Page 100 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

He chews on his bottom lip, not answering.

“What the hell?” I ask, appalled. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He lazily lifts a shoulder. “You told me to imagine it.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Yeah, well, you were supposed to say you couldn’t imagine it.”

“But I can,” he replies truthfully. When I glare at him, he shrugs again. “You’re beautiful, and I could see you in a nice dress, looking … beautiful.”

“Stop calling me that,” I mutter, my cheeks warm.

Usually, I get irritated when guys call me hot or beautiful, but River is making me blush.

What the hell, Maddy? Where is your head at?

Thank God, River gets as embarrassed, too, as he realizes what he said.

“Sorry,” he mumbles. “I shouldn’t have said that …” A quick pause. “Even if it is true.”

I sigh loud enough for him to hear me. “Can we just stop with the compliments? I don’t do well with them.”

“Only if you agree that we take care of this tonight and get the necklace. Because I don’t want you trying to sneak off by yourself—it’s too dangerous.”

I think it might be the first time I’ve felt like someone has worried about me. Maybe that’s why I agree.

Or maybe I’ve been struck dumb by all the royal prettiness.

Whatever the reason, it looks like I’m going to northside tonight.

Maddison

River and I leave the lake and drive back to the city. We park his car in the same carport Finn used when he helped me escape Drew. Then River and I head out to the front entrance where an Uber will pick us up.

River has us go through the bottom floor of the building instead of going around outside, which means we have to walk through the main lobby where people are. I immediately grow anxious at the sight of the domed cathedral ceiling, the sparkling chandelier, the shiny marble floor, and the gold splashes everywhere, including on peoples’ jewelry.

Everyone is glitzy with royalty, and I feel like trash. I’m unsure if I’m being self-conscious, but I swear a group of women sitting on sofas near the windows at the front are staring at me. They’re drinking tea, and it looks like they might be having a book club meeting since they’re all holding a book.

“Are you okay?” River asks as we cross the room, passing by the front desk.

A few people are standing behind it, dressed in suit-like uniforms. This place makes me think of a five-star hotel, but I can’t even confirm if it’s like one since I’ve never stepped foot in that type of place.

I wrap my arms around myself. “I’m fine.” My gaze sweeps the area, and I’m certain one of the female receptionists is glaring at me. “But I do feel out of place here.”

“You shouldn’t feel that way. You belong here as much as anyone else does,” he attempts to reassure me as he places a palm on the small of my back and inches closer to me.

I’m unsure why he does it—if it’s an instinctive move or intentional. Normally, I’d move away from him—I’m not some girl who needs protecting. But this place is making me all twitchy. It’s too polished, too shiny. Too fake.

By the time we exit through the doors and step into the cool night air, I appreciate the non-stuffy oxygen that enters my lungs.

River’s gaze flits to mine, question marks reflecting in his eyes.

“I’m good,” I assure him after I’ve taken another deep breath of wonderful stuffy-free air. “I think I was just holding my breath while we were in there.”

The edges of his lips tug downward. “You don’t have to feel uncomfortable around royals. They’re not better than you.”

“Oh, I know that.” I watch the cars on the street whizz by. “But they think they are, and that attitude can be a lot sometimes.” I glance at him from the corner of my eye.

His lips thin as he presses them together. “It can be a lot, even when you’re a royal,” he divulges. “I hate it, too—always being under the spotlight. Like that night I got arrested, paparazzi were waiting for Finn and me outside the jail.”

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