Tainted Crown: A Kinghood Novella Page 2

  My thoughts are interrupted as I hear one of the girls from my sorority gush to her friend as she makes a fresh drink. “Oh my god did you see how hot Wren looks tonight?”

  “Of course I did, I think every girl here creamed their panties the second he walked in.” The friend fans herself dramatically, looking around as if she can seek him out.

  “I’m gonna try fuck him tonight,” the first girl declares. “It’s our last night here so might as well go out with a bang.” She winks at her friend as they both cheers the drinks they just made. Then they stumble off with happy laughter, but my blood runs cold.

  Wren Marshall is here.

  My heartbeat thunders in my chest as I attempt to casually scan my eyes around the people surrounding us, but it’s no use, this house is huge and the party is spread into multiple parts of it, he could be anywhere. I take a sip of my drink and try to relax.

  Paxton must feel the tension in me because he leans down and whispers in my ear, “You good, Lex?”

  I keep my false smile in place as I nod. “All good, Pax, just nostalgic or something I guess.” He laughs, “Please, you hate this place and everyone in it.”

  I roll my eyes. “Not everyone,” I emphasize as I feel someone watching us, but I keep my gaze on Paxton. “You know how much I love Theo,” I tease him with a smile.

  He drags me closer to him with a devious smile. “And let’s not forget about my dick,” he adds in a low drunken drawl, pushing his body into mine with a mischievous smile.

  Paxton and I have fucked many times over the years, but it’s never more than out of boredom, and in reality it’s more out of our obligation to one another than anything else. We know what our future holds, what is expected of us, and we are trying to make the best of things, because in reality it could be so much worse.

  I shake my head at his playful manner, glad to see him enjoying himself. “Yeah your dick is so magical it ruined me for everyone else,” I drone in utter sarcasm, and he pinches me hard.

  “Such a little bitch sometimes, Lex.” He shakes his head with a smile, reminding me of why he is a good choice for me. We get on so well, I can trust him, but it will never be real between the two of us.

  “Come on, Pax, if you want someone to stroke your ego, go and find one of your little groupies.” I’m not jealous of any of the shit Paxton gets up to, it’s just annoying that we have to pretend to be this perfect couple and half the campus thinks they know he is fucking anything that moves behind my back.

  “Don’t be like that, Lex, not when things have to change soon.” His tone is serious now and I know he is thinking about the looming date weighing on both of our heads. “You know I will be faithful to you when we make this official, and it’s not like you haven’t had your own share of one night stands.”

  I ignore him in favor of my drink, not really interested in discussing how shitty our future will be with one another. I neck the rest of it and look around to try and find one of the lackeys that the Kings employ to wait on us.

  I don’t find any of them, but it doesn’t matter because I find him.

  Wren Marshall is here and I feel that same thrill of excitement that I know I should ignore flow through my entire body. I find amusement in his costume immediately, a dark king if I am presuming correctly. It’s clever, like him. Not that he needs it, his whole persona screams it, he isn’t someone who needs the title of a King to be seen as one.

  It’s not in the same way people look at Pax and the guys, it’s different, more subtle, people don’t respect him out of fear, but more understand he isn't someone to be messed with. His dangerous aura keeps people away which I think he enjoys. He is friends with everyone, but nothing past a surface level friendship from what I have seen. He doesn’t pay anyone close attention.

  Well, that's a lie, his attention on me hasn’t wavered in three years. He is the only person in this god forsaken place that doesn’t treat me like this coveted little princess. No, he treats me like he wants to break me down until I am nothing, and sometimes I want to let him, if only to feel something real. But that would ruin everything, so instead I do what I always do.

  Pretend.

  Pretend he is beneath me, pretend I don’t care what he thinks, and pretend that I am better than him. It’s the only way. I force myself to take a deep breath and square my shoulders, if Wren is here then I need to ready myself for battle, and as always my favorite defense is denial.

  The coin already feels powerful in my hand and I can’t wait to use it, but if I want to truly become a King then I have to learn how to play their game, and quickly. I don’t hesitate, I shove the coin deep inside my pocket where it clings against my knife and enter the kitchen fully.

