Broken Wings (Dark Legacy #1)

Beck nodded. “Yep, but we won’t be there until after the race.”

He said it so casually, and I tried not to react. “Oh, awesome.”

Oh, fuck. I was going to have to pull a fast one if I was going to race without Beck trying to stop me. I wondered if I should just tell him what Jasper wanted and then put my foot down if he refused. Beck always got his own way though, and I needed this. I needed to race. The stress and trouble sleeping, some of it could be alleviated with a fast car under my hands.

Beck would understand once it was all over and he saw I was actually really fucking decent at driving.

The bell rang then, and I straightened, noticing, that Eddy had just arrived and was waving at me from beside her car. “See you guys at lunch,” I said with a wave before I hurried to my friend.

Beck gave me the slightest illusion of freedom, remaining with the others for a moment longer before he followed me across the parking lot.

Students watched us like we were the latest drama on television. Eyes wide, mouths open, well, all those that weren’t talking about us in hushed whispers. “Beck’s right behind you,” Eddy muttered when I reached her side. She looped our arms together and dragged me into the school, hundreds of students joining us.

“He’s on Riley Duty today,” I said, leaning closer to her. “Until the Huntley threat is dealt with, they’re basically on my ass.”

She shook her head. “Don’t kid yourself, girl. Huntley is never over, the level of threat just changes with whatever is going on in the world.”

“So why are they…?”

She shrugged. “I’m guessing that they’re feeling a little possessive and protective of you for some reason.” She looked over her shoulder at Beck before turning back to me. “I wonder why that might be…”

I had to look at him then, it was a pull that I couldn’t resist. He stood a head above most of the students around us, and even though he was a few feet away from us, his eyes were focused on me with intensity. Fuck, when he gave me all of his attention like that, my knees did the cliché weak thing, and I almost couldn’t stay upright.

Eddy squeezed my arm when she left me at my homeroom before she disappeared into the crowds. I slipped inside and took my usual chair. I heard gasps when Beck entered the room, and I had to shoot him a grin and eye roll. The way he was treated in this school was ridiculous. He wasn’t a god.

He slid into the table beside me before he extended his giant arm out and wrapped it around the back of my chair. More gasps. Eyes watched us closely before turning away like they were afraid to get caught.

“You’re drawing attention,” I drawled, shaking my head at him.

He shrugged. “Can’t help that.”

I kind of thought he could, but all of the Delta heirs—the male ones anyway—got off on the power and attention. Beck and Dylan were scary, Beck more so because Dylan was nurturing by nature. Evan and Jasper went for the sex on tap thing, using their power and popularity to get the chicks. It didn’t hurt that they were hot with rockin bods either, but it was mainly the power and popularity thing which brought the skanks in.

“Hey, Riley,” a low voice said from my other side.

Turning in my seat, I met a set of light blue eyes. “Hey Jake.” I returned his smile.

He’d talked to me a few times before; he was shy, with a serious face and dark rimmed glasses. He mustn’t have noticed that Beck was with me today, which didn’t surprise me because he usually had his head in a book wherever he went.

“How are you?” he continued, pushing his glasses up on his nose.

I shrugged. “Can’t complain.”

Had two screaming orgasms this morning.

Beck leaned forward slightly in his chair, and shot Jake an unamused look. Jake’s pale features went as white as the wall behind him, and he swung around to face the front.

I narrowed my eyes on Beck. “Was that really necessary?” I snapped.

He shrugged again, his broad shoulder brushing against me, and sending shivers across my skin. “Didn’t say anything,” he said, a smirk playing around his lips.

Beck didn’t need to say anything to get his point across. Fucker.

The teacher didn’t blink an eye at Beck being in the wrong room, and wrong grade since he was technically in college at Ducis, and shouldn’t be in any classes with me. When the bell rang, I waited in my seat, wanting all the staring students to leave before I did. Beck remained in his relaxed position, hot ass leg spread going on in front of him as he leaned back in the chair.

I caught the edge of his ink creeping out the side of his black shirt, and tried to resist my strong urge to touch him.

“Are we sitting here all day, Butterfly?” he asked, amused. He’d caught me checking him out, and I didn’t even care.

Rising, I straightened my shoulders, trying to act like I didn’t care about all the new attention coming my way. It was worth it to spend time with Beck. To be part of the inner circle. I finally felt like I was part of a family again, and I wasn’t giving that up.

Richard’s words washed through my mind, but I dismissed them. I wasn’t being stupid and naive. He didn’t know Beck, Dylan, Jasper, and Evan like I did. He didn’t understand. He hadn’t gone through blood and fear like we had. Beck had confirmed that this morning: the previous generation of inheritors didn’t have this bond.

When we reached the hall, lots of students watched us. Beck remained close to my back, his heat washing down my spine, and for some reason, I threw extra sass into each step. Swinging my hips.

Beck’s hands wrapped around my sides, pulling me to a halt. “Keep that up, Butterfly, and you’re not going to make classes again.”

A moan choked off in my throat. This was not the place, but, shit.

I wanted him.

Needing to get myself together, I spotted the bathroom and darted toward it.

“I’ll be right back,” I called over my shoulder, ignoring the huff from Beck.

I half expected him to follow me in, but he didn’t.

Deciding I might as well pee while I was in here, I entered one of the free cubicles. The other two were occupied, and I heard toilets flush a moment before I finished and flushed as well. Stepping out, I stopped when I saw Brittley and one of her friends at the sinks, washing their hands. Trying my best to ignore them, I moved to the remaining sink, and placed my hands under the automatic soap dispenser first, followed by the water.

“It’ll never last,” Brittley said brusquely. “You’re just the new flavor of the week, but they’d never actually care about trailer trash like you.”

Her friend laughed, crossing her arms across a very ample chest.

Exhaling loudly, so she knew she was pissing me off, I dried my hands and faced the pair. “And I give a fuck what you think because?”

It was her turn to laugh. “Because Beck and me are soulmates. He knows that. He always comes back to me.”

I tried not to let jealousy rear its head, but the thought of this skinny bitch wrapped around Beck made me feel sick. “You don’t mean shit to him,” I countered, knowing this for a fact. “But since you seem so sure about it, we should ask Beck to choose. Let’s go out right now and do that.”

I waved a hand at the door, and for a moment, fear flashed in her eyes before her natural confidence reasserted itself.

“Would probably be the fastest way to get rid of the trash,” her friend chimed in, boosting Brittley’s confidence further.

She nodded. “You’re right, Jade. Beck and I were together last week, I’m sure he wants more of what I brought his way.”