The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play, #1) (34)

I expected his wrath. Instead, he shrugged and stepped away, ending the pretense of seduction. I was left a ball of flame while he became a shard of ice. “You want revenge for the humiliation?”

“Yes,” I hissed.

“What about your time in Europe?”

Logic was screaming to turn back now, but I couldn’t. I had to know. “What are you talking about?”

“Did you think it was my father’s idea to send you to reform school?” His tone suggested I’d been na?ve. “I practically put the brochure in his hand, Archer.”

Confidence gave way to disbelief after he shoved the truth down my throat. “So what? You’ll set me up again and send me back?”

A derisive snort and then, “I can do better than Natasha Madison’s School of Ladies.” He cocked his head to the side. “How important is your mother’s happiness to you?”

I became a statue. “Leave Rosalyn out of this.”

“Keep your mouth shut, and I’ll keep mine.”

My heart raced, and my palms turned sweaty. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then, if I were you, I’d figure it out quickly. I feel like singing.”

“I have nothing to hide!”

“I didn’t say you did.” The silence that followed was almost telling.

No. “What do you know?” I demanded with my fists clenched and my voice grave. All pretense of innocence had slipped away.

“I know that your mother is batshit crazy and that her pussy must be lined in gold for my father to have missed the signs. It’s a good thing I’m not fucking her.”

I exhaled and with the release came the realization that I’d been outsmarted. Ever had me backed into a corner with no escape.

How did he know?

However he found out, there was no going back. “So I keep my mouth shut and you keep yours?” I held out my hand to seal the deal, and already, my skin tingled. Bastard.

He sighed as if disappointed and ignored my hand. “If only it were that simple, but I can’t trust what I don’t control.”

My hand fell to my side when the flesh covering my entire body burned. “What does that mean?”

His eyes flashed with anticipation. “It means, puppet, I finally have a pet name for you.”




Dinner that night had been yet another stilted affair.

Jamie joined us halfway through with a bruise covering most of his left cheek. Thomas questioned him relentlessly, but Jamie avoided answering. Ever casually sipped his water while Rosalyn stared into her own glass. It didn’t seem to bother her or Ever at all when the yelling began. Thomas eventually ordered Jamie into his office, and together, they disappeared, leaving Rosalyn, Ever, and me to finish dinner together. I was mulling over Ever’s bruised knuckles, which Thomas never seemed to notice, when Rosalyn finally spoke.

“How was your first day back, dear?”

“It was like I’d never left.” But I did, and I still couldn’t find it in me to forgive her for sending me away. Now that I knew Ever had talked them into it, I wasn’t sure I ever would.

An awkward silence fell over the table as Rosalyn stewed in her guilt. I was content to keep it that way, but of course, Ever had other plans.

“You should tell her about our arrangement,” he casually suggested. He never even bothered lifting his gaze from his plate. As if toying with me was as natural to him as breathing.

I could kill him.

“Your…arrangement?” I could hear the alarm in Rosalyn’s voice and wondered if I’d have to shove pills down her throat in the morning. With wide eyes, she waited for an explanation, and I wracked my brain for one.

“We have English together,” Ever offered when the silence became telling.

“Oh, how nice,” she rushed out with obvious relief.

I glared at Ever across the table when Rosalyn busied herself studying her nails. If the table weren’t so damn wide, I’d kick him and wipe that dazzling smile off his face. What it did to me frightened me more than his veiled threats did.

“If you ladies will excuse me,” Ever announced as he rose from the table. “I have shit to do.”

Rosalyn flinched at his swearing, but he pretended not to notice. Despite our agreement, I couldn’t resist returning the favor and toying with him since I had a good idea what he was going to do and who he was doing it for.

“Should I tell your father where you’re going?”

He simply winked, and I pretended a certain part of me didn’t weep as he walked away.

“What an odd boy,” Rosalyn remarked when he was out of earshot.

“I wouldn’t exactly call him odd.”

“He’s much too intense for his age.” She then eyed me curiously. “And don’t think I didn’t see him wink at you.” Her gaze sharpened when I froze. “What was that about?”

I dug my nails into my thigh, a reaction she couldn’t see. I’d stupidly fallen into his trap once again.

Oh, Ever…you’re going to pay.

And I wouldn’t just rip him from his throne. I’d crush him under my heel like the worm he was.

“A boy too into his looks?” She seemed to accept my answer and went back to sipping her water. “Aren’t you going to eat?” She’d barely touched her plate.