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The Rogues.
“Doesn’t explain why I’m here with you.” I tried to snap it, and croaked it instead.
“I would’ve taken you home, but I didn’t want your folks to see you like this after... Winter. Thought it might bring up some difficult stuff.”
Put in the simplest terms, but still the truest thing she ever said. If my mother and stepfather opened the door to me naked, unconscious, and covered in bruises, it wouldn’t matter if I married the prince of Monaco, they’d never let me set foot in Regalia University again.
“I know what you’re thinking, Lu-Lu. You’re thinking it was exactly how it looked. I ran off and abandoned you.”
“You did!”
Katie was calm. “I ran to get campus security. It was five against two, and no one else in the dorm was coming to help us. I left you to get someone to stop them, but none of the guards would come.”
None of the guards would come.
The horror of that sentence tried to sink in, but there was too much pain for it to penetrate and add any more.
“I wasted so much time screaming at that bald-headed, impotent shithead to come with me, after he walked off, I didn’t know what to do. I shook off my personal security to pick you up for dinner. It would’ve taken even longer for them to get to campus.” Katie rested her pillow against the headboard, then herself after it. “So, I called a number I never dialed before, bringing down the only people on campus who aren’t afraid of the Royals.”
Katie drew the covers to my chin—the nicest thing she’d ever done for me. Or it seemed, the second nicest.
“Rafael and his boys came right away. They didn’t ask for anything in exchange, and I was told their prices are steep. I bet they’re into you,” Katie added for no good reason. “Heaven knows why.”
“Another unneeded comment,” I muttered. “So you called the freaks and weirdos... to save a Dreg. Then you let me sleep in your bed, protecting me.”
“Joseph Collins, woman, don’t get all weepy about it.”
I was getting weepy. Wetness collected on my lids, but for so many reasons than just Katie.
“I’m not going through round two of this,” Katie stated. “I will have my fun fucking year—partying, shopping, drinking with my friends. You insist on being one of them, so that includes you too. A couple of rapist pricks I can’t stand don’t get to mess with that any more than you do.
“Owen rounded up his friends and attacked you because he’s too lazy to remember how many women want to cut off his dick. You were the last person to piss him off, so he came after you and went way too far. After last night, he won’t make that mistake again. A Royal is a bad enemy to have. A Rogue is even worse. You’re safe now.”
I wished that were true.
“Thank you for calling them, Katie. For a second I thought— I thought they would—” I touched the bandage on my tender forehead. “I was really scared.”
“I’m sorry I left you.” She made like she was going to touch me. Hovering over my body, Katie finally patted my hip and pulled away. Giving comfort was definitely not in her top-five skills. “Even though I had a good reason, it was a shitty thing to do. I’m just glad I forgave you in time. I don’t want to think about what would’ve happened if I didn’t walk through your door last night.”
“The dorm security is a joke. This house is the safest place on campus. People who start wars don’t live behind paper walls.”
I shivered. Levi and that chickenshit Owen proved Wilder right too quickly. With all the personal safety gear I keep on me at all times, none of it was enough to protect me from the gang of monsters casually waiting in my room to jump me. How would I ever feel safe in my dorm again? Especially now that Katie proved campus security wouldn’t rush to help me.
“It’s late,” I whispered. “We should get some sleep.”
“You can stay here until your bruises fade. And after, if you need more time. When you’re better, you should probably think about moving back home.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going back to that dorm.”
THREE DAYS LATER, MY pain scale drifted down to a three, leaving me enough strength to pack and clear out my dorm.
I climbed the steps of my new place. Faint specks of paint covered my nails like a fashion statement as I rang the bell.
Wilder opened the door, his brow arching at my bags.
“Which room is mine?”
He didn’t say anything. Reaching down, he picked up my stuff and jerked his head for me to go inside. I stepped over the threshold, nerves slapping me full in the face. I couldn’t stay with Katie forever. This was my only idea, but that didn’t necessarily mean it was a good one.
