“Damn, Dragon, that bikini’s fucking smoking,” says Jax as he wraps his arms around Ruby’s waist, nuzzling his face in her neck. These two are the king and queen of PDA and I can hear Drake scoff from beside them. He hates that his best friend is fucking his sister, but he knows he has no say in what she does. If you tell Ruby not to do something, well she’ll do it even more. I just hope things between her and Jax don’t end badly. That would suck for all of us.
“Dragon?” asks Stella, confused by the nickname Jax calls Ruby.
“Ruby and her twin brother Damon Drake,” says Jade, looking at Stella and then pointing to Drake who now stands beside me. “They’re the Red and Black Dragons. This is Malachi Saint, Kai, and Jaxon Wylde, Jax. I’m Jade Wolfe, or the White Wolf, and you’ve met Scar,” she says, clarifying our nicknames for Stella.
“And who’s this beauty?” asks Kai, licking his lips as he looks over at Stella clearly checking her out. Stella is gorgeous in that sweet, innocent, girl-next-door kind of way. Her strawberry blonde hair is in perfect waves atop her shoulders, and her petite body is showcased in the light pink bikini.
“This is our roomie, Stella Silver,” says Jade, wrapping her arm around Stella’s shoulder.
“It’s nice to meet you guys,” she says shyly. I turn to Kai whose eyes are glued on Stella’s body. He turns to me when he feels me staring and winks. I raise a brow at him shaking my head, but he scoffs, turning his attention away. Kai is a good guy, and any girl would be lucky to win him over, but Stella, well I think he’d eat her alive. She’s too sweet and innocent, and I wouldn’t want to see her get hurt. And with Kai, there is only one outcome. And I’m afraid it isn’t a happily ever after.
“Stella here’s a fan,” mocks Ruby, rolling her eyes.
“I’m just glad you’re all here. It’s a nice change from all the cocky assholes I’m usually surrounded by.”
“Stella’s a bit of a loner so we’ve adopted her. She’s an honorary orphan.”
I smack Jade on the arm glaring at her as she speaks.
“Oh shit! I’m sorry, Stella. I didn’t mean to,” she cries out.
“No, don’t worry about it, it’s fine.”
The guys look over to us, confused by my actions.
“My parents died four years ago,” clarifies Stella, looking down at her feet.
“Well welcome to the tribe, Silver,” says Drake extending a hand to her. Stella looks up slowly at Drake and then to his hand. She shyly takes it and smiles when he nods to her. That’s my dragon, always making everyone feel like they belong.
After a moment, Jade and Kai follow Stella toward the edge of the academy where the party is being held. Ruby and Jax take off to the right together since he hasn’t let her go this whole time, meanwhile, Drake and I walk behind them.
“You look good, Scar,” he tells me as his eyes roam my body. “Really good.” He adds with a wink and I can’t help but laugh.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Drake,” I say, eyeing his ensemble. He’s wearing black basketball shorts and a black muscle shirt that exposes his tattooed arms, chest, and neck. He catches me staring as my gaze lands on his silver lip ring.
“Not sure I can keep my hands off you tonight though. I know we said we’d hide our… well, whatever this is, but...” he adds, biting his lip.
“It’s not like they don’t already suspect, Drake. But I’m not sure now’s the right time. I mean our lives just got flipped upside down,” I add, and his face stiffens.
“About that,” he says, grabbing onto my wrist. “What was up with that Agent Servite guy?” he asks, a deep scowl now covering his face.
“What do you mean?” I ask, pulling my wrist from his hold.
“I saw the way he was looking at you. Like some dirty fucker who was thinking of, well fuck if I wanna know what he was thinking, Scar. But he was looking at you like he knew you, like he wanted you. And then they held you and Jade back in the office and that fucker cornered you alone again. What’s his deal, Scarlett?” His tone is dark and controlling.
