Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2)

by Caitlyn Dare

  Tarnished Crown

  Gravestone Elite Book Two

  Caitlyn Dare

  Contents

  1. Bexley

  2. Mia

  3. Bexley

  4. Mia

  5. Bexley

  6. Mia

  7. Bexley

  8. Mia

  9. Bexley

  10. Mia

  11. Bexley

  12. Mia

  13. Bexley

  14. Mia

  15. Bexley

  16. Mia

  17. Bexley

  18. Mia

  19. Bexley

  20. Mia

  21. Bexley

  22. Mia

  23. Bexley

  24. Mia

  25. Bexley

  26. Mia

  27. Bexley

  28. Mia

  29. Bexley

  30. Mia

  31. Bexley

  About the Author

  Also by Caitlyn Dare

  Copyright © 2021 by Caitlyn Dare

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Pinpoint Editing

  Proofreading by Sisters Get Lit.erary

  1

  Bexley

  I roll over in bed, the images of the night running through my mind, and my body grows hot.

  Her touch. Her kiss. The softness of her skin against mine.

  My hand automatically lowers until my fingers wrap around my hard length.

  Fuck, she's perfect.

  Our time together plays out like a movie in my head as I slowly jerk myself. I didn't think we'd get any time together. I’d expected Cade to monopolize all her attention and keep us apart.

  My eyes fly open at that thought, and I bolt upright in bed.

  Why didn't he keep us apart?

  My brows pinch as I look around the unfamiliar room, but as my eyes move over each piece of furniture, I start to see all my things.

  “What the—”

  Throwing the covers off, I walk naked across the room to the window and look out. The forest spreads out for miles before me, and realization begins to dawn.

  Glancing down at my chest, I take in the brand. It burns like it did when that asshole pressed the red-hot iron into my skin.

  I'm one of them now.

  I saw their matching brands that day in the pit, but I was too drugged up, too high to really put much thought into it.

  I'm Electi now. Part of Quinctus.

  I stumble back until I'm sitting on the edge of the bed. I'm sure this is meant to be a privilege, but, right now, it just feels like a death sentence.

  What happens now?

  We passed. We're in their little fucked-up gang; they've played their games. They’ve tried to break us.

  What's next?

  I want to say that we join them and do whatever it is we're meant to do. I've only heard whispers about their 'jobs' for Quinctus; I'm yet to actually know what they entail.

  But the games are over… right?

  I think of Mia. Of Cade's arm around her shoulders at the meal like he owned her, the pendant around her neck evidence that he actually does, and my fists curl.

  She's mine.

  So why did he allow last night to happen?

  My head's fuzzy from the alcohol and whatever else might have found its way into my system. Cade has a way of ensuring the food I'm eating, the drinks I'm drinking—hell, even the air I breathe—is laced with something to fuck me up.

  I have no reason to believe last night was any different.

  Last night.

  My cock swells again as I think about sinking deep inside her, watching her ride me, listening to the mewls of pleasure rumbling from the back of her throat.

  I'm missing something here. I know I am, but my fucked-up head won't allow me to see it.

  I fall back on the bed and squeeze my eyes tight, hoping that if I lay still and quiet it will come to me. But it remains just out of reach.

  Footsteps outside the door finally get me moving once again. The last thing I need is for them to come storming in here while I'm still trying to get my head together. Stalking across the room, I twist the door that I hope leads to a bathroom and sigh with relief when I find it does.

  Turning the shower on, I brush my teeth and then step under the spray. I groan as the powerful jets of water hit my shoulders. I might not want to be here, but fuck if this isn't better than the shitty shower in my dorm room.

  I have no idea how long I stand there for, trying to reach the dark recess of my mind that I know is holding something back from me.

  Finally, I step out, but before my hand connects with one of the white fluffy towels on the rail, a loud click sounds out from my room. My heart jumps into my throat at the possibility that it could be Mia. I throw a towel around my waist and rip the door open, but disappointment floods me as I take in the person standing in the middle of my room.

  "Wow, what a welcoming look," Alex mutters. "Anyone would think you wanted someone else."

  "Shut up," I bark, walking over to a chest of drawers to see if I can find some underwear.

  Alex drops into the chair on the other side of the room. "Last night was fucked up, man. I don't remember what happened after leaving Gravestone Hall. Do you?"

  Little warning signs fly at his words, but my mind goes straight to the gutter, thinking about her again.

  A smirk curls at my lips. "Yeah, I remember a few things."

  "Like?"

  "They took us to their den to celebrate."

  "Kinda what I was afraid of," he mutters. "What did they give us this time?"

  "You don't remember any of it?"

  "Nah, but I ache like a motherfucker, so something tells me I didn't just drink and pass out. Oh, and then there's this."

  He unzips the front of his hoodie and shows me his neck and chest.

