I thought you’d never ask. And as this part of the plan was my suggestion, I couldn’t wait to watch the fireworks.
It’d take a few weeks, but I already set some of the pieces in motion this morning.
Now we just had to wait.
And, in the interim, begin our task of taking over the school.
We’d give them all a king and queen to adore, then shatter all their hearts at once.
Ella sat in the middle of the cafeteria, resembling a queen. My lips curled at the sight, adrenaline thrumming through my veins.
It’d been two weeks since our notorious arrival on campus in Ryan’s car, and everything had changed since.
She now lived with me and spent every night in our bed.
Several students were flocking toward her, seeking shelter beneath her growing wings. Something Ella only allowed because the majority of them had endured bullying, just not on the same scale as her.
It helped that Ryan and Carmen were allowing it, mostly because they thought this would only add to their stepsister’s eventual fall. What they failed to realize was that we were slowly swaying the kingdom in Ella’s favor.
Dash seemed to be the only one not keen on this plan.
Charlie, being a perpetual dumbass, thought it was great. I suspected he hoped to be the one to lick Ella’s wounds—whether he had her cooperation or not.
Which was why I couldn’t wait for today’s events to unfold.
We’d decided to take him down first.
By dismantling his status.
I leaned against the wall and checked my watch. It should be any moment now that he received a phone call. One that would destroy his world.
Where’s my kiss? Ella asked, her eyes glittering from across the room.
I smirked at her. Such a demanding little mate you are.
Damn straight.
I started toward her, ready to oblige, when Ryan caught my arm and tugged me backward. My gaze locked on hers, my eyebrow inching upward. “Yes?”
“Meet me in the hallway in five minutes.”
“Why?”
She gave me a seductive look that rotted my insides. “I want to reward you for all your hard work.”
I forced my lips to curl despite my urge to vomit.
In no way did I ever want a reward from this vile creature.
“As tempting as that is, this plan hinges on my ability to win over my conquest. Which isn’t going to happen if she finds out I’m playing on the side.” I carefully removed her hand from my bicep, making a show of my rejection for those observing.
Our voices were pitched too low for anyone to overhear, but body language could be a telling indicator of a conversation.
Something I played upon by folding my arms and taking on a condemning stance.
“I’m very close, Ryan,” I said softly. “Unless you’ve decided to skip the fireworks and go straight to my reward?”
She glanced at Ella, her expression souring. “Oh, no. I want to see her face crumble when you tell her this was all a ruse.”