Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

“Thank you,” she finally voices her words, and I’m enraptured by her sweetness. Even though she comes across as sweet and innocent, I wonder if there’s more to this beauty than meets the eye.

“Ares.” My best friend grips my shoulder, tugging me toward him. “Three girls ready for a group session,” he informs me, and I can’t help glancing at the beauty before me. She’s blushing a deeper red than before.

“I’m busy man, you take it,” I tell him, which only makes my best friend grin like an idiot.

“Did I ever tell you that you’re the best fucking friend in the world?” He chuckles, slapping me on the back in camaraderie. I want to agree, but my gaze meets the wide eyes before me.

“So, tell me who you are?” I question, leaning in close. I offer her my hand, which for some unknown fucking reason, she accepts, and I pull her into a darkened corner of the staircase.

“I’m Dahlia,” she informs me, tipping her chin with indignation, which makes me even more curious about the beauty. “And I don’t fall for stupid games like yours,” she bites out as if I planned that little interlude between my best friend and me. If only she knew that she will indeed fall right into the web I’ve set for her.

“Games? Oh, darling.” I smirk. “I don’t need to play games with girls. They want me because I’m a Lancaster.”

Placing a hand on the wall behind her, I lean in closer before she places her palm on my chest, which burns me.

“Like I said, no games. Doesn’t matter if it’s your friend or you,” she fires back, and I grip my chest in fake agony.

Does this beauty really think I’m letting her go after this display of perfect sass?

“I wasn’t playing games, and like I said, sweetheart, I don’t need to play games to get girls to spread their legs for me,” I inform her as I stare down at the pretty little flower. I don’t notice the slap that comes before it stings my face. “Jesus.”

“Like I said, I don’t deal well with overconfident assholes,” she retorts before leaving me staring after her and the way she sways those luscious hips as she exits my house.

8

Dahlia

When I open my eyes, I find my gran staring down at me, causing me to squeal as I scoot up in bed. Her face is tight with anxiety as she sits on the mattress.

“I heard you met Ares Lancaster,” she tells me.

“What?” My sleep riddled mind plays catch up as my brows furrow in response to her random comment. “Yeah, he’s—”

“Dangerous,” she tells me. “Stay away from him.” Her words are like ice water, causing me to shiver at the tone of her voice.

“What do you mean?”

“The Lancasters, the Durands, and the Calverts,” she continues. “The three most prominent families in Tynewood.”

“I don’t understand. Tarian was friendly when I met him, and Etienne and Ares haven’t given me any reason to be wary.”

“Etienne Durand and Tarian Calvert are the other two boys, along with Philipe Lancaster,” she speaks in a hushed whisper. “Stay out of their way, Dahlia.”

“We all go to school together, Gran, it’s not like I can hide from them,” I tell her. Confusion settles in my mind, reminding me that I’m probably in more trouble with Ares than I thought. “What’s so dangerous about them?” I should tell her about my confrontation with him. I should also tell her about what he said, but I find myself silent in both instances.

“I love you, Dahlia,” she responds. “Just… be careful.” I watch as she rises and heads to the door. She stops on the threshold, glancing at me from over her shoulder. “Don’t get in their way. Study, focus on school, that’s all you have to do.”

With that, she leaves me alone in my bedroom more confused than I was before. There must be some explanation for this, for her warning, and I’m going to find out.

“Hey, cupcake,” Rukaiya says in a soft, yet playful tone as she steps up beside me the moment I’m out of my car. She’s dressed to kill in a pair of skinny jeans and a soft pink sheer top, which shows off the tight white tank underneath.

“Hey.” Smiling over at my best friend, I ask, “Did you have fun last night?” She stayed at the party, I’m sure of it, or that dark ring under her eyes wouldn’t be there.

“I did. I spent most of it talking to Tarian Calvert, he’s so gorgeous,” she gushes, and the name sends a spark of awareness through me. It’s one of the names my gran warned me against.

I’m about to respond when Rukaiya’s attention is dragged from me to something in the distance. When I follow her gaze, I see it. Three rogue kings stalking through the quad.