Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (books like beach read TXT) 📕

room. Bexley is deathly silent as he watches me with Cade, although I do catch him smirking a couple of times when my eyes meet his, and I know he’s remembering the other day. But there’s something else too, a dark cloud shadowing him. I want to ask him what’s wrong, but I can’t, not in front of everyone. So I wait until our final class together.

Cade walks me to the door, making a show of pushing me up against the wall and kissing me. His mouth is too hard and his touch too desperate. He starts grinding against me, moaning into the crook of my neck.

“Cade,” I hiss, slamming my hands into his chest. “Not here.” My smile is tight as I glare at him.

“You care too much what people think, babe.” He plucks a strand of my hair between his fingers. “If I wanted to fuck you right here for everyone to see, I would.”

“I need to get to class,” I say, trying to avoid an argument. As I try to leave, he snags my wrist at the last second.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” His brow goes up.

Biting back a sigh, I lean in and kiss his cheek.

“Better. I have shit to take care of tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nod. At least he’ll be distracted while I pay the town archives a visit. Nervous energy pings through my stomach, but I manage to force a smile.

“Soon, Mia. Soon I’ll have you under me.”

My stomach lurches. He’s growing impatient. I see it every time he looks at me.

Just then, Bexley passes us.

“Kingston,” he says smugly.

“Easton.” Cade tenses. “Fucking asshole,” he murmurs as soon as Bexley disappears into the room.

I fight a smile, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. I shouldn’t encourage Bexley, but it reassures me to know he isn’t going to just lie down and take whatever Cade doles out.

I ease out of Cade’s grip, and this time, he lets me go. His heavy gaze stalks me until I’m all the way inside class.

Spotting Bexley in the back row, I move past him to an empty space a few seats down. His hand brushes mine as I go, sending shivers zipping up my arm. I want to meet his eyes, but I don’t, forcing myself to keep looking ahead.

No one will know anything happened. But I know. His touch lingers, stays with me for the rest of the class. And although I want to be beside him, laughing with him, feeling his thigh pressed up against mine, this is enough.

For now, it’s enough.

“Thanks for doing this,” I say to Annabel as she pulls up outside of the Town Hall.

“Of course. Although I still don’t know what you think you’ll find here that you can’t find on the internet.” She shrugs.

“I already told you. The professor encouraged us to go straight to the source. Everyone knows the town archives are kept here.” I stare up at the big, imposing building. It’s old, like Gravestone Hall, and steeped in shadows. They dance over the huge limestone bricks like monsters in the dark. But I don’t let it faze me. I’ve been here hundreds of times with my dad. He used to bring me along when I was a little girl, and I’d spend hours nestled among the artifacts in the museum section of the building.

I haven’t been here for a long time though. My dad stopped bringing me once I started middle school.

“Do you want me to wait?” Annabel asks. “I can.”

“No, it’s fine.” I grab my backpack from between my feet. “Dad will give me a ride back if he’s on shift.” He usually is. He’s given his life to working security for Phillip Cargill and the mayor’s office.

“Okay then, if you’re sure. I’m going to swing by my parents’ and then see if Jared wants to hang out.”

“You decided to give it another shot, after all?”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. It was one date. I need to give it some time. Who knows, he could be my frog turned prince once we kiss.” Her soft laughter fills the car.

“I’m happy for you, Bel. I know I haven’t always been a good friend, but I’m here for you.”

“I know.” Something flashes over her face. “Say hi to your dad for me.”

I nod before climbing out of her car. The shadows envelop me as I approach the Town Hall. It’s fifty minutes before it closes to the public, but I don’t plan on leaving with the other people here.

My heart crashes in my chest as I approach the steps leading to the impressive doors. The town’s motto is etched into the stone arch. Audentes fortuna iuvat. Fortune favors the bold.

Let’s hope fortune favors me tonight.

Taking a deep breath, I pull up my hood and slip into the building. A security guy is busy on his phone behind the desk, so I take a left down the hall and head for the town archives. Like most places, a section is open to the public, but it’s not those I’m interested in.

I keep my head down. There’s CCTV all over this building, but I think I can remember the blind spots. Hopefully.

The archive room is down a level, so I take the stairwell. The slam of the door echoes off the walls as I descend to the basement. The air is musty down here, and I hurry.

I’m hardly surprised when I enter the room to find it empty save for the archivist. She’s an older woman, perched behind a curved desk tucked in one corner of the room. She glances up and I smile. “Something I can help you with dear?”

“Just here to look up some things for an assignment.”

“Well, if I can help you with anything, just shout.”

“Thanks.” I move deeper into the room. It’s a long rectangle that runs the length of the building above. One wall is lined with display cabinets, housing various artifacts and charters from the town’s history. The rest of the room