11. Konstantin
KONSTANTIN
D ays passed and people went back to their usual routine. A week after Buxley’s death, it was like nothing happened. Actually, if it wasn’t for the makeshift shrine that some people had made at the foot of the tallest wall of the great court, I was pretty sure everyone would have forgotten about the pet’s death.
There were pictures of him throughout his years at the academy, candles, and even little dog toys that people got for him every year. To me, it was bordering on ridiculous, but I guess it was just another one of these things that my brain wasn’t wired to understand.
“Did your brother get back to you with the info I asked him to find?” Royal’s voice next to me pulled me out of my thoughts.
I didn’t look at him, gazing at the darkness surrounding us instead. Something was wrong with the woods tonight. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what, but I felt weird. Like something was out of place.
“Not yet. Alexei is busy with school and any info on the new girl is locked up tight. Whoever her dad is, I’d say he’s pretty powerful.”
He groaned, sticking his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Ever since she spilled her drink all over him on the first day of school, Sinem Agüley was all Royal was able to think about. He was bordering on stalkerish. Following her all over campus and making up fake accounts to follow her on social media. The first one was not that weird according to me, but the second one was downright pathetic.
“Tell him I’ll pay him double the initial amount if he’s able to get it by this weekend.”
Without a warning, I socked him in the shoulder so hard he groaned.
“My little brother isn’t your bitch. He’s a fucking Korolov, don’t throw money at him like he needs it. Imply something like that again and I’ll slit your throat.”
Used to me, Royal only rolled his eyes and muttered, “Fucking Korolovs,” under his breath. I could tell he was pleased with making me angry, though, from the little smirk on his lips. Alexei was the youngest of us all and in his last year of high school. He still lived at home back in Olympe, Louisiana, with our parents.
We walked the rest of the way to the Church in silence, coming to a stop before the big oak doors. One of the two huge double doors had been left ajar. Royal sent me a confused look because the only people who had access to the Church were us and we knew never to leave it unlocked, let alone open. The school was filled with people who didn’t like us, or downright wanted us dead. The Academy was a neutral ground, but still, it never stopped them from trying to fuck with us.
Trying being the keyword.
With my head, I motioned for Royal to follow me silently and he nodded once.
We entered soundlessly, keeping our steps as light as possible, which wasn’t easy considering both our sizes.
Once inside, I didn’t see anything missing. The statues were still there—but again, why would anyone steal these pieces of junk? Nothing seemed out of place, and the lights were off.
Royal turned to face me and opened his mouth, probably to say the same thing I was thinking out loud when a low grunt was heard from upstairs.
Without a word, we started climbing the marble steps that led to the loft, Royal in front of me while I kept an eye behind us.
“Oh fuck,” a male voice echoed around us, and we both froze as we recognized it.
My muscles relaxed when I realized what was happening. Nobody had broken in and that was verified once our friends came into view. It was just Rhodes and Asher having sex.
Or well, more like Rhodes on his knees blowing Ash. I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the wall. Royal didn’t move, probably a little shocked at the scene on display for us. Or maybe he was put out by seeing his cousin suck dick for the first time, I couldn’t say that was something I’d like to witness.
Ash’s fingers were tangled in Rhodes’s hair as the latter bobbed his head up and down, taking more of him in his mouth and making Ash moan in pleasure.
Against my will, I started wondering what that felt like. I wasn’t attracted to either of my friends, or men in general, but I did wonder what having my cock sucked would feel like. Especially by some dark-haired little cheater.
“Yeah, baby just like that.” Asher opened his eyes, and for a few seconds he didn’t even seem to notice us there, his whole focus was on Rhodes, but when he did, his entire demeanor changed.
His eyes widened and he pushed Rhodes away, causing him to stumble on his ass.
“What the fuck?” Rhodes asked, confused with his back still to us.
Asher tucked himself back into his pants, “Get the fuck up.”
He avoided our gaze and looked down, his whole body going tense.
“Just a piece of advice, if you guys don’t want the company, maybe don’t leave the door fucking open.”
Rhodes’s head spun around as soon as he heard my voice and he jumped up, muttering a curse when his eyes found Royal’s.
“I—fuck, sorry. Didn’t realize we’d left it open.” He rubbed the back of his head.
Silence stretched between us after he said that. Asher was still avoiding our gaze, seemingly more interested in whatever was on his phone than our presence. Eventually, Royal cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed.
“So… has this been happening for a while?”
Both Rhodes and Asher answered at the same time.
“Yes.”
“Fuck, no!”
I shook my head at my friend’s behavior. Asher was clearly about to fuck up our whole dynamic with his cowardice.
