Page 110 of Underground Prince

“And there it is—the point of all this.” She swiped at the tears tracking down her cheeks with angry jerks. “You. Scarlet Rhodes who cares about no one, defies consequences and does everything she can to screw herself over but it’s okay, because she’s pushing her friends away, distancing herself from the family she has left. Everybody’s safe.”

“Consequences? You want to talk actions, Vare?” I asked. “How about Noah, huh?”

She stared at me.

“You’re trying to tell me you care so much that you can’t help but take on my choices. Desperate to intercede on my behalf. Well then, why haven’t you told me about him? Why are you keeping it from me when you’re so pissed at me for not being honest?”

“That’s—that’s not…”

“Relevant? Oh, it is, which is exactly why you’ve been hiding it from me.” I stalked toward her. “So don’t you lecture me about being a good girl when you’re not so innocent yourself.”

I threw her door open, finished with this hurtful moment, and found Noah, standing awkwardly in the main room.

“You,” I said, while he took stock of me with startled eyes. I could only imagine what he saw. Wrinkled dress, smeared makeup, mussed hair. A Walk of Shame for entirely different reasons. “You have a key now?”

“Um…” The telltale sound of the clink of keys came as he clenched his hand.

“Great!” I said. “Make yourself at home. Welcome back into my life!”

“Scarlet!” Verily flew out of her room, ensuring she was standing next to Noah and clutching his arm when she said, “I know you’re mad. But don’t.”

“What? Don’t confront him? Make you two admit what’s been going on? It’s pretty clear anyway.” I indicated her arms, wrapped around him. “So tell me, Noah.”

“Don’t go there,” he said to me with deep, ominous warning.

“Is she out of your system? The one you called your soulmate, the one you wanted to marry. Is she all gone now? And all it took was less than two years.”

“Scarlet, you have no right—”

My face wrenched into an expression used only once before. A twist of ugliness, and grief, a morph of rage and despair. “I wish it were so easy.”

“I’m not doing this.” Noah grabbed Verily’s arm, and aimed for the front door.

Verily hopped behind him. “But I’m not dressed—”

“Change at my place,” he said to her.

I scoffed. “So it’s at that stage—”

“Scar.” He whirled. “You haven’t talked to me in over a year. Haven’t bothered to know my grief. So don’t you stand there spewing morals at me. I despised myself every day for waking up, just like you. The only difference between us is, I had people with me to help. I forgave my mistakes.” He inclined his head to include Verily. “I’m not the one nursing hate like it’s some kind of excuse to be an asshole. I hurt. I’m in pain!” He screamed so loud his voice shattered the air. “But I still know how to act like a fucking human being!”

I blanched, and in my shocked silence he took his chance and left, Verily trailing behind. She was ready to hesitate, the angst and pity so easy to read, but the door shut behind her before either of us could say anything of use.

Noah was right. I preferred venom. But I’d rather despise than live a full life without her.

My cheeks were sticky with drying tears, and to my horror, more were tracking down, fresh streaks through the old. I’d had no idea there’d been so many tears through my yelling, at Verily, at Noah. Had no clue what they were seeing at the other end of the argument—this wet, mottled, unredeemable girl who was coming so close to being left behind.

They were moving forward. Finding love.

And I found love in hate. My heart was cracked.

I stumbled into my room, collapsing to a heap at the foot of my bed, and folded over into my comforter, clutching it like I would a teddy bear. My thoughts seethed over what I was turning into—willingly—and who I was leaving in the dust to do it, as I sobbed my choices into cotton.

My phone dinged at my knees, my crumpled form landing so close to where I’d chucked my stuff earlier in the night.

Sniffling, wiping my face with the comforter, I pulled it out, half hoping it was Verily but realizing that if I wanted to mend anything, it had to be me coming to her first. But could I ever say it?

It’s okay, Vare. I’m all right with you dating my dead sister’s true love.

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