Cruel Prince (Royal Hearts Academy, #1)(9)

So attractive it almost hurts to look at him.

I shake my head, feeling like an idiot for gawking like every other female in the vicinity. This is Jace. My Jace.

As if he feels my presence, he looks up and smirks. Jesus. That smirk is as dangerous as he is.

“Hey, you,” he drawls in a husky voice that makes my cheeks heat. “Long time no see.”

And just like that, all of my problems, all of the bad shit I’ve been dealing with and keeping inside no longer matters.

He’s my person. He’s always been my person.

The only one who can reach me when it gets too dark. When it hurts too much.

For the first time in four years, my universe feels right again.

I give him a smile so big my cheeks hurt. “I kn—”

A force pushes past me. “Very funny. I was with you last night, silly.”

Heart lodged in my throat, I watch as a tall, busty, redhead trots over to his Lexus, leaving her small group of friends behind in the dust.

Nausea barrels into me as she leans in to kiss him. It takes everything in me not to vomit when I realize who she is.

Britney Caldwell.

Mega rich. Mega popular. Mega bitch.

The girl—along with her herd of Britney wannabes—tormented me every chance they could in elementary school, and made my life a living hell in junior high…and now? Now, she’s making out with Jace.

Jace—who used to wipe my tears after she’d tease me about my mom dying.

My lungs burn as I force myself to draw in a deep breath. I knew things would be different when I came back to town, but not this much.

Fortunately, their little lip lock is interrupted by a silver BMW that whizzes through the parking lot before pulling into the spot next to Jace.

“What’s up, fuckers?” Oakley greets them as he steps out of his car.

Like a scene out of a movie, I watch as Oakley, some other guy, and Britney’s crew of mean girls form a circle around Jace and Britney.

I almost do a double-take as my gaze snags on a pair of piercing green eyes and razor-sharp cheekbones. Evidently, Jace isn’t the only one who’s changed. Even though they hardly resemble one another, his younger brother Cole is every bit as good looking as he is.

Only unlike Jace, who’s silently leaning against his car and observing everyone, Cole’s shamelessly flirting with Britney’s posse.

None of them seem to mind, though. Quite the contrary—they’re all soaking it up.

My chest pangs when it hits me. There’s a Covington brother missing.

I don’t know the details, but Cole’s twin, Liam passed away around the same time I left town.

I tried to reach out to Jace after I saw someone post RIP Liam on social media, but he never responded to my messages or calls.

My dad promised we would take a trip back to Royal Manor so I could see how he was holding up—but as usual, his new job and new wife took precedence over my needs.

As much as it kills me, I can’t blame Jace for shutting me out.

Jace always looked out for Liam and they were close. Losing him must have been absolutely devastating. As his best friend, I should have been there for him.

But I wasn’t.

And it doesn’t matter why or whose fault it was. All that matters is I was nowhere to be found during the hardest time of his life. The time he needed me the most.

Squaring my shoulders, I start walking toward his car.

I’ve always been the type of person to own my shit. So even though Jace might not accept my apology, it doesn’t take away from the fact I still owe him one.

Not a single person looks my way as I approach their little circle, which is fine by me.

I’m not here for them.

“Hey.”

As though I were invisible, Jace pulls his phone out of his pocket and proceeds to type something.

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I clear my throat and try again. “Listen, I know you’re busy, but I was hoping we could talk in private for a minute.”

Nothing. It’s like I don’t even exist.

Annoyance skitters up my spine. He wants to hold a grudge? Fine. That’s his prerogative. I, however, refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen by the boy I used to call my best friend and tell all my secrets to.

For fuck’s sake, we’re turning eighteen soon, not eight.

“Jace.” The bite in my tone has everyone looking at me.

Everyone except him.

“I’m sorry, hon. Are you lost?” Britney snaps. “It’s obvious no one here wants to talk to you.”

I open my mouth to respond, but something passes in her gaze. “You look familiar.”

It’s not surprising that a selfish bitch like her doesn’t remember the girl she used to pick on.

Before I can inform Britney who I am, her mouth widens in surprise.

“Dylan Taylor.” She looks at her posse with a mischievous gleam in her eye before turning to Jace. “You two were like best friends forever ago, right?”

My heart stops when his eyes finally connect with mine.

“No.”

It would hurt less if he plunged an actual knife right through my heart.

“That’s a lie and you know it,” I whisper as he pushes past me.

I understand he’s angry, but there has to be some small part of him that still cares. Some chip underneath the block of ice I can get through to.