Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(134)

We left so quickly, I didn’t have time to grab my birth control.

I didn’t think it was a big deal because I took my next dose on schedule… but obviously it was.

God, how the hell did I not know I was pregnant?

There must have been signs…symptoms.

Something to let me know there was a life growing inside me.

Tears clog my vision and I expel a ragged breath. “I don’t remember being pregnant.”

How can I not remember my—our—baby?

I’m looking at him for answers, but his expression makes it clear he doesn’t have them.

I start to walk away, but his hand clutches my face, keeping me there. “It was so early, Bianca.” He swallows. “I’m pretty positive you didn’t know.”

“How can you be so sure?”

Because right now? I can’t be sure of anything.

“You were only three or four weeks along.”

He says it like it doesn’t count. As though it was just a whisper of something substantial.

I slap his cheek so hard it stings. “Don’t you dare say that like it didn’t mean anything.”

It was a baby. Our baby.

“That’s not what I meant.” Closing his eyes, he rasps, “I just meant that you didn’t know because it was so early and…” His voice trails off like he doesn’t have the heart to say the words.

“I would have kept it.”

I see him flinch briefly before he recovers. “I know.”

Anger twists my insides. “But I didn’t get the choice…because you took it from me.”

He took everything from me.

And the sick thing is…I could forgive him for getting mad and wanting to leave me that night, because I know how angry he was.

I could even forgive him for getting drunk and high behind the wheel and turning my life upside down…because people make mistakes.

But I can’t forgive him for this.

I loved him so much…he was the only thing I cared about.

So much so I ended up doing the same thing my mother tried to do to me and Liam.

I killed my child.

Because if I had just let him leave…my baby would still be here.

“I’m sorry.”

I slap him again, harder this time. “Don’t.”

Sorry won’t take it back.

Sorry won’t undo what’s been done.

Sorry doesn’t give me our baby back.

“I hate you.”

But really, I hate myself—because even though I should hate him—my heart won’t let me.

It’s incapable of it.

Oakley tries to put his arms around me, but that only makes me more irate.

I don’t want him to hold me. I don’t want him anywhere near me.

“Don’t fucking touch me.” I shove his chest. “Don’t ever fucking touch me again.”

Finally, he backs up.

Chest caving in, I stagger to the other side of the room.

I’m almost to the door when it occurs to me.

Jace told him I was pregnant.

Which means Oakley wasn’t the only one keeping secrets from me.





Chapter 65





Bianca





White-hot fury crashes through my veins as I storm up the pathway to my brother’s apartment.

I’m so enraged, I’m shaking as I knock on his front door.

Dylan answers it with a smile. “Hey, we got some pizza if you’re hun—”

I walk past her and into the living room where Jace, Sawyer, and Cole are all eating pizza and watching television.

“Hey,” Jace says when he sees me. “Grab a slice—”

I snatch the glass out of his hand and throw it.

Sawyer jumps when it shatters against the wall.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Jace roars, standing up.

“What the fuck is my problem?” I shove him as hard as I possibly can. “How about the fact that you didn’t tell me I was pregnant?”

Sawyer and Dylan gasp while Cole looks down at the floor and mutters a curse.

Sadness flashes in Jace’s eyes for a split second before his jaw hardens. “I was trying to protect you.”

God, I’m so sick and tired of everyone using that as an excuse.

I had a right to know about Oakley.

And the baby I lost.

“Screw you,” I yell. “You had no—”

“We didn’t want to tell you anything that would add to your pain,” Cole interjects.

I turn my fury on him. “You knew about this?”

Guilt flickers in his expression. “Jace told me at the hospital.”

“So let me get this straight, everyone knew about my baby except me?”

“I didn’t,” Sawyer whispers, her voice trembling.

Pity illuminates Dylan’s face. “I didn’t either.”

So just Cole then. No surprise there.

Disgust rolls through me as I turn to Cole. “I forgot you’re nothing but a little bitch who follows Jace’s every command like he’s your goddamn Messiah.” Scowling, I rock back on my heels. “If you wanted a better relationship with me so bad, you should have started one with honesty.”