Crux Year

Chapter Twenty-Two - Shay

This place is heavily guarded like never before.

Because they're hiding something.

Him.

My boyfriend.

I'm antsy, desperate for the chance to get to Royal and break him out of that prison. My dads won't let me rush in, though. It's too dangerous. Not only do the men guarding the place have weapons, but they're also highly trained.

I'm just a love-sick kid who's finally opened his eyes to the deception he's grown up around. Unarmed and lacking knowledge, but burning with an inner fire to seek justice and protect those wronged by the enemy.

Vince Ever and his people.

"Hey, Match."

I snap my computer closed, hoping Nicky didn't see me perusing through the cameras at Pointe Peak. Turning toward the sound of his voice, I force a smile.

"What's up?"

Nicky drags a chair out beside me and takes a seat. Despite my insistence on staying home and planning world domination—or in my case, Rock City domination—my parents sent me to school.

Be normal, they said.

Pretend like nothing happened, they said.

My boyfriend is locked away in a prison waiting for me to break him out while I'm at school. There's nothing normal about that. I can't pretend like nothing happened. Every second that ticks by makes unease curdle my gut and nerves tremor down my spine.

"My dads are going to Rush River tonight. We're going to stargaze and cook over an open fire. They said you could come along. We'll even have you home by a decent hour." Nicky beams at me. "What do you say?"

Be normal, Shay.

Be freaking normal.

"I, uh..." I trail off, licking my dry lips. Nicky follows the movement, heat in his stare. It makes me want to bite on both my lips so he can't see them. "I can't."

Nicky's smug grin fades. "Why not?"

"Family night."

"You see your family every night, man. This is special. It's a date. I'm supposed to be courting you." There's an edge to his voice that unsettles me. "We're matched, Shay. In case you forgot."

Sickness roils in my belly. A week ago, I'd have been over the moon to be going on a romantic date under the stars with one of the cutest guys at school. More so, I'd be thrilled to have been matched with him. My head would have been spinning with illicit fantasies of what we might get up to when his dads weren't looking.

Not now.

Now, I feel trapped.

Every bit as trapped as Royal is in Pointe Peak.

Is this how his father felt? Forced to be with someone he doesn't have feelings for while his heart aches for another?

We should have a choice.

Our lives shouldn't be dictated like this. It's not right.

"I might be free later this week," I offer, my voice weak. "Just not tonight."

Tonight, I'm going to rescue Royal.

Nicky studies me for a long beat, his features hardening into an expression that doesn't make him look handsome at all. In fact, it's kind of terrifying how his eyes flicker with rage and his lips twist into a cruel slash across his face.