Filed to story: The LORDS Series Free PDF by Shantel Tessier
WE EXIT CLASS, and I pull out my cell once again to see if Matt has responded. He read it immediately but has yet to reply. I sigh, placing it in my back pocket.
Sarah starts hanging on my arm. “Come on. Let’s go,” she whines. “We’re running out of time to actually have fun. It’s junior year. We spent all summer back home. We swore this year would be different. That we would actually go and do things. It’s just one party. What could it hurt? Not like we already have plans.”
“I …”
“Are you guys talking about the ritual?” the girl who sat in front of me asks.
“Yes,” Sarah answers.
“Well, I wouldn’t go if I were you.” She clutches her books to her chest. “It’s evil. Vile. Demented. Just some guys on a high horse who like to fuck around with women.”
“How so?” I ask, interested. Something about how Ryat worded it to Matt has my curiosity piqued. You can’t take something that doesn’t belong to you.
“Tyson Crawford.” She states the name like we should know who that is.
We don’t. “Who is that?”
“He was a senior at Barrington a few years ago. He chose Whitney Minson as his. Well, once she performed the vow ceremony …” She trails off, her eyes going from side to side to see if anyone is listening to her. When satisfied no one is paying attention, she steps in closer to us. “He tied her facedown on his bed, naked, gagged, and blindfolded. Left her there all day while he went to his classes. He had cameras all over his room with a live feed of it on his phone. Then once he went home, he fucked her, which he also recorded and sent to her boyfriend-the boyfriend she was cheating on after she took the vow to be Tyson’s.”
“Damn. Savage. I like it.” Sarah laughs.
The girl’s eyes narrow on her. “It was disgusting,” she spits out.
“Then what?” I ask. I feel like there’s more to that story there.
“Well, she belonged to him. She was his chosen one,” she says, all but rolling her eyes.
“Meaning?” I urge, still not understanding this chosen shit. “Someone can’t just decide to have you,” I state the obvious. “Women aren’t fucking property.”
Dropping her voice to a whisper, she says, “The Lords can do whatever the fuck they want. Their oath promises them that.”
“How do you know about all of this? Were you a chosen?” I wonder.
“Fuck no.” She scoffs as if offended that I could even think that. Then she turns around and practically runs off like it’s a sin to be seen with us.
“Oh, we’re going,” Sarah says matter-of-factly.
“Ritual? Vow ceremony? Sounds like some fucked-up shit.” I shake my head.
“Matt’s a member. How bad can it be?” She laughs. “He’s a pussy.”
I don’t argue with that. When I look up, Ryat walks by with two other guys who I know as Gunner and Prickett. Fellow Lord members. A Lord member is always easy to spot because they wear a ring-a crest. No one who isn’t a Lord knows what it actually means, though. Right now, the three are oblivious to everyone around them, deep in their own conversation. I imagine this is what they’re always like. Thinking they’re untouchable.
My hands fist, wrinkling the paper once again. The words he said to Matt … what the girl just said to us. I’ve known they took an oath-a stupid one at that, but I don’t know what all this chosen shit is about. I guess I’ve just never paid that much attention to what goes on behind the doors at the house of Lords. The members are required to all live together, and it’s not near campus.
Making up my mind, I take off down the hall. I pass by, then turn around and stop in front of them, making all three come to a halt.
“Well, hello sexy.” Gunner, the one on the right, smiles at me, his baby-blue eyes dropping to my bare legs.
“Bitch, remember?” I ask Ryat, who stands in the middle, crossing my arms over my chest. He had referred to me as Matt’s bitch, but he knows my fucking name.
The corners of his lips turn up, giving me a smirk, looking more playful than before. “I see the pathetic boy toy still hasn’t put that leash on you.” His stunning green eyes drop to my neck, and he shakes his head while making a tsking sound. “Can’t say I didn’t warn him.”
Heat rushes up my body, and my face goes red with embarrassment. Why did that feel like another threat? And why does my heart begin to race at the thought of being his prey?
“Free game?” Prickett, the one on the far left, asks.
My eyes snap to his. “Excuse me?” I bark. Pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve ever heard him speak. I don’t talk or hang out with any fellow Lords. Matt is the only one I know on a personal level. He’s always kept me as far away from them as possible, and I never minded that.
“They always are,” Ryat answers him.
“Well, who do we have here?” Sarah asks, sliding up next to me.
“Sarah.” Gunner lifts his hand to rub his chin while his eyes devour her. “Nice to see you again.”
“Seems so.” Her eyes drop to his crotch, and I roll mine.
“What did you mean by someone else may choose me?” I ask Ryat, sticking my hip out.
All three men stiffen, and their eyes narrow on me. He steps forward, his body entering my space. I suck in a shaky breath when he reaches out, taking a strand of hair and tucking it behind my ear. His fingers gently brush my skin, and I shiver at the contact. He bends down, his green eyes devouring mine when he whispers, “Why don’t you ask Matt why he’s not allowed to choose you.”
I pull away, taking a step back, and frown. “He’s my boyfriend.” What does he mean Matt wouldn’t be able to choose me? And what the hell is he choosing me for?
“Keep saying that like it means something,” Ryat remarks, making the others laugh.
I yank Sarah away from them, not really sure what I planned to accomplish by that. But I’ll definitely be talking to Matt about this.
As we’re walking down the hallway, she looks over her shoulder to glance back. “Ryat is staring at your ass like he wants to eat it.” She chuckles.
“Yeah … well, that won’t be happening.”
CHAPTER SIX
RYAT
I WATCH THE brunette stomp her way down the hall, getting as far away from me as possible. Blakely is exactly what I expected her to be. Long dark hair and big baby-blue eyes hidden behind her black-rimmed glasses. She looks so innocent with a Barbie doll face and sun-kissed skin. Great fucking body. Big tits, considering how small she is everywhere else, with a bubble ass. Can’t be taller than five-four without hooker heels on.
I know who she is. I also know that it doesn’t matter that she’s promised to Matt. He’s pissed off the Lords and lost his chance at her being his chosen.
Prickett thinks she’s free game, but that’s the furthest from the truth.
She’s mine.
It wasn’t a coincidence that she ran into me this morning. I put myself in her way and waited for her to look up and notice me. I’ve been following her ever since I was told to choose her two weeks ago. Learning her schedule and the places she goes. She lives a very boring life, that’s for sure.
I was, however, surprised that I liked the way she looked, staring up at me from on her ass. Vulnerable. Easy prey.
“That’s Matt’s girl? They’re still together?” Gunner asks, pulling his cell out of his pocket.
“He seems to think so.” She won’t be for long.
“She had the flyer in her hand,” Prickett states.
“I saw.” By the way it was wadded up, I think it’s safe to assume she’s not coming. My comment about strays and chose to be taken must have piqued her interest. Good. I want her asking around and finding out just who I am. I’m definitely more of a man than Matt. All she has to do is ask him.
“Dude, she’s got to be a virgin.” Gunner laughs. “Sure you want to fuck with that? Take someone without some experience.”