  Time to move into the lion's den.

  Theo’s eyes track me like a hunter stalking his prey, as I reach the large island and grab myself a tumbler, sloshing some expensive whiskey I’ve never heard of inside it. I knock it back and pour another and decide to let my own deviance shine back as I stare him down. I expect some kind of retaliation, but all he does is smirk as he continues to watch me, like I am a helpless animal that has just walked into his perfect little trap.

  I open my mouth to ask what his problem is, ignoring any fear I should feel at his reputation, but that smooth, addictive tone cuts through the space between us. “Who invited the peasant?” Our eyes collide as she addresses me without really addressing me and I smirk, noting the flare of surprise and anger behind her eyes.

  “Miss me, Darling?” I purr, as the eyes of the other three Kings finally turn my way.

  “I did actually, the help here this evening just isn’t up to scratch,” she huffs dramatically with a roll of her eyes. “You worked at the college bar right?” She says the word ‘work’ like it’s dirty and beneath her. “Make yourself useful and fix me a drink on your way out.” She shakes her glass at me as everyone around us smirks.

  I keep my eyes on her as I pour myself a fresh whiskey, then move towards her with the tumbler in hand until I can hold it up in front of her, just as she reaches out to take it, I knock it all back. I ignore the burn in my throat, enjoying the burn from her stare a lot more. “The only thing I’d fix for you is how hard you’re used to coming,” I purr, leaning towards her, ignoring Paxton’s hand on her shoulder completely. “Let me know when you are free for that.”

  I take a step back and lean my back against the island as I continue to stare her down. “You think I don’t satisfy my girl enough that you could do better?” Pax utters in complete boredom, looking down on me like a true King. Oh tonight is going to be so much fun.

  I keep my eyes fixed on hers as I answer him. “I think your girl likes it hard and rough and needs someone to show her the ropes.”

  “Careful, Wren, don’t start something you can’t finish.” Joey is calm as he speaks to me, but I feel the small step he takes towards me. Alexis flicks her wrist to motion him to stop.

  “Don’t worry, J, he couldn’t find my sweet spot with a compass and a map.” She straightens the floaty bits curling off her outfit like this whole conversation is boring her. “Is it hard for you to satisfy yourself when you only have a micro penis?” Her question is loud and draws more laughs from the crowd, like jesters catering to their Queen’s unspoken demands.

  I offer Alexis one more smirk, toss a wink to Paxton who is still silently stewing beside her, even though I know he doesn’t really give a fuck about her, and then turn to answer Joey. “Don’t worry, Grant, I always know how to finish.” His eyes narrow at my words, but I don’t let myself linger, disappearing back into the slews of bodies before any of them can say anything else.

  For the next two hours I do nothing but drink, watch, and plan, and it isn’t long before I see the Kings slipping off by themselves. I discard the drink in my hand, grab a bottle of whiskey, and follow after them in the shadows. They make their way out of the kitchen, through the living area, and up the stairs on the left of the balcony. My steps are slow and assured as I follow, the gold coin firm in my hand as I rub my thumb against it.

  They head down the hall until they reach the room at the end and then they slip inside, disappearing from my sight. I make it to the door about thirty-seconds later and ready myself for the lines I know I will cross tonight, but there is no going back now, it’s showtime.

  A few minutes later I push inside the door silently and the smoke is already prominent in the air, as is the stench of weed. The room has a four poster bed off to the left, with all matching black furniture, including the round gloss black table they have situated themselves around. Cards are already strewn around some mindless piles of money, and I watch as Paxton cuts up lines of cocaine with his black card.

  I’d roll my eyes at the whole scene if I weren’t the least bit surprised. I flick my eyes across each of them and the only stare I am met with is the icy blue stare of Theodore Wells, it’s unsettling to find him staring back at me once again, but I ignore him in favor of my plans.

  “What are we playing?” I stroll towards them and every single one of their heads snap in my direction to join Theo’s staring.

