Captured: Highgate Preparatory Academy, Book 1

I put the finishing touches to my makeup, admiring the pretty damn good job I’ve made of it. My face is painted as a Day of the Dead sugar skull, all white with blacked out eye sockets, colourful swirls, and flowers in an intricate pattern across my whole face.

Thank fuck for YouTube!

My costume is a stunning full length, figure hugging, off the shoulder halter dress, covered entirely in sequins. The best part? The sequins are in a white skeleton pattern on black, and there’s a red organza tiered train, as well as red organza frothing across the top of my arms and my neckline. It’s sexy as fuck, especially as it looks like it’s about to fall down at any moment.

Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without my signature Irregular Choice heels. I’ve got on a pink pair with black lace over the top, black sparkly heels, and black roses across the front. Nestled amongst the roses is a silver skull. Classy, yet appropriate for the theme.

I haven’t seen the guys’ outfits yet. I guess they wanted to surprise me, too. I head out of Loki’s room, I really ought to start thinking of it as mine given that all my stuff is in here.

Walking down the stairs, I notice them all standing around the breakfast bar, and I pause to drink them in. They are panty-exploding gorgeous. I see them every day, sleep in a bed with one or more of them every night, and they still take my breath away on the regular. They spot me and I can see a fire in each of their gazes, and suddenly I’m glad that my face is painted white because I’m sure underneath it’s beetroot red as I flush from head to toe with raw desire.

Loki is the first one to reach me, looking like he’s going to grab me, throw me over his shoulder, and head back upstairs.

“Jesus, Pretty Girl,” he rasps out, eyes devouring me. “You look fucking exquisite.” His hand brushes across the top of my exposed breasts, which, thanks to the lace corset I’m wearing, have been pushed up until it looks like they’ll topple out.

“You look pretty hot yourself,” I say, taking my time looking him up and down.

He’s got on a white shirt, with lace on the cuffs and down the unbuttoned front, which shows off his beautiful inked chest. On top of that, he’s wearing a gorgeous emerald green velvet jacket that makes his eyes pop. Dark black jeans tucked into knee high black leather boots encase his muscular legs. And around his neck is an old fashioned looking locket. I reach out and open it to see a hideous painting of Loki, looking wizened and almost zombie-like.

“Dorian Gray, I presume?” I ask, meeting those beautiful eyes of his with a smile on my lips.

“Charmed,” he replies in a terrible British accent, giving me a rakish smile in return, and taking my hand. He brings it up, but instead of kissing it, he leans in and places a kiss on the exposed globe of my breast, making my breath stutter.

He straightens up, gives me a wink, and then saunters off. God, I could bite that arse of his! Maybe I will later…

Jax steps up next, and I can’t help the delighted laugh that escapes me.

He’s dressed as fucking He-Man!

All he’s wearing is a pair of dark red y-fronts, a gold belt, red boots, and some sort of sword holder strapped across his chest, with a legit sword on his back. I mean, it looks real and wicked sharp.

I’m having to hold back tears of laughter, and I can see the annoyance at my reaction to his costume in his gaze.

“What’s so funny, Baby Girl?” His voice is dark, and it helps to calm my laughter, making lust flare through me, which isn’t hard as all of his drool worthy muscles are on display.

“Jax, I’m sorry, it’s just…” I say, still giggling. “When I stepped out of the bathroom that first night, before I knew your name, I called you He-Man in my head,” I say, smiling at him.

His lips twitch to my relief. I really didn’t want to offend him. I step closer to him and can’t help but run my palm up his arm appreciatively.

That’s a fine piece of real estate right there!

I hear snorts of laughter and look back at Jax to see him smirking at me.

“A fine piece of real estate?” he questions with a blond brow raised, and I realise I said that out loud.

“You broke my filter,” I pout, my hand still rubbing up and down his arm. “Although, you are far, far sexier than He-Man,” I purr. I don’t mean for it to come out in a husky voice, but damn, this boy is ripped, and that makes me all hot and horny.

“Careful, Baby Girl. These pants don’t hide much,” he rumbles out, his own voice more gravelly than usual, and I can’t help looking down and admiring the growing bulge between his legs. “And you’re already testing my control with that dress.” He runs his fingers across the neckline, and I shiver and ache, my thighs clenching together.

I take a step back before things can get any more heated between us. Looking up, I see Kai, who looks devastatingly handsome in a grey suit, white shirt, and thin black tie. He also has a pair of handcuffs dangling out of one pocket.

“I see the other Mr Grey has joined us for the evening,” I smile, arching a brow at him.

