Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(24)

“I don’t know.”

It’s the truth. This is Zack’s spot, not mine.

“I swear to God if you don’t tell me where the fuck you are—”

“I’m not sure. Near a forest somewhere. I think I passed a waterfall thing. But there was a snake wrapped around my bottle and I ended up running.” Another wave of dizziness washes over me. “Now leave me alone so I can find my bottle of snake, you fucking asshole.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely trashed.”

“Don’t tell my brothers.”

They’re overprotective enough and if they find out about this, they’ll no longer let me hang out with Hayley.

I have to keep scoring blackmail on her.

“I’m pretty sure I know where you are, but I’m gonna need you to do something for me.”

“What?”

I’d do anything for him. Anything in the whole wide world.

“I need you to get the fuck away from that cliff.”

“Why?”

I need to know he cares.

Or better yet…why he stopped caring.

“You’re not stupid. You know why, Bianca.”

He hasn’t called me by my real name in forever. Usually, he refers to me as Satan or Lucifer.

He used to call me his baby girl. Just like my mom.

“You called me Bianca.”

An irritated groan breaks free. “I’m on my way. Do me a solid and get the fuck off that cliff before something happens and Jace and Cole kill me.”

With that, he hangs up.

I fish around my purse for the mini bottle of Malibu rum Hayley asked me to hold earlier.

It’s no Jack Daniels, but it will help numb the pain.

Hopefully.





“Holy shit.”

“I know,” Stone murmurs against my mouth. “I love kissing you.”

Kissing him is nice and all, but that’s not what I was referring to.

I can’t believe I was standing on a cliff drunk in the middle of the night.

And out of all the people in the world I chose to call when I was at my lowest…

I called him.

That has to mean something, right?

“What time is your next class?”

Stone glances at his watch. “In about fifteen.” Leaning down, he whispers, “I can be quick if you want to go back to your dorm.”

Ugh. I’m officially the worst fiancée in the world for turning him down.

“Can we take a rain check?” I gesture to my phone. “I’m supposed to meet Sawyer and talk about wedding planning stuff.”

Sawyer did call me before, but she can wait.

Especially since I know she’s just going to apologize over and over for lying to me.

“Fine.” Sulking, he gives me a quick peck on the lips. “But only if you spend the night at my place.”

“Deal.”

With that, I stalk off.

In search of the guy who can give me some answers.





Chapter 8





Oakley





Something I learned about college kids?

They’re messy as fuck.

Every classroom I clean never fails to have a shit-ton of stuff left behind.

Wrappers. Soda cans. Water bottles. Empty chip bags.

A half-smoked joint.

Want and need tangle in my chest as I bring it up to my nose and inhale.

It’s the premium shit.

Goddammit.

And just like that…an image of Hayley permeates my brain.

CBD gummies and oil for my epilepsy are one thing…but smoking this joint will undoubtedly lead me down the rabbit hole of doom.

After giving it one more lengthy sniff, I chuck it in the garbage can.

The shit must be even better than I thought though because when I turn around…

She’s standing there.

Her long dark hair is in a ponytail and she’s wearing a plain white t-shirt and cargo pants—something the Bianca I know wouldn’t be caught dead wearing in public—but she’s still as gorgeous as ever.

Grabbing my broom, I focus on sweeping the floor. “I’ll be out of here in a minute.”

She takes a step forward. “I was hoping we could talk.”

I give her the only answer there is.

The one I have to give.

“No.”





Chapter 9





Bianca





No.

Not—maybe later. Or—let me check my schedule.

Just flat out no.

And then he has the audacity to brush past me like I don’t even exist.

Screw that.

Refusing to take his no for an answer, I follow him into the next empty classroom.

“Not for nothing, but don’t you think you kind of owe me? After all, you were the one driving when we got into the accident.”

I’m not trying to be a bitch, but he’s given me no choice.

He freezes mid-sweep. “I never meant to hurt you.”

His voice is so genuine, so full of remorse, my heart clenches.

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel guilty,” I tell him honestly, because something tells me he’s doing a great job of that himself. “I’m just looking for a little clarity.”