Lawless Kingdom: A Dark Romance (Reign & Ruin Book 1)

by Natalie Bennett

  “You’re so beautiful Rhiannon. Isn’t she beautiful, Marcus?”

  “Yes, she looks just like her mother.”

  Mom shot him a look I couldn’t decipher. Maybe she thought he was full of shit, but he wasn’t lying. I mean, it was glaringly obvious she and I were as different as night and day.

  If we were princesses, she’d be Tinkerbelle and I’d be Jasmine, but Mom was still drop-dead gorgeous. I assumed that’s what he meant.

  “Yeah, the girls certainly don’t look like you these days,” she muttered, snapping one last picture even though my smile had faded.

  “What does that mean?” I walked the rest of the way down the steps.

  “She meant people don’t make babies as beautiful as you,” Dad replied.

  My entire face screwed up. “That gave me so many unneeded visuals!”

  They laughed me off.

  I gave them both a quick hug and then finally slipped out the door, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air as soon as they were shut away behind me.

  Audrey went through a security check point, showing an ID card and explaining my situation before we were waved through.

  Various other students drove in behind us, most of their cars costing more than my parents made in a year. A few were on the level of my Soul, which really didn’t make me feel better or worse. I wasn’t a chick who swooned over shiny new things.

  The main building looked as it did on the school’s pamphlet, minus a couple thousand square feet. I lifted the Campus Map Key my mother had given me and skimmed over it again. There were four brown buildings. All of them were ridiculously large and far apart, housing different things.

  Wide, smooth stretches of sparkling concrete ran between them, fluffy grass on either side.

  “This is insane,” I repeated for the third time since I’d gotten in the car. I was sure the whole damn town could have fit back here.

  “Oh, hush. You’ll be used to it in no time. And I’m so fucking glad you’re here!” Audrey squealed, doing a little jig in her seat. She, of course, had gone for the white jacket look.

  “I’m supposed to go to the Malvagio building for the attendance office.”

  She nodded, slowing so a group of girls could cross in front of the car. “I’ll drop you at the pathway so I can go claim a spot. These people are savages when it comes to parking in the front.”

  “Okay.”

  “You just go through the doors, around the lion thingy, and it’s on the left. You can’t miss it.”

  “Okay,” I repeated, unbuckling my seatbelt.

  “I can come with if you want. Hold your hand and whatnot.”

  “Shut up and go park.” I laughed and climbed out, waving her off.

  She pulled away from the curb, leaving me to fend for myself. With a quiet breath, I turned to face the building’s entrance. Students milled about, but no one stopped to stare or gawk at the new girl. At a school like this, I imagined none of them cared all that much.

  I looped my satchel over my shoulder and began the trek inside. The statue Audrey had been referring to was dead center in the middle of the auditorium. It was a mix between an actual lion and a seahorse. The lion portion was at the top with its claws raised. It was…interesting, I guess. In a hideously fascinating sort of way.

  The banner behind it read, ‘Home of The Sea Lions.’ In smaller print: ‘Academic Excellence funded by the Barron Foundation.

  I expelled a breath and shook my head. Of course, Judas’ family was involved with one of the most prestigious schools around.

  Circling around the monstrosity, flats gliding over the dark marble floor, I took in my new surroundings. The second level of the building over-looked the first. Above that was a dome shaped glass ceiling. I spotted the metal sign reflecting the word Attendance Office, but before I could approach it, the guy standing on the other side of the statue caught my attention.

  He looked so different in a preppy ass uniform, but not in a bad way. He looked like the personification of sin and heartbreak.

  “And the sweet little lamb was ravaged by the wolf.” His husky voice snaked across the short distance between us.

  I stupidly glanced around to see if he was talking to someone other than me. When I looked back at him, his pretty eyes met mine and a smirk had one side of his perfect mouth tilting up.

  His reference had me thinking about the night behind the brownstone. It’d been natural for the wolf to seek me out since I had gone as Little Red. Letting the wolf taste and claim me was another story.

  My heartrate spiked, and the longer I stared at him, the surer I became. All those subtle hints he dropped didn’t seem so subtle anymore. His voice alone nearly cemented the fact, something I’d never forgotten.

  But how could I have slept with Judas Barron and not known it? No one had said anything, either. Where had Audrey been that night? I couldn’t remember.

  “Are you the lamb then?” I retorted, stepping forward with the intention of heading into the office.

  “We both know I’ve always been the wolf.” He took his time dragging his eyes up and down my body.

  Was that confirmation?

  Ugh. I needed to stop.

  What did that matter anyway? People hooked up all the time. Maybe some other girl would’ve had a meltdown and lost her shit, made a total fool of herself over him.

  Me? I knew who the hell I was. Self-sabotaging my dignity for a boy, even if he made the deepest, darkest part of my soul preen with interest, would never happen. Hell would freeze over before it was a possibility.

  “That’s unfortunate then. I’m pretty sure he gets his in the end.” I flashed a smile and continued on my way.

  I was slipping into the office before he could reply, shutting the glass door behind me.

  “Good morning,” I greeted the older woman behind the administrative counter. She was adorable with her seashell earrings and matching floral blouse.

