Savage Royals (Boys of Oak Park Prep 1)

One leg lifted behind me, creating a long line, and my arms rose through the air as though gravity had ceased to exist. My spine arched backward, curving gracefully as I went up onto the ball of my standing foot.

I wasn’t en pointe, and a critical ballet instructor could’ve found dozens of little things to correct. But I knew this pose, had done it hundreds of times before. And every time I did, I felt the same way.

Beautiful.

Powerful.

Free.

A loud sound startled me, and I blinked, my leg wobbling slightly as my gaze flew to the shoreline. The gathered observers roared their approval, whooping, stomping, and clapping. Adena gaped at me in shock, her face nearly purple with rage as her hands clenched at her sides.

A small, stunned smile stretched across my face as Mason’s loud whistle cut through the noise on shore.

I’d been pissed at him for not protecting me from her…

But maybe that wasn’t what had happened at all.

Maybe he’d unleashed me on her instead.

Chapter 22

“Did you know?”

Mason lifted his head from the back of the couch, glancing over at me. “Know what?”

“With Adena, and the stupid modeling contest. Did you know that would happen?”

He shrugged, relaxing back against the plush cushions. “No. I didn’t know what would happen. But you’re empirically more beautiful than she is, so I knew there was no fucking way she’d win.”

I blinked at the roundabout compliment and took a sip of my drink—something Finn had mixed up for me that

tasted like fruit punch. I’d been a little bit high and a little bit drunk for the past three days, which had sort of blurred into one long stream of drinking, eating, playing games, and lounging around the mansion. Adena had been even more of a bitch than usual since the first day, but with the Princes close by my side at all times, she couldn’t do much more than glare at me.

The five of us were in a game room downstairs, having escaped from the afternoon heat outside into the cool, dark basement. It was a big space, with a large sectional sofa on one side and a massive TV on the wall opposite. A few guitars were propped in the corner, and a doorway led to a separate room with video game consoles and old arcade games. No lights were on down here, but small windows high on the walls allowed some sunlight to filter in.

“I coulda told you it would happen.” Finn grinned at me from where he sat on the other side of Elijah. “I’ve seen you practice. You’re fucking amazing.”

I took another sip of my drink to hide my pleased grin. I’d been so pissed at the Princes last semester, and so determined to avoid other students, that I hadn’t gone to a single football game. I really wanted to in the fall though. I wanted to see Finn play. After spending so much time talking to him about football, and comparing notes on the differences and similarities between our two passions, I wanted to see him in action. I was sure he’d be fucking amazing too.

“I’m bored,” Mason said suddenly, his voice such a perfect imitation of Adena’s that I almost snorted punch out my nose. I coughed and laughed at the same time, holding my cup away from me so I wouldn’t spill it.

“You boys wanna have a modeling contest?” I grinned. “I’ll judge.”

He smirked wickedly at me. “I think you might enjoy that a little too much, little dancer.”

Fire licked across my skin, and I shifted in my seat, biting my lip but not answering.

“How about Truth or Dare?” Finn suggested, sitting forward and glancing over at us.

I chuckled, wrinkling my nose. “What is it with you and games?”

“I have a playful spirit.” He shrugged. “Come on, Legs. You in?”

“Yeah, all right.” I settled back on the couch, resting my cup on my stomach. I was wearing a simple white tee over my bikini, the fabric thin and soft. Elijah and Cole were both shirtless, which gave me the perfect opportunity to keep checking out their tattoos. Finn wore a light blue v-neck that made him look even more all-American, and Mason had on a dark tank top.

I hadn’t played truth or dare since I was ten, and I’d never thought it was a particularly fun game. But as we started taking turns choosing, I realized I’d just been too young to fully appreciate the game back then. There were so many truths I wanted to get out of the Princes. I’d been unreasonably curious about them ever since I’d met them, even when they were making my life hell. And even though we’d been hanging out almost nonstop for the entire semester so far, there were still huge blanks in their stories that I was dying to fill in.

We started with mostly “truths”, which was fine by me.