Tormented Kings (Boys Of Kingston Academy #2)

Epilogue

Preston

I don’t want to fucking be here. At least I don’t want to be here with her.

It’s the New Year's Eve masquerade ball. A big lavish party that’s held for the Elites for the midnight ball drop.

Before, I’d spend these parties drinking and fucking my way through the night.

This year, the only thing I want to do is be by Declan and Sadie’s side. But because my father is literally the fucking devil, I’m here with Tina.

“Preston,” she whines. “Dance with me.”

“Are you fucking stupid?” I snap. “We just got here. They haven’t even announced the couples yet.

“But I’m bored,” she huffs, sticking out her bottom lip.

I want to fucking rip it off and feed it to a fucking dog.

Every moment I have to spend near her sends me deeper into a dark place that I’m working so fucking hard to stay out of. If I go there, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get out.

I need to stay strong for Sadie and Declan. They deserve it. They’re worth it.

Yet, with every passing day, I can’t help but wonder if they would be better off if I was just gone from this world. It would solve a hell of a lot of their problems.

“Then go talk to your friends or something,” I mutter, heading straight for the bar.

“You better fucking dance with me tonight,” Tina hisses like a cat before storming away.

Only when she’s gone do I feel like I can finally breathe. I order my drink and down it in three mouthfuls. I’m going to need to be drunk if I’m going to get through this night.

Collin better have a fucking plan here soon, or I don’t think I’m going to last long enough.

Just as I’m drowning in my own self-pity, I see Declan, and my heart starts to race like a herd of wild horses.

He enters the room, looking painfully handsome in his black suit and red tie. Grayson is next to him, suit jacket open, but at least he has a shirt on underneath this time.

I head over to them. “Hey.” Declan’s eyes snap over to mine, and his cheeks turn pink as he smiles.

“Hey.”

He’s so damn cute I could fucking eat him up. I want to kiss him, to listen to him moan against my lips, beg me to fuck him, and fall apart around my cock.

I’ve been a fucking jackass lately. They’ve given me a chance to prove myself, to be with them. But I’ve been distant, quiet. It’s not because of them. It’s because I’m losing myself. I’m so tired. So done with life. They don’t deserve that, don’t deserve to have me as their burden. Even though everything in me wants to ask them for help, to beg them to save me. To ask them to stop the poison that is spewing in my mind, which is slowly taking over every cell in my body.

“Have you seen Sadie?” Grayson asks, breaking the eye contact between me and Declan.

“No. I thought she would be here with one of you.”

“She’s been weird since Christmas night. I haven’t seen much of her, and her texts are very vague.”

“Did something happen?” Declan asks.

“I don’t know,” Grayson growls. “I don’t know anything about what’s going on with her, and I hate it.”

“We can talk to her tonight. I know she’s been staying at Collin’s place. Maybe she just needed some time with him. You know she hardly gets to see him,” Declan suggests.

“Maybe,” Grayson sighs.

“You can’t complain. You live with her. You get to see her every day.”

“Don’t be jelly, Preston. It’s not a good color on you. Also, you have no room to talk. You finally got your guy and girl but have been ghosting them ever since. What gives, Jones?”

“Grayson,” Declan warns

My fist clenches, anger rising within me. Anger. At least it’s some kind of emotion.

I don’t get a chance to punch him in his stupid face like I want to because the announcer starts talking.

“Can I have your attention, please?”

I don’t pay attention, I’m too busy looking for Sadie. Even though everyone has masks on, I could easily spot her in a crowd.

“Mark Taylor,” I hear the announcer say in the background. “And his lovely bride, Erin Taylor.”

“Do you think Sadie is going to look like her mom when she gets older?” Grayson asks. “Because if so, I wouldn’t be disappointed.”

“Fucking hell, Grayson. Stop being weird. Isn’t she like a mom to you now?” I sigh, turning around to search the other side of the room.

“I mean, yeah, but it’s not that I want to fuck her. My dick only works for Sadie, thank you.”

“Where is she?” I hiss, still not being able to find her.

“Collin Killian, formerly known as Collin Jones.” My whole body freezes.

“What the fuck,” Grayson hisses.

My eyes snap over to the massive set of stairs where the couples are being announced.

“What the fuck does he mean, Collin Killian?” My brows pinch in confusion. “When the hell did he change his last name?” I ask, but my eyes stay on Collin.

He stands tall and proud as the room breaks out in whispers. “And his new wife—”

My eyes find him, and everything around me goes black. My ears buzz, and I feel like I’m high, losing my mind right now. Sadie steps into view, wearing a long elegant black dress, the red mask I gave her in place as her blond hair spills down over her shoulders. “Sadie Killian.”

This can’t be real. This can not be fucking happening. Please tell me my brother did not fucking marry Sadie.

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To be continued...

Find out what happens next in Triumphant Kings , the third and last book of Boys Of Kingston Academy.