He smiles back sheepishly, a blush coming to his cheeks. “He’s a little vanilla for my tastes, but well, I had to dress as something,” he says, his voice low and melodic.

It’s then that I remember he doesn’t really like parties. I go around Jax, sliding up so close to him that my breasts brush his jacket front, and smooth down his tie.

“Maybe later you can show me that neat tie trick I keep seeing on TikTok, sir?”

Obviously, I just can’t help myself around these guys. Kai’s honey eyes flare with lust, and I see him swallow before giving me a nod.

“You look beautiful by the way, Lilly,” he says simply, taking me all in.

“We should get going,” Ash drawls from near the door, and I look up, my breath hitching when I see his costume.

It’s not that different from what he usually wears, yet it’s the small details that make my heart race.

He’s wearing his normal tailored to perfection suit, yet this one is a shiny coal black, giving the impression that it has been poured on. He’s got a black shirt underneath, the top two buttons undone, which is unheard of for Ash and so damn sexy I feel wetness seep into the crotch of my knickers.

There’s an air of decadent debauchery about him tonight, and my heart aches anew at the distance there is now between us. We didn’t get as close as I got with the others, but we were on the way before that night during fall break. I just hope it’s not too late to get back there.

He opens the door and gestures the guys through, taking hold of my upper arm in a gentle grip as I move to pass him. I look up at him, our eyes meeting. His are filled with such fire, the grey is molten and swirling with emotion.

“‘Did my heart love till now? Foreswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.’”

I’m utterly spellbound, unable to utter so much as a single syllable.

Did he just…? Did Ash just tell me…? No. He was just saying I look nice.

My mind churns with conflicting thoughts, eyes locked with his when he suddenly lets go and walks ahead of me. It’s then I notice that on the back of his jacket, a pair of matte black angel wings are printed.

Ah! He’s Lucifer tonight, I think. Apt, given the turmoil he’s just left me in.

Sighing, I shut our door and head after him.

We walk towards the ballroom, a room I had no idea even existed until I found out about this party. Apparently, it’s used for school functions, award ceremonies, and graduation, but not much else.

There was, of course, a design committee for the party, and I heard all about them and their plans during my Interior Design classes. But unfortunately, as Amber Cuntflaps heads it up, I couldn’t get involved.

We approach the huge wooden double doors to find two men wearing red velvet jackets, top hats, and white gloves waiting for us. Their faces are painted all white, with dark lines around their eyes and highlighting their cheekbones.

“Welcome,” they say in unison, voices deep yet emotionless.

They open the doors to reveal an extraordinary sight. The room no longer looks like a ballroom, or any kind of room at all. Jewel coloured silks drape across the ceiling and down the walls, creating a tent like appearance.

There are fantastically dressed aerial performers, twirling on hoops and dangling from ribbons. Servers dressed in glittering costumes with ghoulish masks walk around, serving what looks like sparkling cocktails.

There’s a DJ on the stage, his body painted to look like an Aztec skeletal demon glowing under ultraviolet light. As we step in, the song quickly changes to Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless. It seems a little too coincidental, and as I look around at the guys, who are either side of me, I see Loki’s self-satisfied smirk.

“Loki, did you just get the DJ to play this as we walked in?” I ask, narrowing my eyes, lips twitching.

He full on grins at me, and I can see the excitement bouncing in his eyes. “It’s fucking epic, right?!” he says, practically pulling me over as we walk in and head towards the long tables.

They, like the walls, are covered in jewel coloured table cloths, which you can barely see underneath plates groaning with food of every description. There must be every type of canapé here. From sushi rolls, to small pastries, to cut up fruit on tiny kebab sticks. There are small glasses full of colourful desserts, and so many things that I have no idea what most of them are.

The amount of food is obscene, far too much for those in attendance. I shudder at the waste, knowing much of it will be thrown out when the night is over.

The guys descend on the spread, piling plates high whilst I stand there overwhelmed. I feel a warm hand on the small of my back and look to the side to see Kai, his kind eyes looking down at me. He may be the smallest, but he’s still got a few inches on me.

“Want me to fix you a plate?” he asks, and I notice Jax and Loki look up and give him a dirty look. It reminds me of the barbecue scene from Gone With the Wind, where they all fight to bring Scarlett O’Hara barbecue, and I smile.

“Do I get to pretend to be Scarlett O’Hara, having all the men fawn over me?” I tease, and his eyes light up as he gets the reference.