“Look, it’s a long story, one I’d rather not get into right now, alright? Tonight, I just wanna forget everything that went down today and prepare for whatever fucked up shit is to come. As for Servite, don’t worry, Dragon Man, I’m a big girl, I can handle my own shit.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about, Scar, and you know it,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Look, Drake, I don’t get what his deal is, okay? Maybe he’s just used to getting that kind of attention from the skanky girls that go here. I mean, look at him, he’s hot for a man his age but you don’t have to worry about me. I know how to handle myself. I ain’t into the whole sugar daddy trend.”
Suddenly, we’re startled by loud hollering and even louder music blaring from speakers around us.
“We’re here,” yells Stella as we all turn to see what the fuss is about. I use this as an escape from Drake and his questioning as I walk up to where Jade, Stella, and Kai stand. There are about 200 plus teens spread out across the sandy area in front of us, the water a bright blue, almost clear color extending for miles. Jade and I spent hours at the beach living on the West Coast but this beach, well it makes the one we visited back home look like a muggy swamp.
We make our way down the path at the edge of the beach and look around at the enormous houses around us. The private beach is huge complete with six beach house mansions all in a circle surrounding the sandy area in front of the water. Each house is stunning but none more impressive than the massive white mansion at the far end of the property. It has three-stories and floor to ceiling windows all around the bottom floor. A large porch wraps around the property and a large balcony lines the entire second story. It’s beautiful and I know this one has to belong to the Servites. It’s over the top and demands to be seen, just like the Servite men.
“This is insane,” I say, turning to Stella.
“Welcome to Servite Academy,” she says with a wide grin.
FIVE
SCARLETT
We head over to an empty picnic table toward the right side of the beach. Right next to it is a drink station complete with two beer kegs, a cooler full of ice and another of hard liquor and mixers. There are about ten of these spread out across the beach with teens crowded around them.
“Let’s get some drinks,” says Stella as she leads Jade, Ruby, Kai, and Jax toward the kegs.
“So how long till one of these pricks comes over?” asks Drake mockingly.
I laugh knowing he’s right. Someone is bound to come over and give us a “proper” introduction. I noticed the stares and glares the moment we stepped foot on the beach, but everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else to make the first move.
“I’d give it ten minutes at most,” I add, looking around at the teens spread out across the property. Everyone looks like they stepped straight out of some Hollywood high school movie. Perfect hair, banging bodies, gorgeous faces. They bleed privilege and wealth. Headmaster Servite was right, this is the crème de la crème of the world’s elite teens.
“Maybe a little longer, looks like the kings aren’t here yet,” says Stella, coming over with two drinks. She hands both Drake and me a cup.
“The kings?” asks Kai as he hands one of the cups in his hand to Stella.
“The kings of Servite Academy,” says Ruby.
“Get this, they call themselves the Four Horsemen,” adds Jade, causing the group to laugh.
“The Four Horsemen?” asks Drake curiously raising a brow.
“Apparently they are the four guys that were standing on the front steps when we got out of the headmaster’s office,” I say.
“Those pricks.” He takes a large swig of his drink.
“Yeah, they rule the school. Their leader is the headmaster’s son, and apparently they are the law.” We laugh but Stella’s face remains serious.
“Wallace Servite, Sebastian Silver, Aleksand
er Smoak, and Beckett Masters,” says Jade, memorizing the Horsemen’s names.
“Sound like condescending pricks,” sneers Drake.
“What’s wrong, Silver?” asks Kai, looking toward a pale faced Stella.
“The queens are here,” she says, motioning to a group of four girls walking onto the beach.
“There are queens?” asks Jax curiously.
“Oh yeah, well I guess the kings need queens,” snickers Ruby.
“Man, they’re fine,” Jax says, looking toward them as Ruby smacks him on his head. “Ow, I mean they got nothing on you, babe. Y’all are my number ones.”
Their entrance is overly dramatic as expected, walking in unison not bothering to look at any of the people around them. In the center and a few steps ahead of the rest, struts a tall, long legged blonde, with perfectly tanned skin and a body she obviously paid for. Nobody is naturally that perfectly proportioned. Two steps behind her are three more girls, three other blondes, equally as beautiful but shining just a little less bright.