Rhodes turned his head to look at him, surprised and hurt but he didn’t say anything and simply clenched his jaw, looking into the distance.
Royal nodded slowly before settling his gaze on Asher. “So, that means you’re bi too? Or gay.”
Asher tried to make his response seem passive, like he was bored and not embarrassed as fuck. “Fuck man. What do you want me to say? A hole is a hole. I was just horny.”
That’s when Rhodes decided not to let him walk all over him anymore. The first time I’d caught them last year, Asher reacted pretty much the same way. He had pushed Rhodes back and tried his best to hide himself. Back then, neither of us spoke and I had just left the room silently. I didn’t care what they did with their spare time and I could sense the embarrassment on Asher’s part and see the hurt in Rhodes’s eyes.
What bothered me at the time was that our friend group dynamic would probably be weird for a while. Yet, I was surprised when the next time we hung out together, none of us acknowledged what had happened. They both acted as if nothing happened and I let it slide, not caring enough about their sexcapade to ask about it.
But now, after Asher’s comment, something broke in the room and we could all feel it.
Rhodes turned completely towards him and threw his fist against Asher’s jaw. The latter grunted and lost his balance, stumbling against the window.
“Fuck you. I’m done.” Rhodes then stomped past us and ran down the stairs. We heard the doors slam shut, signaling he had left the Church. Asher looked disoriented for a while like maybe he wanted to follow him but didn’t dare to.
I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration.
“Seriously?” Royal glared at Asher who simply shrugged. “You’re a fucking asshole.”
Then he too left, probably trying to catch up with his cousin and leaving me and Ace alone in the loft.
Asher and I had met at the Academy during our first year and, against all odds, we became great friends. He was the youngest son of Gerard Donovan, a powerful congressman whose mind was clearly as small and narrow as his dick.
Asher finally looked up, the corner of his lip bleeding from the punch Rhodes had delivered. I shook my head slowly, angry at him for fucking up our dynamic again, this time for good.
“It’s crazy how you hate your dad but still act so much like him.”
Before I turned around to exit the Church, I saw regret flash in his eyes, but he quickly hid it.
“Don’t forget to lock up after you this time, or I’ll kick your ass.”
Making my way out of the old building, I started walking back to the castle. I was annoyed at Asher for ruining what was supposed to be a relaxing night away from thoughts of the dark-haired minx that had decided to take up my mind.
Ever since we got stuck in that room almost a week ago now, I found myself looking for Elyssa-fucking-Ayaari whenever I entered a room. It was annoying and I hated myself a little for it, but I couldn’t stop. Anytime I was around people, my brain sought her out of its own accord. Whenever our eyes met, she’d hold my gaze for a few seconds before looking away and finding a way to disappear. I wanted nothing more than to follow her but I couldn’t let myself do it. I wouldn’t stoop that low.
The woods I had to cross to get back to the castle felt just as weird as earlier on. There was a heaviness in the air that usually wasn’t present. Like something was lurking around school grounds.
Just when the thought crossed my mind, the sound of leaves crunching echoed right behind me. I whipped around, ready to take on whatever or whoever the threat was, but I stopped short when I recognized my friend’s mop of black hair.
Royal frowned at me and I closed my eyes, trying to lessen the feelings of aggression and violence rising inside me.
“Have you seen him? I can’t find Rhodes.”
Shaking my head, I was about to tell him he should probably leave his cousin alone to lick his wounds when a screeching sound resounded. A woman, or girl more like, was screaming in absolute fright. It was so loud it made the trees shake.
Royal and I shared a look before running in the direction it came from. I was faster but he wasn’t that far behind. The scream came from Old Joe’s Mill, which used to belong to the castle’s caretaker back in the fifties. Situated in the south of the island, not that far from the coast, it was where secret parties happened and, when that wasn’t the case, it was a pretty popular hookup spot.
That’s why when I came up to the clearing leading down to the mill and saw a couple standing there, half naked, it didn’t dawn on me yet that they were the ones we’d heard.
Their backs were to me, and if it wasn’t for the moon being up so high that night, I would’ve barely seen them with all the trees around us. It took me a second to realize they were staring up at something in those trees, actually.
I felt Royal stop next to me. “Holy shit,” he whispered.
Just as I was about to ask why he’d said that, my eyes looked up and I understood.
I didn’t feel anything particular looking at the gruesome view greeting the four of us. After all, I grew up in a pretty deranged family. I was no stranger to murder or blood, but even I had to admit that seeing a girl no older than twenty being strung up on a tree, naked and with her throat slit open, was pretty fucked up.