More on this book
Kindle Notes & Highlights
Normal is over-fucking-rated. We’re meant for greater things and so is she.
“Because everything I’ve ever done has been for you,” he says. “All that I have, all that I am, is yours. You want the keys to my kingdom? They’re yours. You want to punish me for hurting you? I’ll let you. Burn me. Break me. Strike me. But don’t think this changes a damn thing between us.”
When he glances up at me from beneath charcoal-colored lashes, the look in his eyes promises to ruin me. Maybe I’m already ruined.
“Ms. Beck is worried that you may need more mental health assistance than she’s able to provide you with here at the school.”
“Morpheus Calloway has contacted me with some deep concerns that he has for you and your well-being.”
“Mr. Calloway is concerned for your physical and mental wellbeing.” My chest seizes, but she’s not done. “With Ms. Beck’s report and on the advice of his lawyer, he believes it would be beneficial if you were to be placed in his care.”
“However, if Mr. Calloway were to suggest to the courts that you are unable to care for yourself due to a mental illness, it is possible for the court to award him legal guardianship.”
“Test us. You’ve already overstayed your fucking welcome with me. I assure you if you try to go after the only Scorpion Girl to ever be, you’ll be in for a world of pain.”
“You heard it right—Juliet Donovan is a Scorpion Girl. You want to fuck with her, then you fuck with the rest of us.”
She’s running with demons now and her secrets are ours. Her war is ours. She is ours.
Nolan’s shoulders tighten as he turns to face me. “We’re not fucking around on you, Jules,” he says, his tone just as severe as my own.
LEX: CODE BLUE Code Blue means only one thing—Juliet’s lost her shit. Again.
I watch her because I can’t not watch her. There’s so much about this girl that my eyes are drawn to her each and every time. I know staring at her won’t ever unlock all of her secrets, but I can’t help myself. She’s the sun and I’m just a planet drawn into her orbit. We all are.
I am the flame and they are the moths trapped in my fire. I crave the burn. If ash we must be, then ash we will become.
“I’ve loved you for so long, I no longer know what it feels like to not belong to you,” he says. “I’m not rich. I’m not powerful like your family once was. I have nothing to give you but me.”
“Yes, well, the date for Mr. Calloway’s plea to become Miss Donovan’s guardian has been set for two months out.”
“Otherwise known as one of the Eastpoint Heirs, and I sit on the board for Eastpoint University. I’ll be the one getting the four of you into our infamous school.”
“Just don’t forget we’re supposed to get out together.” My hand goes still and this time, when I open my mouth, I do something I’ve never done before. I lie to him. “Of course we will,” I say.
“I’ll give you one last warning,” I offer, holding up a single finger. “Just one—if you want to play war games with me, don’t ever mistake me for a pawn because at the end of the day, I am always the queen player. You will lose.”
This is only the first of many more nights to come. This girl is ours. Her thoughts. Her fears. Her pains. Her vengeance. All of it belongs to us. Just like we belong to her.
“All I want to do is give you the life you deserve. Our relationship is one built on mutual love.” “I don’t love you.”
“No. Those boys are just using you. You’ll realize it soon enough, but even if you don’t, I’m sure they’ll start to catch on when other accidents start happening.”
If it means saving them, protecting them, I’ll do anything, even if it means selling my soul to the devil himself.
“The three of you are nothing but street rats masquerading as men.” Hollow. I am so fucking hollow. “You’re not getting out of Silverwood. You’re not leaving Darrio Vargas’ fucking gang. You’re just like everyone else in the gutter. You were born here and you’ll die here, but I fucking wasn’t. I don’t need to accept this. I can get out.”
“No.” Lex shakes his head. “No, no, no. This isn’t happening. You said you’d stay—I told you everything. We said we’d take care of you. We’re getting out. Together.”
“She… left?” Lex’s voice is a croak and I turn just in time to see him collapse onto the ground, his knees hitting with such force that it sends a visual jolt through his whole body. “She left.”
“You don’t get to give me everything and then walk away.”
“You’re supposed to be mine.” His voice dips lower, almost rasping in a broken whisper. “Because I’m yours… I’ve always been yours.”
If I’m so owned by him that no man is allowed to have me, then he’s so owned by me that one touch from another woman would sign her fucking death warrant.
“Knowing your girl is sacrificing herself to protect you and your friends—it’d drive any man to fucking drink.”
“Mr. Calloway also asked me to inform you that he expects to be rewarded for your outing tonight,” he says.
As if he hears that thought, Morpheus’ lips twitch. “You’re officially an adult and there are no blood ties between us,” he continues.
“It might be odd to marry so young.” Morpheus’ words confirm my suspicions. “There is the small age gap to consider—” “You’re old enough to be my father,”
They might have branded my soul, but that claim goes both ways. The Scorpion Kings are mine.
“Sometimes dogs bite their owners,” she tells me, her hand still moving the knife, up and down my jaw as if she’s still debating whether or not she wants to slit my throat. I arch a bit to give her more access. “But the act of a good owner is to find the reason why and correct it. You are mine, Lex. Mine to love or to kill. Never forget that.”
“There’s nothing more to forgive, Lex,” she whispers just before her lips touch my own. “You have been and always will be… mine.”
“Morpheus is dead,” Nolan states,