“The one in the front wearing the gold bikini is obviously the reigning queen, Carrington Prescott. Her daddy is this hot shot businessman and is best friends with Headmaster Servite. She and Ace have practically been bequeathed to each other since birth,” says Stella, turning to us. “The two shorter blondes on her left are Drea Smoak in blue, and my cousin’s ex-girlfriend Kinsley Carlyle in yellow. Drea tries her hardest to look like an exact clone of Carrington but fails miserably, and Kinsley is well,” she pauses, turning to face us.
“Perfect,” says Kai, looking toward them. Stella frowns slightly at his comment but continues.
“Yeah, well, Carrington’s the queen but everyone knows Kinsley is much prettier. However, she’s not allowed to outshine her monarch,” she adds, ignoring Kai. “The platinum blonde to Carrington’s right, wearing the white one-piece, is Carrington’s second in command, and Ace’s twin sister, Winter Servite.”
“Wait, your cousin?” asks Drake, referring to her earlier mention of Kinsley dating her cousin.
“Oh yeah, Stella’s cousin Sebastian is one of the Four Horsemen,” says Jade mockingly using air quotes around the Four Horsemen.
“The second Horseman. He’s kind of also Ace’s right-hand man. We all grew up with the Servites. Ace’s dad, his uncle, my uncle, and Alek and Drea’s dad are best friends. They brought in Beckett when we started high school when his mom married my uncle, finally completing their foursome.”
We turn back around and notice the queens have walked straight over to us and are approaching our table.
“Oh god, here we go,” says Stella nervously.
“Well, well, I see the rumors are true, someone let in the strays,” says Carrington as she stands in front of our table causing a group who’s huddled around her to snicker.
“Who are you calling strays, bitch?” hisses Ruby as Jax holds her arm back before she slaps this twit.
“My, my, that one’s a feisty one. Girls, we might have to check she’s had all her shots.” At that she’s pushed my buttons. Nobody insults Ruby like that, well unless it’s me.
“Look, bitch,” I shout, and she instantly turns her attention to me. “You need to get off of your high fucking horse. The only catty bitch I see around here is you and your litter of skanks. So, I suggest you turn your pretty little fake ass around and leave us the fuck alone before I do something to make you regret ever coming up to us,” I sneer, getting in her face.
“Who do you think you are?” She steps into me and pushes me backwards slightly with her shoulder. After the shit day I’ve had, seeing Agent Servite again, being dragged out of the Grayson’s house and brought here against our will, something in me snaps and I grab a chunk of her fake bleached blonde hair flipping her around and pulling her head back to meet my chest. She squeals and I tug harder.
“Let go of me you psycho bitch,” she screams but it only triggers me to yank even harder as she releases another cry.
The rest of her posse take a step forward but halt when I feel my guys and girls step up. Suddenly a loud clapping rings in the air and the small group that’s huddled around us starts to quickly scatter away as the Horsemen approach us. The Horsemen. What a pathetic name. I look up and see it’s their alpha, Ace Servite, the one who was front and center earlier today, who’s clapping his hands as he walks over to me. That slight distraction allows Carrington to sneak out of my hold. I reach out trying to grab her, but she’s quick this time dodging me.
“You’re dead now,” she sneers and backs up stepping behind the king and his pack.
“Bravo! I must say, haven’t seen that much action at these parties in a while.” He eyes me closely. His deep blue eyes trace my exposed body making their way slowly down my legs and back up stopping a little too long at my chest. He licks his lips as his eyes meet mine and I hear Drake grunt as he steps up behind me. That causes Ace to look behind me.
“Well look what the cat dragged in, or in this case dear old dad,” he snickers, causing the group around us, which has now doubled in size, to laugh.
I look around and notice the rest of the kings are spread out behind Ace, each one with a queen behind them. I notice Kinsley isn’t behind Sebastian, but instead Winter is. Looking around I notice how the kids standing here look to up them. Everyone is ecstatic to see their kings and their show of power, and well, these guys thrive from their followers’ admiration. It’s all pathetic.