  “Private party, Wren, get the fuck out,” Paxton drawls from behind the table, his arm slung loosely around Alexis’ waist as she sits perched on his lap. A Queen in public, but a pawn in private it seems.

  “I thought this was a party for the Kings?” I move closer to the only vacant chair around the table, for Logan I presume, and lean on it as I hold Paxton’s stare.

  “None of your fucking business, get the fuck out.” When I still don’t move, his hand wraps possessively around Alexis’ hip before he pushes her into Theo’s lap and sits forward, his elbows on the table. “Do you have a death wish as well as being stupid?” He leans forward and snorts a line, like
he can’t be bothered to even entertain my presence here.

  I smile. “No, I just didn’t want to be late.” I pull out the chair and toss the coin on the table taking satisfaction in the shock in all their eyes. “So what are we playing?”

  “Where the fuck did you get that?” Joey snaps at the same time Paxton cricks his neck in frustration.

  “Fucking Logan.” Finn rolls his eyes, being the first one to draw the correct conclusion, and I smile.

  “Mr Royton was very accommodating this evening,” I confirm, eyes solely focused on Alexis as she stares at the gold coin in front of me like she is transfixed by it.

  “Having a coin doesn’t make you a King,” she bites out. “You probably fucking blackmailed him, or stole it anyway.”

  Paxton cuts a look towards her as if to silence her, before he looks back to me and echoes her thoughts. “Lex is right, the coin means nothing, you’re not King material so get the fuck out.” Paxton seems the angriest of them all, with Joey and Finn both having a silent stare off, and Theo seeming scarily amused if anything.

  I pick my new coin back up and flick it across my knuckles in the same way I saw him do earlier. “I thought that’s exactly what it means, or do I need to call Daddy Parker and check?” My condescending tone isn’t lost on them, but it seems possessing the coin really does hold true power, because all he does is huff.

  The four men have a silent stare off, but I keep my eyes on her, for the first time ever she looks nervous, not that anyone else would notice it. She has perfected the blank mask she wears around campus, covering it with her pretty smile, but the eyes never lie. She’s scared, not of me, but of the fact that I now finally have the chance to ignite this fire between us.

  How exciting.

  “The game is poker.” Finn finally breaks the silence, grabbing the deck of cards and expertly shuffling them. “Ever played before?”

  I keep the smile from my face. “Once or twice,” I confirm with a shrug, knowing full well I could wipe the table with all four of them if I need to, but I don't want them knowing that. Not yet at least.

  “Well, don’t bet too big, Marshall, the coin doesn’t come with our net worth.” Joey smiles playfully, but I can feel the anger rolling off him as he tosses a stack of money towards me like it means nothing to him. I mean I’m sure it doesn’t, but after a quick glance down I note it’s 250k he has pushed my way.

  “You could take that money and leave right now, finally have something of value in your pathetic, miserable life.” Some of the fire is finally back in her eyes as she stares at me. That bite in her tone is what got me addicted to her, the back and forth between us is like foreplay I never want to end.

  I grin. “No thanks, Darling, I have my sights set on something a lot more valuable.” I make sure as my eyes drag across every visible part of her skin that my intentions are more than clear.

  Finn snaps my attention from her as he holds out a black box. “Phone inside,” he grunts, and I see they all have their own devices in there, so I don’t think twice about tossing mine into the mix before he closes and locks it, placing it back on the table.

  Theo grabs the bottle of whiskey from my hand and generously pours a glass for all of us, and then I am kindly offered a rolled up bill along with the tray of coke. I snort my own line dutifully, leaning forward to pluck the joint that Alexis has just lit for Paxton from her delicate fingers. I take a deep drag, blowing the smoke directly into her face, but she doesn’t even flinch, eyes on where our fingers touch as I hand it back to her and slump back into my chair.

  When I have finally been dealt my hand, Alexis lifts her eyes only to find mine are still on her, and when Paxton notices the stare off he pulls her back into his lap. “Some things are off limits, even to other Kings.”

  My smile is nothing but genuine. “I never was good at following the rules.”