  “Good morning! What can I do for you?”

  “I need to collect a senior student ID and a schedule. I’m—”

  “Miss Clermont?” she cut me off.

  “Er…yeah, that would be me. I take it you guys don’t get a lot of new kids, huh?”

  “Not for senior year, but I’m sure you’ll fit right in. You look like a good girl.” She smiled kindly.

  “Thanks.” I returned her smile with one of my own. If only she knew the half of it.

  “Hm, well look at that.” She lifted a neon sticky note and showed it to me. “Judas Barron will be your chaperone for the day.”

  Oh, god no.

  Her eyes snapped to mine, and I realized I’d said that out loud. The door opened again from behind me, and I decided right then to make a clean getaway.

  “I mean, I don’t want to put him out. I know how busy he must be, being an honors student and what not. My best friend goes here too. She can show me around.” I was talking out of my ass. I had no clue if Judas was on the honors or not, but with his family’s money backing the school, I couldn’t imagine him not being at the top of the top.

  “You could never put me out, principessa.”

  He didn’t just call me that in front of this woman.

  “Oh, well, there you go then.” She beamed from him to me.

  “Let’s go, Rhiannon.”

  I was partially surprised to hear him use my actual name for once. “What about my ID card?”

  “I’ve already got it.”

  That explained why he’d been standing out in the auditorium. Damn. I really did have to go with him. I blew out a breath and turned towards the guy who was quickly becoming the bane of my existence, following him out reluctantly.

  “I have to wait for Audrey.”

  “She’s handled,” he replied in a bored tone, barely sparing me a second glance.

  I glared at his back. “What does that mean?”

  “It means start walking, or I’ll drag your ass up the hallway.”

  The hell he would. From my per
ipheral, I saw the kind older woman watching us from the office. If not for her, he would have been cussed out. I wasn’t trying to have my parents called on my first day of the school year.

  I was pretty sure I wasn’t a scholarship kid, which meant they’d done some miraculous hustling to get me in.

  I’d have to grill them later. Honestly, I felt a little bad. Some kid deserved this spot, had worked hard for it. I hadn’t. I didn’t even want to be here. I gritted my teeth and followed my ‘chaperone,’ catching up to him in a few easy strides.

  “Why did you volunteer to show me around?”

  “Because.” He kept going, not even looking back when he reached for my wrist and pulled me alongside him. When a few students needed to pass, practically gawking at us along the way, he moved me even closer.

  I told myself to ignore the proximity between us and how good he smelled, which was easier said than done. His hair was still damp from being washed, his dark blue hues more prominent.

  The uniform jacket he had on was black, as were the pants and his tie. He didn’t have the body of an average teen. He was tall, maybe six foot two, and he was all muscle. Not in an obnoxious way, though. If he really was my wolf from the brownstone, I knew exactly what was beneath his clothing. He had a body that could turn a devout church-girl into a sinner.

  “I see you eye-fucking the body I work my ass off to keep in shape. If you want a better view, all you need to do is ask. I’ve got a nice sized back seat.”

  I sucked my teeth and rolled my eyes. I wasn’t surprised by that response. At all.

  “You’ve got such an unoriginal imagination Jude, and you sound a little too easy for my liking. If anyone can have it, I definitely don’t want it.”

  Without warning he turned, nearly knocking into me.

  His hands gripped my shoulders and the hall spun as I was whirled into a glass display case. He let me go only to cage me in with an arm on one side and a hand near my hip.

  “That’s the thing, principessa. You already had it. You spread your legs and let a monster defile you.” His voice was low enough that not too many people passing by would hear what he was saying; that didn’t stop me from going completely still. And he wasn’t done yet. “You laid there and told me things you’ve never told anyone, showed me all those filthy parts of yourself.”

  I clutched my satchel so hard I cut off the circulation in my fingers. His lips were hovering mere inches from mine, eyes daring me to move.

  It was one thing to assume Judas Barron was my big bad wolf—another entirely to have it confirmed.

  And here of all places.

  “You’re smudging the glass,” I stated so casually, I wanted to pat myself on the back. Internally, I was anything but calm. My heart was ready to flip out of my chest.

  His eyes narrowed slightly, his bottom lip disappearing between his teeth for a second before a grin dipped in devilry spread across his face. “She’s watching.”

  Before I could ask who, his body came closer, and lips were on mine. Soft, full, and demanding. His tongue swept across my lower lip, seeking entry I refused to give. I brought my bag up to shove him. His hand slipped beneath my skirt to grip my thigh. Hard.

  A small squeak escaped, and his tongue made its way in, skimming over the roof of my mouth. The fingers wrapped around my thigh tightened, moving dangerously higher and closer to my apex. Someone might as well have thrown gasoline on me and then struck a match; my body was on fire.

  He could’ve fucked me against the wall with no complaints on my end. An advisory label needed to be affixed to every inch of his body. Judas would be a parent’s worst nightmare.

  “What the—?” Audrey’s shocked voice was drowned out by the chime of a loud bell.

  Judas leaned back in time for me to see her surprised face, just before one of his cronies swooped in from behind her and started to drag her away.

