“Girl, what took you so long?” Mattie asked as I sat down heavily. “Oh, you didn’t get me a soda? Damn, I should have asked for one.”
I shook my head, numb and incapable of words just yet.
“You okay? You look… pissed.” She frowned at me with genuine concern, and I swallowed past all the icky, negative feelings swirling around my gut. I couldn’t tell her what that bitch had just said, not with how quick they all were to judge Alex. Mattie had just started tolerating him for me.
“Yep,” I replied with a tight smile. “Just one of Claudette’s buddies harassing the peasant. I might’ve dumped your drink down her shirt. Sorry about that. We can share mine.”
Mattie snorted a laugh, but nodded and stuffed a nacho in her mouth.
On the field, it looked like the players were getting ready to head back out. A few took sips of water, some tightened the laces on their boots, and some chatted. Alex looked up at us again, found my eyes, and blew another kiss before he ran out onto the field. It was almost enough to chase away the uncomfortable feeling churning in my gut. Almost.
Until Rafe caught my eye. He was glaring up at me with such open hostility that a shiver of apprehension rolled through me. What the fuck was he so upset about now?
Jordan was saying something to him, his face hard, and as he spoke he gestured vaguely in Alex’s direction.
“I wish he’d admit that Alex didn’t kill anyone. Rafe’s so fucking prickly and for exactly zero reasons.” I grumbled as Rafe finally looked away from me and followed Jordan out onto the field. I didn’t need to specify which him I was talking about. Mattie knew.
“Don’t hold your breath,” she replied with a dry voice. “Somehow I think the addition of you has only made things worse.”
I scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Damn girl, do I need to spell it out? Rafe wants to fuck you. Has ever since you arrived here. The fact that you’re with Alex is just… fuel on the fire.” She shrugged like this was common knowledge, but my face heated.
“What? No, he doesn’t!” But already I was thinking about the way he’d pressed his body to mine this morning, how he’d threatened to slide his hand down my jeans and— “That’s crazy talk.” I didn’t sound convincing.
Mattie just laughed and shrugged. “Whatever. You’re with Alex, and you guys are so cute together it kind of makes me gag. Rafe will probably pick up some groupie chick after the game and fuck you right out of his system. For the next day or so, anyway. Until you two get into another argument.” She seemed to find this all kinds of funny.
“Right.” I murmured my agreement, but fuck me if her words didn’t make me want to scream in horror and frustration. Why did the idea of Rafe fucking some other girl make me feel so… damn… violent?
Huh. Maybe that’s what he’d meant when he called me Violence.
Chapter 23
The Arbon Royals won the match three to one, and I discovered I genuinely loved the game of soccer. It was exciting and fast-paced and the boys… dear god. How had I come so far in life and not appreciated the sheer masculine beauty of male soccer players?
Mattie was jumping around and cheering with everyone else as the two teams shook hands on the field, and I was grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. Internally, though, my whole body was alight with nervous butterflies.
The game was over, which meant my fight was almost here.
“Oh shit!” Mattie gasped, and my attention flew back to the players.
A second ago, the Arbon Royals had all been celebrating and congratulating each other on their win. Now? Now there was a full-on brawl happening on the field.
“What’s going on?” I asked, hoping she’d seen something I might have missed.
“I have no idea,” she replied, her eyes wide as she stared down on the fighting players, “but I’m pretty sure it started when Alex punched Rafe in the face.”
I groaned, rubbing my forehead. It didn’t take a genius to work out what might have happened, considering all the slut-shaming slurs Rafe had slung my way at breakfast. I hoped Alex hit him hard enough to hurt.
“Should we…” I indicated to the brawl, which was only growing bigger by the second.
Mattie shook her head. “Nah, they can sort it out themselves. Come on, let’s go. You can tend to your great boyfriend’s wounds after they all shower and change.” She snickered at her own lame-ness, and I glared at her in good humor.
As we followed the crowds out of the stands and toward the exits, security guards were rushing to the field to contain the situation. It didn’t take long for the fight to be broken up.
“So, you want to hit up the after party at Drake’s place?” Mattie asked as we emerged back into the academy halls. It was pretty awesome how it was all connected so we rarely needed to step outside into the frosty winter weather.
I shook my head, thinking of my prior engagement for tonight. “Nah, my liver can’t handle another round of flaming flamingos.”
She snorted a laugh. “Flaming illusions. But whatever, spoilsport. You’re going to lurk around to kiss Alex’s injuries better, aren’t you? So much for waiting until you’re off campus to start fucking.” She was teasing, so I gave her a playful whack on the arm to shut her up. Just in case the entire school didn’t already know we were having sex—they totally did—I’d rather her not be broadcasting it.
“Whatever, girl,” she snickered. “I’m going to get changed so I can score myself some great sex tonight, too. Tell my dickhead twin I’ll meet him there, okay?”
I nodded at her and waved. “Will do.”
I hadn’t bothered denying her joking accusation because she was at least partly right. I did want to hang around and make sure that Alex wasn’t hurt… but then I had a prior engagement with an illegal Damascus steel blade, a purple catsuit, and a mask. Tonight Vengeance was coming out to play.
The crowds of spectators thinned out as I drew closer to the locker-room door and away from the main thoroughfare, so I didn’t feel like too much of a creeper lurking in the hallway.
I propped my back against the wall right beside a team photo from the year before, when the Arbon Royals had won the University League Cup, and prepared myself to wait until Alex had debriefed, showered, and changed. It was only a few minutes, though, before I heard raised voices, and the locker-room door slammed open.
“You,” Rafe snarled, advancing on me like a wolf released from its cage. His cheek and left eye showed a pink discoloration where Alex’s first punch must’ve landed, which said he’d been caught by surprise. No way would that have happened if Fallen Angel had had his wits about him.
I heaved a sigh and tried to ignore his proximity. “I’m just waiting for Alex. You know, my boyfriend?” I glared up at the surly prince. “That is unless you’ve hospitalized him?”
It’d been a snarky remark, but as soon as I said it, the genuine possibility sent a shiver of concern through me. “You didn’t, did you?”
The smirk on Rafe’s face was pure malice. “I should have.”
He started to walk away, and fucking hell, I should have let him. But no, me and my short temper just had to poke the bear with a stick.