Page 109 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

“Should we eat these here? Or wait until we get back to the academy?”

“Let’s wait.” I recline back in the seat. “We can eat outside, if you want.” I check the time on my phone. “It’s not super late. Plus, look at the sky right now.” I lean to the side to glance out the window. “It’s so clear out here. On the northside, there’s more pollution because of all the industrial buildings, so the stars and moon are rarely this visible.”

River could have peered out his own window, but he choose to lean toward me and look out mine. It puts him right by me, within smelling distance. I inhale, and the scent of his cologne kisses my nostrils.

God, he smells so good.

God, I am so screwed.

“I like that idea.” He smiles at me, and he’s so close.

My heart flutters.

Yep, like I said. Screwed.

Maddison

The drive to the academy is quiet. The driver makes no effort to talk to us, and River and I are content with that. River sends a text at the beginning of the drive, but other than that, we both just sit in the silence. It’s not awkward. It’s comfortable. I’d probably fall asleep, but so many things are running through my mind, like an out of control merry-go-round. Could this necklace in my bag be the real deal? If so, what does that mean? And what about that guy in the grocery store? Why was he acting so weird about my aunt?

And then comes the other questions …

Ones about River.

He is gorgeous, that has always been a given since the day I first laid eyes on him. It didn’t matter in the beginning because I assumed he’d be an asshole. He’s not. He’s the kind of guy that I could see myself breaking my no-dating rule for. But he’s also in an arranged betrothal, and that means if I go there with him—decide to break my rule—I’m knowingly walking into heartbreak.

“What’re you thinking about?” he unexpectedly asks, his fingers brushing through my hair.

You, I want to say, but instead I mumble, “The necklace and that Grey guy.”

We’re both angled toward each other, with our heads resting against the back of the seat, only inches apart. So, when he turns his head to look at me, he’s so close that I can see the streetlights reflecting in his pupils.

“I can’t answer the necklace thing for you right now. However …” He raises his hips so he can fish his phone out of his pocket. Then he swipes his finger across the screen and types Grey’s name into the search engine. “This is who he is.” He hands me the phone.

I assess the man on the screen. In some of the photos, he looks younger than he did in the store. In others, he looks the same. He’s a pretty big deal in the royal community. In fact, many of the articles list him as the best lawyer in the country. He defended a lot of wealthy men and got them off the hook for things like fraud, tax evasion, and even murder.

“I don’t know … I feel like he might be one of those lawyers who gets the bad guys off the hook,” I state. “The cases he’s on could easily be that.”

“Let me see.” He takes the phone from me and skim-reads the article. “Shit, I didn’t know this about him.”

“Really? It seems like it’s pretty big news.”

“Yeah, sometimes I get lost in my own world, worrying about stuff. Finn says I’m wasting my life with all the worrying I’m doing.” He frowns as he puts his phone onto his lap.

“He might be right, but I think you have stuff to worry about.” I pause with my lips pressed together. “Have you ever thought about trying to get out of it?”

His eyes lift to mine. “Lately, yeah. I think the closer it gets to the day I have to give up my future, the more I think about it. It’s almost like knowing the day you’re going to die.”

I feel so bad for him. “I’m sorry. As much as my life has sucked, I’ve never felt that sort of responsibility.”

He gives me a really look. “Maddy, your dad threw you under the bus, and now you have drug dealers chasing after you.”

“Is that the same, though? I mean, mine isn’t indefinitely.” Is it?

What if it is? What if my father’s sins always haunt me?

I swallow hard at that thought as the car arrives at the academy. It slows to a stop at the stairway that leads to the entrance. River thanks the driver then opens his door and leaves it open for me to climb out. I scoop over and get out, the cool air wrapping around me and dancing through my hair.

River leans in to collect the bag of milk and cookies then shuts the door.

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