  “Get your hands off me Gavin!” was the last thing I heard before she was gone. My eyes flew from Judas’ to all the staring faces. I was positive some mousey-haired brunette even took a picture.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you,” I hissed at him and shoved again. He moved this time, but only because he wanted to.

  “Give me my schedule,” I demanded, fighting the urge to wipe my mouth. My lips tingled from the feel and taste of him.

  “You can have it…later.” He flashed an arrogant grin and stepped away. “Your ID card too. You’ll need that if you want on the premises.” He turned and started walking.

  Where the hell were the teachers? I could have screamed in frustration, but I didn’t. I had no idea what his end game was or what he wanted. So, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I was Rhiannon Clermont. I would never give anyone the satisfaction of knowing they’d successfully gotten to me.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Rhiannon

  His lips.

  On my lips.

  Was this the world coming to an end?

  That’s the only scenario I could conjure in which Judas and I would be touching. Except, he’d touched me before in many ways. Most disturbing was the way he touched my soul, stroked it with bloodied fingertips and made it ignite.

  People might be fooled into thinking he was just another rich kid in a sea of many, but he didn’t fool me. I recalled what we did that night vividly, everything that led up to us fucking like savages. This boy had the devil in him, and I kinda liked that.

  Yeah, I know. What the hell was wrong with me, right?

  Therapy anyone?

  “So, that’s why you offered to show me around? To antagonize my best friend?” I asked.

  I couldn’t take the silence anymore, or the thoughts circulating in my head.

  “No,” he replied bluntly, walking past another row of black lockers. “You remember that saying—keep your friends close?”

  “And your enemies closer?” I finished.

  “Yeah.”

  “We’re enemies? Wow. Didn’t know I affected you that much,” I quipped. Judas clearly had more issues than I had counted on. Maybe he’d join me in therapy; lord knows we’d both come out as certified.

  “We’re not enemies and we’re not friends. We’re something that holds more meaning and can’t be labeled.”

  Um. What? “That doesn’t make sense. What does that even mean?”

  “It’s not supposed to make sense. It’s meant to be twisted, dirty, and chaotic. Like us.”

  Tension filled my pinched expression. He sounded like the Riddler. And I had never been good at solving puzzles.

  “There is no us,” I rebuffed when I failed to come up with anything else.

  He turned into a staircase and began ascending, leaving me to follow.

  “Keep telling yourself that.”

  “You know there’s this insane thing called consent? Maybe you should Google it.”

  He laughed softly. “You remember that monster I was talking about?”

  “Hard to forget it.”

  “Let’s just say he’s ready to reclaim what’s his.”

  “Reclaim?” I frowned. “How do you reclaim something that was never yours to begin with?”

  Judas slowed and turned around. “This is you.” He nodded to a black, medieval style door.

  British Literature. Yay me.

  “How did you know what my first class was without looking at my schedule?”

  “I knew your schedule before you knew you were coming here.”

  My composure slipped and I gaped at him. How would he know that unless he was in on my transfer? And why was he so casual about invading what should have been personal?

  “You’ve got a real problem with violating people’s privacy, you know that?”

  He looked right at me, his face a perfect mask of stoicism. “When it comes to you, there are no boundaries.”

  Oh, this fucking guy.

  “I think I’ll be the decider of that, since I’m a big girl and all, capable of making her own decisions.”


  “I disagree. You’ve made enough bad choices as it is. Seems to me I stepped in and took that ability from you just in time.”

  I choked on a laugh. This could not be real life. “I don’t know what movies or books you’ve been reading, but being a self-entitled asshole isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. And to reiterate what you said, we aren’t, nor will we ever be friends. So, you know what? Kindly fuck off.”

  He looked at me for what felt like an extremely long minute, with no immediate change in facial expression. A sinister smile gradually spread across his face, causing chills to race down my spine in parallels.

  He reached out and cupped my chin. “I think I like you as much as I hate you. I’m somewhere between wanting to tear you apart and consume every inch of you.”

  “You—”

  “Be a good girl and go to class now. While you’re in there, think about how good it’s going to feel when I fuck you with my hands wrapped around your throat.”

  He let me go and turned to the door, knocking on it twice. He walked off just as it opened.

  British Literature was exactly as I expected it to be.

  Boring as hell.

  Unlike at my old school, Pesadilla Prep didn’t believe in going easy on the students the first day.

  Miss Richards came off like a real hard ass too. Class wouldn’t have been so bad if people would’ve stopped staring at me. The Brenda Songs replica was also in here. She’d tried to get my attention when I first came in, and I pretended not to see her.

  I know, how petty.

  This was Judas’ fault.

  But whatever, the extra attention didn’t bother me. I could handle it.

  What did bother me was the fact that Judas had just openly stated that he hated me. I didn’t like him in any capacity beyond a sick type of infatuation and intense physical attraction. After what went down between us, that seemed natural. Or perhaps disturbingly unnatural. For him to hate me…that was a little extreme. Especially after what we’d done.

  Then there was that kiss from just a bit ago. It wasn’t a big deal really. I was more pissed he’d taken liberties with me that I hadn’t granted. Not that my body cared.