Page 49 of Reign of the Queen
“You are a king; your movements are dictated by the rules and limitations of the board.” I inhale deeply, bringing my lips to within an inch of his and breathing my following words directly on his full lips. “And I am a queen with no master. I will move where I will it.”
Stepping back, I grab my bag from my open locker, slam the door, and step around the two kings watching me leave. The other two are making their way over to us from down the hallway. I don’t acknowledge them as I walk right out of Casbury Prep.
Chess, after all, is about taking calculated risks once you have worked out a game plan and can read your opponent and their strategy. Biding your time and being observant works in your favor in chess. Let’s not forget the most powerful piece on the entire board, the queen. She doesn’t have the same restraints as others on the board. In all her glory, she can move in any direction and throw the pawns, rooks, andkingsout to waste.
Chad Stevens was arrested within hours of my leaving school grounds for his assault on Candance, partly facilitated by my grandmother and her “advice” to Candance’s parents. Who, of course, jumped at the chance to avenge their daughter with my grandmother’s blessing and powerful support.
Very conveniently, Chad’s dad, also aptly named Chad, was being investigated for insider trading and had all of the family’s assets seized. The FBI and the U.S. SEC also raided the family home. Too bad for Chad; his parents were too busy putting out other fires to bail his ass out of jail. So yeah, Chad was definitely having a shit day all around. I’d like to say it was karma, but unless she’s named Stratford, she’s not the most powerful bitch on the board.
My understanding was it took two days for Chad to make bail, and he only managed to with his grandpa’s help. Otherwise, he would probably still be sitting in a North Carolina jail cell.Think he’s afraid of me now?
I know the word of his parent’s fall from grace has also made the rounds at school and the town. You can see the fear in people’s eyes, and a lull has fallen over the school and surrounding community. Everyone is just waiting for the next idiot to make a move. Even my mom mentioned it in passing back at the mansion, and she’s been out of town. She questioned my involvement, but like the Stratford princess I’ve become, I ignored her questions and feigned innocence.
It’s been three days since the Chad incident. The kings have continued their day-to-day spectacle of following me around and leading me from class to class like a prized pony. Each is taking a turn with the apparent “necessary” task of keeping Mia on a leash.Assholes. The other three haven’t been as blatant as Carter, with trying to get under my skirt, which honestly, I don’t know if I’m relieved by or disappointed. If they’re resentful that I deemed them enforcers, they haven’t mentioned it either, at least not with words.
Today must be Theo’s turn; as I park my Range in the school parking lot, he straightens his stance from leaning against his own white vehicle. His intense blue eyes track each of my movements like the predator that he is.
“Oh boy, Mr. Mcfuckingbroody right in the morning. Sorry Mia.” Raegan exits my vehicle, casts me an apologetic look, and acknowledges the waitingHulkwith a tip of her head. I think a small part of her is enjoying my suffering with each of them trying to seduce me. Naw, that’s not exactly fair either; she still has her dick of a dad to deal with. She continues walking to the front of the school without looking back.
“Raegan.” Theo nods and moves toward me, his steps light and graceful.
“Please don’t start with your shit first thing in the morning. I have zero energy or fucks to give Theo. I haven’t even had coffee yet.” I move to storm past him, but he grabs onto my bag, spinning me around to face him. My body collides with his, and his arm comes across my lower back to hold me in place with brute force.
Before I can even move out of his grasp and give him the verbal smackdown he deserves, his lips come within a breath of touching mine. His stormy blue eyes focus on my lips, causing me to release a shallow pant. His intoxicating smell overwhelms my senses and causes my knees to feel like they’re made out of Jell-O. My pulse is racing; I can hear blood whooshing in my ears.
His grasp tightens, pulling me closer to his body. I give in for the barest of moments, his soft, full lips enticing me forward. When I feel his other hand grasping the back of my neck and forcing me closer, I come to my senses and start pushing away as hard as possible.What is wrong with me? I can’t let myself get dick drunk on these kings.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I raise my chin; my teeth bared as I bite out each word.
He doesn’t let go of my bag that still has me trapped against him, his grasp tightens on my neck as he tries to pull me back into his body. “Good morning, your highness.” He chuckles sarcastically. He leans in again and pecks my cheek with a sudden gentleness.
“Let’s go.” He pulls me with determination toward his vehicle.
“Go? Go where? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I ask, pulling forcefully back on my bag and dislodging myself from Theo’s grasp. I’m so confused, my heart is still racing in my chest at his close proximity and the fact that we almost kissed again.
“We”—he motions between our two bodies—“are going to play a bit of hooky and get to know each other better.” I hear his Range unlock, and he opens the back passenger door, pulling my bag from my grasp and throwing it inside.
“No, we are fucking not. Give me my bag, Theo.” I stamp my foot on the concrete driveway. I’m pretty sure I look like an insolent child right now, but I don’t give a shit. He’s about two seconds away from me kneeing him in the balls.
“Get in the car Mia, before I throw you in. I’m not taking no for an answer.” He moves menacingly toward me, and I step back. I look in the direction of the front of the school, wondering if I can outrun him.
“Don’t even think about it, Mia; I will throw you over my shoulder, ass on display, and spank you for the world to see if you try to run from me.” The look on his face indicates he might enjoy that task.
My core tightens at the threat of being spanked by Theo’s large hand, and I bite my lower lip to quiet the moan that wants to leave my lips. With one last look at the steps and the front of the school, I move around Theo’s vehicle and get in the front passenger seat. Pulling out my phone, I send Raegan a quick text.
Me: Psycho is taking me off school grounds…probably to murder my ass. If you don’t hear from me in a few hours, call my grandmother asap.
I don’t bother waiting for her response, there’s no point in telling her to call the cops. My grandmother would find me before they could. Then she would bury the Saint-Lamberts where no one could find them.
“Where are we going?” I question, looking around his car. Theo’s car is spotless, with not a speck of dirt or even a gum wrapper visible. His leather is black on black but polished to a sheen, figures with his OCD and controlling asshole tendencies. I put on my seat belt, and to mess with him, I pair my Spotify to his system and scroll through one of my most feminine and antsy playlists.
He doesn’t acknowledge my question, moving us out of the parking lot and onto the main roadway. He makes the right turn taking us into the small downtown area of Casbury. Well, at least we are not going into the hills; maybe he doesn’t plan on dismembering me quite yet. We pass beautiful, colorful houses and the downtown gardens as we continue down the road to the center of town.
He pulls up at the front of the Quick Bean Café, puts the car in park, and moves to get out of the vehicle. Before he starts walking away, he backtracks and looks back inside. “Don’t run, Mia.” With that statement, he slams the door and walks into the café.
I watch him walk inside and step up to the counter, wondering what he has in store for me today. I don’t trust him; he’s devious and a planner, just like me. I’m pretty sure he would like nothing more than to run me out of Casbury so he can reign unchallenged. I have to keep my guard up. Of the four kings, Theo is definitely the alpha predator and the most dangerous to my plans, the ones that seem to get murkier every damn day.
I turn up his heat settings to full blast. The early November weather has turned in North Carolina, the cold settling in with a brisk wind and the temperature making a sudden drop. While not as frigid as New York this time of year, it’s still chilly. Whoever decided the females of Casbury Prep should have to wear kilts to school should be shot and then dismembered.Just for fun, Raegan and I can dance on their graves while sipping Chai tea lattes.
