Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(110)

Fuck. I have no idea what to say to that. Cole and Liam had a shitty relationship. But I don’t want Cole placing this burden on his shoulders.

I don’t want to lose the only brother I have left.

I drag a hand over my scalp. “You can’t blame yourself.”

“Well, then you can’t either.” Crossing his arms, he stares me down. “If you want me and Bianca to be happy…you have to lead the way. Show us good things can still happen, because right now it feels like all this fucked-up family is destined for is tragedy after tragedy.” He takes the joint from Oakley and brings it to his lips. “I don’t know about you, brother, but I’m getting really fucking sick of it.”

Ain’t that the truth. “Me too.”

“Then prove it.” Blowing out a cloud of smoke, he juts his chin toward the window. “Dylan makes you happy, man. And if you love me and Bianca—”

“And me,” Oak chimes in.

He shrugs when we look at him. “What? I was starting to feel left out.”

Cole smirks. “And Oakley, you’ll man the fuck up like he said and get your girl.”

Either Cole just manipulated the hell out of me, or he knows me better than I thought.

Either way, it worked.

It’s impossible for me to be truly happy without Dylan.

She’s the one this fucked-up thing in my chest beats and bleeds for.

I’m tired of living without the other half of my soul.

I’m tired of missing my best friend.

I’m tired of waking up every day with nothing when my everything is right there.

Determination flows through my veins. “Where is she?”

Oakley lights another joint. “Home.” He blinks. “Wait…nope. She’s gone.”

I bolt out of my chair. “What do you mean she’s gone?”

“Crystal felt bad about Wayne blowing a gasket and threatening to kick her out yesterday morning, so she got her tickets to some rock concert tonight.” He takes a quick drag and blows out a puff of smoke. “Sawyer was supposed to go with her, but her boss wouldn’t give her the night off work.” He shrugs. “She asked if I wanted to go, but I told her I’d rather shove a fork in my eye than listen to that crap.”

It’s all I can do not to wring his neck. “You let her go to a rock concert alone?”

He looks at Cole. “Was I not supposed to?”

Cole winces. “Judging by the murderous look in Jace’s eye, probably not.”

His gaze swings back my way. “My bad. I thought—”

“What concert?”

“Shit, I don’t know. I think it was Jimmy eating…something. Wait, maybe it was Lenny. Nope, it was definitely Ben—”

I don’t hear the rest of Oakley’s sentence because I’m charging out the door to get my girl.





Chapter 46





Jace





“I need to see your ticket.”

I slap a stack of hundred-dollar bills in his hand. “This should cover it.”

“I can put you in the second row or you can stand in the pit. Which one do you want?”

“Pit’s fine.”

It’s where Dylan will be.

He hands me a badge with the words, VIP on it. “Need a poncho?”

“No.”

I just need Dylan.

He lifts up the rope. “Have fun.”

After walking through a tunnel that goes on for too fucking long, I enter the outdoor amphitheater.

Despite the rain trickling down and the thunder rolling in the distance, it’s still packed.

Flipping my hood up, I trek down the pathway leading to the entrance of the pit…but pause when I spot her.

Eyes closed and one hand thrust in the air, Dylan’s singing every lyric to “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World into the sunset while swaying her body to the music.

She looks so gorgeous and carefree it makes my breath catch.

The people in the pit are getting frustrated due to the impending storm, but Dylan doesn’t give a single fuck.

It’s one of the things I love most about her.

The sky opens up and the rain starts coming down in buckets, soaking her hair and clothes…but my girl keeps singing and dancing, never missing a beat.

Determination fuels my steps, but it’s quickly replaced by rage when some guy comes up behind her and places his hands on her hips.

A haze of red mist clouds my vision and I clench my hands into fists as I push through the crowd.

He’s a dead man. I’m going to crush every bone in this motherfucker’s body and…

Dylan sails her fist into his jaw two seconds before I reach her.

The asshole staggers back before running away like a little bitch.

Well, shit.

“You just ruined my big romantic gesture.”

Her eyes widen with shock when she peers up at me. “What are you doing here?”

At least I think that’s what she says. It’s hard to hear her above the music.

“I’m an asshole.”

It’s not the best opening line, but hell if it’s not the truth.

Scrunching her pretty face, she gestures to her ear. “What?”