Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,69

for the page to load. Onscreen are images of a beautiful castle-type house I recognize from the hill in town.

The old structure is still in perfect condition. With turrets and gargoyles, it’s certainly a fairytale monstrosity. I overheard students talking about a party that takes place there every year, but I never paid much attention because I’ve never been allowed to go to parties back home. Here, however, it seems someone has noticed me, and I have a feeling it’s not a good thing.

Clicking on the website, I scroll through the information telling me about the family who lives in the house—Haven. The name causes a shiver to trickle down my spine when I recall the town’s name, along with the girls talking about the Haven guys earlier. I enlarge the slideshow of images, showing off a masquerade ball. All the people in the photos are hidden behind exquisite masks and draped in dresses and suits I’m sure cost a fortune.

There’s not much information on the family besides their last name and the fact that there are three adopted sons of Mr. Haven, who, apparently, remarried after his first wife died after the boys were all grown up.

No more mention of her name, and no photos of any of the family members. Even though I know a bit more now than I did before, I’m still confused as to why I received an invite.

Shutting my computer, I strip off my clothes and make my way into the bathroom. My apartment is much bigger than most students would be able to afford, but Dad ensured I’m taken care of, and I’m lucky enough to have space. The bathroom itself boasts a tub as well as a shower with countertops in black marble and chrome taps.

I wanted to soak in bubbles, but right now, I’m too nervous to lie back and relax, so instead, I step into the shower and turn on the spray. I allow the warm pinpricks to attack my shoulders as I close my eyes. The tension coiled in my muscles doesn’t untangle, and I’m still anxious by the time I step out and wrap myself in a towel.

I haven’t been here for too long, so the only connections I really have made were the three girls today. Perhaps one of them knows what this means. Once I get to class tomorrow, I’ll ask them. Maybe since Miriam is the party girl, she’ll be able to pinpoint just who the stranger is who’s invited me to the party.

2

Creed

My brother Keirin stares at me as I take a long pull on the cigarette pinched between my fingers. I don’t always smoke, but I’ve been tense since I saw her in person. He’s the only one of us that’s blond with fucking blue eyes. A pretty boy.

“Are you seriously going through with it?” he questions, arching a golden brow at me. His curious expression makes me chuckle. He’s more levelheaded than I am, and I’m more willing to take risks when it comes to our game of choice. When I told him the redhead is mine, he argued, but when I explained my reasoning, he realized there was nothing he could do to change it.

“Yes,” I tell him while blowing out a cloud of smoke. “Why would I not do it?” It’s a challenge. They all know what I’m like. Brody, our third and youngest brother, is similar to me, a wild card if ever I saw one. At twenty-two, he enjoys the chase. My need for control takes hold when I’m playing the game, and they both know it.

“I gotta admit, Man.” Keirin shakes his head. “She is a stunner.” He pushes to his feet and heads for the window, tugging the curtains just enough for him look out over the vast expanse of our backyard.

We all three came from broken homes. Octavius, our father through adoption, along with his first wife made us all feel as if we were their own. She couldn’t bear children, and we became the closest thing to family they knew.

This year, I’ll be twenty-eight, while Keirin turns twenty-five. We grew up learning how to live with each other. I wasn’t used to having others around, but we quickly found how to interact with each other. And now we’re closer than I could have imagined we would be.

“Perhaps we can share her,” Keirin suggests with a sly grin, but he doesn’t look at me because he knows I’ll never agree to it. He and Brody