Page 23 of Madness & Mayhem
He stands up straight, his pants on, his wound vibrant and swollen against his rippling stomach. His jaw clenches. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that, Kyler,” he growls. Reaching up, he takes his mask off, dropping it to the ground. “I don’t want to kill anyone, but I’ll do it for her.”
Archer glares over at me, at my naked body. I lift the sheets to cover myself, but the anger is already there. It’s so present. “Do you want to be here when I kill him, or do you want to go downstairs? I’ll leave it up to you, though you don’t deserve the fucking option.”
My eyes narrow, and I grab for my hoodie, pulling it over my head. Embarrassed as his eyes track over the hundred bite marks and the blood that trickles along my skin. “You’re not fucking killing anyone, Archer. Quit trying to sound like a fucking hard-ass.”
He laughs, his hand going behind his back. When his hand comes forward, he has a knife in his grip.
My body goes cold. My limbs turn to ice. My breath leaves my lungs and I’m left choking for air.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I choke, climbing off the bed toward him. I grab my sweats, pulling them over my hips as I step toward him, my hand raised. “Give me the fucking knife,” I snap once I gain my bearings.
He points it toward me, and my eyes widen a second. “Lakyn, back the fuck up.” His eyes narrow, and he looks so betrayed. “How can you fuck him? He killed Creed!” he roars in my face.
“He didn’t!” I scream, glancing at Kyler. “You guys have to believe us. Reign never meant to kill Creed!”
I can hear the sobs of Vienna start up in the distance, and my heart twists in my chest.
“Fuck this shit,” Kyler snaps, stepping around Archer with quick steps and making his way to Reign. Reign is instantly on guard, moving out of the way as Kyler swings at him. Kyler’s fast, though, his other fist coming out and knocking Reign right in his jaw.
Reign is barely affected, his own fist swinging out and knocking into Kyler’s nose.
Archer steps forward, his knife poised and ready to strike.
I react quickly, leaping onto Archer’s back and pulling him away. He attempts to shake me off, but I hold on tightly. We become a mess of swinging limbs, grunts, and shouts as we all wrestle in the room.
“Get off me, Lakyn!” Archer shouts.
“Give me the knife!” I scream.
Archer’s hand swings out, and the tip of the blade cuts into Reign’s neck. Barely a scrape, but the knife is sharp, and I watch as a beat of blood forms, dripping beneath his sweatshirt.
I see red.
Leaning forward, I sink my teeth into Archer’s neck. He lets out a howl as he stumbles back, and all I can feel is the flood of blood as it flows into my mouth. The taste is sharp, and I let it flow around my lips and drip down my chin as I tear my face back, knowing I look absolutely mad right now.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Reign growls, stepping toward Archer. He moves toward me, and Archer and him lock into a stare-off that could shatter the world.
“Don’t hurt him, Reign! You don’t want to hurt him!” I scream.
He sneers, dodging out of the way as Archer shoots his knife forward. “He’s hurting you. I’ll fucking kill all of them,” he clips.
“Stop! Stop!” The voice comes from the doorway, and we turn around at once, our chests heaving as we stare at Posie.
She stands in the doorway, shock and fear in her eyes. “The police just pulled up outside. I think—”
Knock, knock, knock.
Dread sinks into me, my limbs snapping straight as I slide down Archer’s body. He lets me, his knife clattering to the ground.
“Fuck,” Reign snaps under his breath.
I take a step toward him, my eyes wide. “It’ll be fine. They might not even know we’re here.”
He levels me a blank look. “They know we’re here, Lakyn. They have to know we’re here.”
Archer moves toward the door as another set of knocks sound. Panic fills me quickly, and I can’t help the shout that slips past my lips. “Archer!” I whisper-shout.
He stops in the doorway, turning around and glancing at me over his shoulder.