  We play a few hands silently, and I force myself to lose a few, even if it does hurt to see the stack of money that isn’t truly mine depleting, but it’s all part of my newly forming plan. Alexis continues to not say a word, even whenever Paxton catches me staring and he leans in and whispers in her ear.

  The other Kings eventually get bored of our game and stop playing, leaving it to just Paxton and I in a silent play off, and when I purposely throw another game he huffs.

  “Alright, Wren, what the fuck do you want, you clearly have no interest in money so why are you here?”

  I lean towards him. “Finally, Parker, I was beginning to think you were dumb as well as stupid.” He grits his teeth before I continue, “How about we start with that Aston Martin of yours?”

  He thinks about it for a minute. “Fine, if you win the car is yours,” he sneers. “But if I win.” He looks around the room with a smile before he comes back to me. “If I win, you get on your knees and suck Finn’s cock.”

  I smirk, not letting the boldness of his stakes affect me, as I slide my gaze over to Finn who has his eyes fixed on Joey, but Joey is staring at me. Interesting. I’ve always been of the mind that my sexuality is anything I want it to be so his stakes don’t deter me, if anything they will help move things along in the way I want. I might not have been willing to get on my knees for Logan, but Finn is now a means to an end. An end I will do anything to get to now I can feel how close I am.

  “Game on.” I shrug. “Maybe your Queen will learn some new techniques.” I grin at her as I’m granted another taste of her toxic tongue.

  “If you think a peasant could teach me anything you’re dumber than even I thought.” Her acidic tone bites the air and I feel the dull pull of arousal at the bottom of my spine. She is going to feel delicious taking my cock in that poisonous little throat.

  I lick my lips, her gaze tracking the movement. “Think about me a lot, do you?”

  She smiles in disdain. “Only when I plot mass murder.”

  “Enough,” Paxton spits, tossing out the cards so we can begin to play.

  I keep my cards close to my chest, both metaphorically and figuratively, as we play the hand we’ve been dealt, and when I lower my three of a kind to his straight, a gleam in his eye sparkles. So fucking predictable.

  “On your knees, Marshall.” He looks at me like he thinks I will toss my coin at him and run from the room with my tail between my legs. He really doesn’t know who he is playing with.

  “We aren’t really doing this are we?” Finn asks, as I stand up straightening my jacket, his gaze flicking from me, to Joey, to Paxton.

  “We all know how much you’ll like it.” Is all Paxton responds.

  I push his chair away from the table with enough force to move it, allowing everyone at the table a clear view. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite,” I say looking down at him, and when his eyes finally concentrate solely on me, I drop to my knees. “Not unless you ask me nicely.” I cock my head to wink at Alexis who is watching us intently before I reach out to unbuckle his pants.

  I let my other hand trail down his chest as I lean in to whisper in his ear, “You can pretend I’m him if it helps.” I don’t have to say his name for Finn to understand who I mean, and when his eyes flash over to Joey I know I’ve uncovered one of their dirty little secrets.

  Keeping secrets is a dangerous game to play. But I’ve always liked danger.

  Wren Marshall is the devil. A devil I currently can’t take my eyes off, not as he reaches inside Finn’s jeans and pulls out his hardening cock. I still can’t even believe he’s here, at this party, in this room, readying to take a King’s cock in his throat no less. This is not how I expected our last party at AGU to turn out. We have always been a tight bunch thanks to our families all being friends, and we’ve never had any outsiders. Until now.

  I feel Paxton’s grip on me tighten like a shackle as we both zone in on the show before us. Our arranged engagement due by the end of summer is looming over both our heads, and lately every second spent together feels like the walls are closing in on us. Tonight is the end of the freedom I have never really had. Tonight everything changes, so as I watch Wren’s tongue slip from his mouth and lick a line along Finn’s shaft, I feel no guilt in the way my thighs tighten.

  Against the dark devil that is Wren, I could be his angel in the white fitted dress I’m wearing, the lace of my underwear concealed by the wisps of fabric floating around my breasts and waist. My silver stilettos match the silver halo fitted atop my head, and if it weren’t for the now aching throb between the apex of my thighs I could pass for a true angel.