  "Fucking hell." I snort, taking in the mass of hickeys littering his pale skin. "Looks like you had a good night."

  "You know, for once I'd like to fuck a girl and actually remember it,” he grumbles.

  I can't help but throw my head back and bark out a laugh. This situation might be dire, but we've got to find some joy in it somewhere, right?

  "This fucking sucks. I don't want to live here, pretending to be some fucking god who lords it over the rest of the college. Hell, over the rest of the town. This shit isn't me." He zips his hoodie back up and tips his head to the ceiling.

  "I know," I reply. "I thought shit was meant to get easier moving here. What a fucking joke."

  I feel his stare as I rest my hands on the top of the drawers and lean forward, hanging my head.

  The silence continues between us as we both contemplate our new lives.

  "You hungry?" he asks after the longest time.

  "Yeah, although not if it comes with having to see them."

  "We just moved into their fucking house. Everything is going to involve seeing them."

  Fucking great.

  There's no outrunning the devil now.

  Ripping open the top drawer, I find my boxers all neatly folded. I frown, wondering who did all this while we were out of it on Friday night. Dragging a pair out, I drop my towel and Alex balks.

  “Seriously, dude. I know we’ve seen each other naked, but that was… different. Put it away.”

  “Shy of a little dick, Rexford? Color me surprised.” I chuckle, pulling them up my legs and going in search of some clothes.

  “Fuck of
f,” he mumbles, staring anywhere but at me.

  After running some wax through my hair, I turn toward the door. "Ready?" I ask Alex.

  "To run away and never return? Hell yeah."

  While it sounds appealing, the thought of leaving Mia behind in this mess shuts down any possibility of it ever happening.

  "This place is fucking massive," Alex murmurs as we navigate through the hallways to find the staircase. Just like downstairs, modern art lines the flawless soft gray walls. The whole thing confuses me.

  Finally, we make our way down, the scent of food directing us toward what I hope is an empty kitchen, but the second we turn a corner and hear deep, rumbling voices in the distance, I know we're shit out of luck.

  "You ready for this?" I whisper to Alex.

  "Pretty sure I should have had more pain pills to deal with these assholes."

  "Yeah," I mutter, the gentle pounding at my temples not getting better at the thought of having to look at them.

  At him.

  My stomach twists as I consider the possibility of walking into that room and seeing them together. Of him lording it over me with his arm wrapped around Mia, touching her, kissing her.

  My fists curl and my muscles tense, but I know there's nothing I can do right now. Hell, there might never be anything I can do. With that depressing thought swirling around my head, I continue forward to find out what the day might hold.

  The second we step into the room, all talk halts and all sets of eyes turn on us. I breathe a sigh of relief that she's not here and pinned to his lap.

  All four of them assess us as we stand there. Cade's eyes are dark, but instead of the usual anger that fills them, I want to say he looks amused. Ashton doesn't even attempt to hide his delight at our arrival as a wide, menacing smile tugs at his lips. Brandon looks torn as he glances between the two of us. He knows he should follow his leader, but there's clear concern in his depths. Same with Channing. Actually, he looks downright pissed. As usual, Tim isn’t around.

  "Ah, look. Our new recruits decided to grace us with their presence," Cade announces. "Mulligan, could you please get our new Electi their breakfast."

  A middle-aged man eagerly nods at Cade's command, and my lips part to be a little more polite, but I notice Channing shaking his head at me so I decide against it, instead pulling out the chair closest to me and sitting my ass down.

  "So…" Cade starts. "What did you think of last night?"

  "Want to be more specific? When you branded us like fucking cattle, or when you drugged us… again?"

  He waves me off as if the last part is nothing. "We were just celebrating. Enjoying ourselves. You can't be mad about that. Alex sure isn't." He nods his chin toward my friend. "Feeling nice and… sated this morning, Rexford?" He smirks.

  Alex growls in frustration. I can only imagine how he feels about Cade and his posse knowing the exact details when he has no memory of them. The sick motherfuckers probably watched.

  "Come, eat, you must be starved." But as he says this, his eyes lock on mine.

  My stomach twists, and the alcohol that's still in my system threatens to make an appearance.

  Does he know?

  Does he know what I did—who I did—last night?

  Fuck.

  My hands tremble. If he knows, then there's no way she's not in danger. That motherfucker is deranged, and he's staring at me as if he knows all my secrets.

  My heart continues to thunder in my chest as Ashton takes one of the empty chairs beside me. "Good lay, right, Easton?"

  Bile rushes up my throat.

  Has he been fucking her this whole time? Was all of this a game? Has she been lying to me? Playing me?

  I can barely breathe as images of my time with Mia flash through my mind.

  Every confession, every touch, every promise.

  Were they all lies?

  "Sir, I hope you enjoy."

  A plate of food is lowered to the table before me, but I can't even think about eating it.

