’s face split into a grin. “It looks like she spread herself too thinly—”

“Or too widely if you’re describing her legs,” said the twin on the right.