“Look, dude,” I say stepping into his face. “Like I told your skank over there, I don’t care who you think you are to these pathetic admirers, but you’re nothing to us. You’re pissed about us coming here, take that up with your old man. Leave us the fuck alone or you’re gonna regret it.” My remarks only cause him to smirk, slightly tilting his face to the right and my heart nearly stops.
This fucker is hot as fuck and he knows it. His body covered in tatts is on full display in his black board shorts and unbuttoned shirt. His face looks like it was carved by the gods themselves, with eyes a clear ocean blue and his lips nice and thick as he licks them. He steps closer, his chest nearly at eye level with me, causing me to tilt my head up to keep eye contact.
“You must be the one and only Scarlett Steele. My uncle has mentioned you,” he says with a wink, causing me to falter slightly. He notices my slight shift and laughs. Fuck me if it doesn’t send a shiver through me. I hear Drake grunt once again and feel him step up to me, his chest at my back.
“This must be your dragon boy, Damon Drake,” he says, as he steps back and rounds us until he can clearly see the rest of my group. “Malachi Saint, Jaxon Wylde, Jade Wolfe, and you, my love, must be the other dragon, Ruby Drake.” At his movements, his boys step forward, and the girls fall back in line.
“So, you heard we were coming, dug a little dirt, and now you think you know us,” I say, causing him to turn his attention back to me.
“Perceptive one, aren’t you?” he says with a sly grin.
“You heard what she said. Just turn around, walk back the way you came and there won’t be any trouble,” says Drake, and Ace starts laughing maniacally.
“You think a couple of fucked up shits like you guys can scare me off. In case you haven’t realized it, we run shit around here. Not sure how things were in the fucked up, rat infested, piece of shit house you lived in, but here, we call the shots. We’re the Four Horsemen and you, son, are gonna feel the reckoning.”
At that, Drake throws the first punch landing his fist right against Ace’s temple, but Ace quickly straightens up and lands one against Drake’s jaw making Drake falter slightly. The Horsemen quickly step up as do Kai and Jax, but not before I grab Drake and step in front of him. Ace’s fist stops right before his hand comes into contact with my cheek. I can feel the rough graze of his knuckles against my skin. He stops and looks at me, surprised to see I’ve gotten in between their brawl.
“Enough, both of you,” I shout, turning to Ace, using his name f
or the first time, “look, Ace,” and he turns to me questioningly. “I get it, you don’t want us here anymore than we wanna be here, but it is what it is. We weren’t given the choice to come or stay, so take that up with your dad but leave us alone. We’re not here to cause any trouble, but I can assure you we won’t step back or fall in line if you insult us again.” I turn to walk away from him, but he stops me before I can move.
“Not so fast, Red,” he says, grabbing my arm. I turn and throw a punch in his direction, but my hand is caught before it reaches his face. His grip on my arm tightens as he holds my fist in his other hand. “I’m not done with you. You’re coming with me, sweetheart,” he says, and it’s my turn to start laughing maniacally. He scowls, clearly pissed off by my laughter as his grip on my arm tightens causing Jade to step forward.
“Let go of her or you’ll regret it,” she says, stepping right up to us.
“Back down, Little Wolf, or you’ll regret it,” says Sebastian, stepping into her causing her to take a step back. Sebastian towers over Ace, who is clearly at least six foot two. Where Ace is lean, toned, and muscular, Sebastian is broad, ripped and clearly on steroids. His dark hair and gray eyes give him this eerie intensity, somewhat like the hotter of those two vampire brothers.
“The Little Wolf defending Little Red, how sweet,” mocks Ace.
Again, everyone has taken steps forward. This is gonna be a never-ending standoff if I don’t go with Ace.
“Fine. I’ll go with you. But you need to get your dogs to stand down.”
“The fuck you call us?” says the blond, thinner of the four that stands to the right of Ace, as he steps closer. Aleksander Smoak, I believe. Ace whistles, causing Alek to stop in his tracks, and I chuckle and wink at him. That’s right, down doggy.
“Follow me,” he says as I step forward right when Drake grabs my arm.
The Four Horsemen : A Servite Academy For Troubled Teens Novel Page 6
