Malum: Part 1 (The Elite King's Club 4)

“—now she’s not here,” I finish for him, and then look up to the gates.

“Yes, and I do not know where my son and their generation sits when it comes to their loyalty to you, but I can tell you right now—” Gabriel pauses, and I suck in a breath, awaiting him to continue. “There’s a whole lot more to what is going on here. You are in the middle of a world that you barely know. A foreigner, if you will. But I can help you.”

“We can finish this conversation later,” I murmur, my eyes going back to the mansion. “When we aren’t sitting ducks.”

He nods.

I shove past our guards again and hit the speaker box with the palm of my hand.

“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” Khales purrs through the voice box.

I grit my teeth. “Let me in, Khales. We have unfinished business…”

Tillie

Past

“Do you trust me, Puella?”

“On one condition,” I whispered, slipping Micaela into his awaiting arms. “Don’t die.”

Daemon gave me a small smile, skimming his lips over my forehead. “I won’t. I’ll never die, Tillie.” He glares at me. “Do you trust that?”

No. “Yes.”

I watched as his back retreated through the doors. I had been pacing for a solid hour, waiting for the next thing that was about to happen, when my door swung open and Khales waltzed through, a smirk on her mouth.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, confused. Shit. This meant The Kings were here.

Khales stepped forward until her chest brushed against mine. “When this is all over, and when I have gotten rid of the people I need to be rid of, I will be the one running this island. Remember that!”

I flinched, confused at what the hell she was talking about. “Whatever, Khales. Whatever.”

She shoved me backward until I fell on my ass and glared down at me. “You’re disgusting. You and your friends think you know everything there is to know about this world, but you’re wrong. I’m the only girl in this group and it will always be me.” She spat on my face.

I swiped it away as she disappeared back through the door.

Bitch.

I hadn’t known her well, only saw her around the island a few times with Katsia. Aside from the fact that she went to my high school, I knew she was also with Bishop for a while. I always figured she would be on their side, but maybe I was wrong. She must be a great actress because Bishop isn’t someone who would keep someone like her around.

There’s a tapping at the window and I rushed over, yanking it open. Peering down, Tinker was standing there looking up at me. Funny how the Riverside Prep librarian turned out to actually be a badass bitch who is on our side. “They’re here. We’ve got Micaela. Just follow the cues, and Tillie,” she paused, searching my eyes. “Stay safe.”

I closed the window and sucked in a breath. “Sure.” I let the cool window caress my back, leaning my head against it. Cramps ripped through my lower abdomen and I winced, leaning forward. Liquid began dripping down my thigh, so I reached down, swiping some of it with my index finger and bringing it to my face.

Blood.

I waddled back to the bed and took a seat. The door burst open but this time Jessica stepped in, slamming it closed behind her. I knew instantly that something was about to happen today. Something big.

“We need to get you cleaned up. She will summon you soon no doubt. They’re all in the sitting room.”

I stilled. “Who is they?”

Her eyes came to mine. “The Kings.”

Tillie

Present

I sidestep past the elegantly placed rocks that lead up to the main entrance of the mansion. Gabriel lifts his hand to knock, but I pause it and reach for the handle. It’s open. I shove the door farther until it slams against the wall. Just as I take a step forward, a plane roars overhead.

“I have a feeling that’s a jet full of angry men…”

My jaw tightens as I enter the house, expecting something. Anything. Only I find myself surrounded by silence. When Katsia ran Perdita, everything was always busy—constantly. There was always music playing, men walking around half naked, that sort of crazy shit. I continue to trudge into the house, glimpsing up the circular staircase.

“Why is it so quiet?”

A hand falls over my face, cutting off my breathing and I kick back, throwing my fists everywhere. The body behind me is large, holding me with strength. The smell of gasoline ignites my senses and then everything slowly goes dark.

My body is heavy, my lids refusing to open. I hear something playing somewhere. It’s not music, it’s—a lullaby. Strong strings tinkle, the warped sound wailing the probability of a low battery. My cheek is throbbing, something cold pressing against it. Finally, I manage to open my eyes. The room is sideways. Dark concrete walls. No windows. I fly to my feet, wobbling a few steps. My hand flies out to stabilize myself, coming into connection with a cell bar. My eyes are blurry, a murky fluffy haze blinding me. Attempting to catch up to what is in front of me, I squeeze the cold pole, rubbing my eye with my other hand. Everything comes into focus at once. My eyes fly to the cell opposite the one I’m in. A baby rattle sits in the corner, worn, and broken. The intricate pattern etched into the plastic proves it’s the very same from Daemon’s book.