“Well, we all know who Rhett would be,” he sighs out as we see Ash stalk over to a round table, sitting in one of the golden chairs, facing the room.

He sits as a king would on his throne, like it’s his right and woe betide anyone who dares to question it. Then, the arrogant arsehole that he is, he clicks his fingers at one of the servers who comes hurrying over to deposit a tray of cocktails on the table.

I find myself sighing too. Ash is so beautiful, I used to think that it was a cold hard beauty. Now I know that underneath, he burns with the purest flame. A fire that protects those he loves. His darkness is what helps to keep them safe.

But who keeps him safe? I can’t help but wonder.

“Come on, Pretty Girl,” Loki says in his familiar drawl. “Let’s eat so you can grind on me on the dance floor,” he says, winking, and then giving me a lascivious grin for good measure.

Fucking turnip.

I look around to see that Kai has indeed filled a plate for me and is carrying it to the table Ash is seated at. I follow him, taking a seat with Loki and Jax on either side of me. Kai and Ash are on the other side, and although there are vacant seats, no one else tries to sit down, even though I can see people glancing our way.

I often forget how untouchable these guys are. How the other students, all of whom are rich as royalty, leave space for them and keep their distance. And I’m not sure whether it’s out of fear or respect. Maybe a bit of both?

We sit and eat, not really talking. I don’t know how the guys are feeling, but I’m full of a nervous energy that’s leaving me feeling tightly coiled and tense. I don’t know what the plan is for later tonight, but I can imagine we will all be bloody by dawn.

My ears prick at the familiar notes of Siren, by Kailee Morgue. I smell vanilla before I feel Loki’s lips against my ear.

“I dare you to dance for Ash,” he whispers seductively, the spot that his breath caresses tingles.

He’s such a shit stirrer, but I can’t seem to back down from the challenge he’s issued. I look over to Ash, who is scanning the room with dark eyes, his chair pulled out as he lounges back in it.

“What do I get if I do?” I whisper back, my eyes still on Ash.

I’m definitely going to do it because I want to ruffle the Ice Knight’s feathers as much as Loki does. I just want to see if I can get anything out of Loki first.

“I’ll take you behind one of those curtains and get on my knees for you, making you come so hard with my tongue, the whole school will hear your cries.” His voice is deep and husky, sending shivers down my spine.

Smiling, I get up and sway over to Ash, standing in front of him, but still slowly undulating my hips. Bringing my hands up my body, caressing my curves, I take them over my head, rolling my wrists so that my hands do a sensual dance of their own.

Our gazes are locked, and there’s an intense look in his grey eyes. It’s like looking into the eyes of a wolf, you know it’s going to pounce and devour you, you’re just not sure how much time you have left. Or, if you mind all that much.

Turning my back on him, I look over my shoulder as I roll my hips, smiling seductively at him, before turning back to face him and stepping right in between his splayed legs.

I can see a bulge in his crotch that just makes my smile grow wider as I realise what this is doing to him. I mean, I’m not unaffected by his undivided attention, my knickers are getting damper by the second.

His hands are clenched into fists on his thighs, like it’s taking a gargantuan effort not to grab me and pull me down onto his lap.

I wonder if I can tip him over the edge…

Leaning forwards, I place my hands on his shoulders and move my torso in a wave towards him so that my barely covered breasts are practically in his face.

Bingo!

His hands clamp down on my sequinned hips, squeezing just this side of painfully. He leans forward, his lips brushing my ear just like Loki’s did and eliciting the same tingles.

“Are you sure you wanna play, Princess? You seemed to have trouble handling it last time,” he says, his voice dark and cruel, aimed to inflict maximum damage.

My eyes narrow, my body stopping its movements. We’re still pressed together, his hands on my hips and mine on his broad shoulders.

Fucktrumpet.

I smile as an idea forms in my mind.

“I think I can handle you, Vanderbilt, just fine,” I whisper back in his ear before I lick up the side of his face.

He’s so stunned that his hands drop, and straightening up, I laugh at the look of surprise on his face. I hear Loki’s roar of laughter, and even Kai and Jax snort.

“Did you just lick me, Princess?” he asks incredulously.

“Yep,” I say, popping the ‘p.’ “And now you’re mine.”

I wink at him just as the song ends, and Killer by Valerie Broussard starts to play.

I feel my hand being tugged and turn to see Loki pulling me onto the dance floor.

“Come on, Pretty Girl. This is our song,” he says, laughing at my raised brow. I follow him anyway, but can’t help the shiver of trepidation that runs down my spine.

By the end of the night, will I be a killer too?