  Feeling eyes drilling into the top of my head, I look up. Cade's wearing a shit-eating grin on his face, as if he knows something I don't.

  Who am I kidding? He knows a lot of shit I don't.

  "How much do you remember about last night, Easton?" Ashton asks, earning himself a scowl from the devil.

  "It was a great night," I say with the fakest smile I can muster while the memories of having Mia in my arms refuse to leave my head.

  "Oh yeah, I've heard all good things about that one," he mutters with a smirk.

  My fists curl under the table. He's lying. He knows nothing about her.

  I'm the only one she's been with… right?

  "Eat," Cade demands.

  Alex immediately picks up his silverware, probably ravenous after his exploits with an unknown girl last night.

  I do the same, but I'm hesitant to eat anything because that motherfucker has history when it comes to spiking our shit, and I'd rather keep a clear head right now—at least until I figure out what the nagging at the edges of my mind is about.

  It's like when you wake up and you know there was a dream, but you can't quite grasp it.

  What am I missing?

  The sound of light footsteps gets louder, and everyone turns to look at the doorway. I know I should probably keep my head down and not show any interest in front of Cade, but the prospect of seeing her again after last night is too much.

  I suck in a shaky breath as Sasha appears in the doorway. She looks good. Better than I feel, that's for fucking sure. She walks farther into the room before the person attached to her hand emerges.

  All the air in my lungs rushes out in one go.

  Mia's face is pale. Too pale. She has swollen, dark circles around her eyes, as if she's been up all night, and her hair hangs limply around her shoulders. Fury surges through me as thoughts of what that motherfucker might have done to her last night hit me.

  "Mia, what's wrong? What happened?" I'm up and out of my seat, the words of concern spilling from my lips before I even registered that I've moved.

  Her lips part in shock as her eyes harden in anger. "Wha—What happened? Are you fucking kidding me?" Tears fill her eyes as her lips twist. "I can't do this."

  She rips her hand from Sasha's and takes off.

  "Ah, she still pissed about the little show Bexley put on last night?" Cade barks through a laugh.

  "Shut the fuck up, prick," Sasha spits before running after Mia.

  My brows furrow as I glance around the table at everyone, zeroing in on Cade. He smirks, only fueling the anger swelling inside me.

  "Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?"

  2

  Mia

  I run and don’t look back, taking two stairs at a time as tears drip down my face.

  How could he?

  How could he act as if nothing happened? As if he didn’t bang Brook at the party last night?

  God, I’m such a fool. Cade was right—Bexley is just like the rest of them. Conceited and selfish. Callous and cruel.

  A thought flickers in the back of my mind, but I’m too distraught to latch onto it as I storm into Sasha’s room and slam the door. She follows me inside a second later, her expression etched with concern.

  “Ready to tell me what happened last night?” Her brow arches.

  “He… he fucked her.” The words sour on my tongue.

  “What?”

  “Bexley… he was… fucking her.”

  “You’re going to have to be a bit more spec—Brook.” Realization dawns on her. “You mean Brook, don’t you?”

  “I saw it.” I drop down on the edge of the bed. “I saw everything.”

  “Motherfucker,” she hisses. “He knows, doesn’t he?”

  I nod, my heart breaking in my chest. I didn’t think it was possible to cry any more tears after last night when I finally fled to Sasha’s room, but they wrack my body, great big ugly sobs I feel all the way down to my soul.

  “He must have
done something… there’s no way Bexley would—”

  “Oh my God.” I shoot upright. “You’re right.” Hurrying to the door, I heave it open and spill into the hall. I just reach the staircase when Bexley appears.

  “Thank God, we need to—”

  “Hey, lover boy.” Brook comes sauntering down the hall. “Miss me?”

  “W-what?” He stares at her blankly.

  “Oh, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten. I can barely walk after you—”

  “You bitch.” I lunge for her, clawing and pulling her hair.

  “Get the fuck off me,” she shrieks, digging her fingernails into my arms. But I’m so angry, drowning in hatred and the need to hurt her the way she hurt me. I scratch and pinch and slap. I’ve got a fistful of her blonde locks when someone bands their arms around my waist and yanks me away.

  “Fucking psycho,” she snarls, smoothing a hand through her hair. There’s a cut on her face, and I have a clump of strands in my grasp.

  It isn’t nearly half of what she deserves, but a sense of satisfaction washes over me.

  “Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” Bexley says, finally releasing me. I wrap my arms around my waist and step away from him.

  “Mia?” His brows knit, hurt flashing over his face.

  “Well, if this isn’t awkward…” Cade and Ashton join us on the stairs. The air turns thick, heavy with secrets.

  “What did you do?” I grit out.

  “Me?” Cade smirks. “Are you suggesting that I had a hand in what happened? Like I told you last night, Brook is very convincing when she wants to be.”

  A wicked smile curves her lips. God, I hate her. I hate her so much I feel it bubble over into a low snarl.