Page 115 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

His eyes roam around my room, taking everything in. “How about you grab your stuff and change at my place, just in case?”

I’m not positive what he means by that, but I’m also too uneasy to decline his suggestion. So, I nod, pack up my stuff, and we leave my dorm and head to his. Luckily, we don’t pass by anyone on the way.

River quickly unlocks the door and lets me go in first. Then he reaches past me and turns on the light right as I’m yawning.

“You’re tired,” he states as he closes and locks the door.

I shake my head as I yawn again, covering my mouth. “Nah, I just do this for fun,” I tease as I lower my hand.

He chuckles, tossing the keys into a glass bowl that’s perched on a table near the door. “Even at the brink of exhaustion, you’re still such a smartass.” He passes by me, grabbing my bag from off my shoulder as he does. “Come on. You can change in my room, and then you can crash.”

I follow him into the main section of his dorm. It’s similar to mine but slightly wider, and the vibe is different, the walls navy blue, the leather sofas are black, and the chandelier is woven with metal vines and thorns that glitter with black diamonds. Bookshelves line the wall, and to my right is a kitchen area that has granite countertops and midnight blue cabinets. The silver trim adds a splash of color, along with the stainless steel appliances.

“I thought we were going to wait up for Finn,” I remind him as I yawn again. When he aims me an insinuating look, I add, “I’m not really tired. I’m just worn out from all the training we’ve been doing, but it’s a different kind of exhaustion.” I sound like a stubborn idiot, but I don’t care.

I need to stay up and talk to Finn about what I overheard, or I’ll be too stressed to go to sleep.

“All right.” Skepticism rings in his tone. “How about we get into our pajamas and watch a movie while we wait?”

“Sounds good to me.” I feel the urge to yawn again but fight it.

He takes me to his room and sets my bag on his bed. For the most part, everything is clean, from his made bed to his desk. A few shelves line the wall; one has rows of books and the other has medals he won from cross country and track.

“You have so many medals,” I say as I make my way over to the shelf. I skim through them while shaking my head. “I’ve never been to a race that’s given medals. Not like this, anyway. I got a plastic one once and a T-shirt, but that’s about it.”

He’s standing beside me now. “It’s not fair that things have been that way for you.”

“I can live without trophies and stuff,” I assure him as I face him. “I just want to make the team. Then maybe I’ll give myself a gold star.”

He smiles at that then shakes his head. “You’re the most fascinating person I’ve ever met.”

These compliments are making me uncomfortable. I can’t have this sort of reaction with two different guys—two different royal guys and brothers, for that matter.

So, in Maddy fashion, I crack a joke. “You say fascinating. Most people say crazy.”

“Well, they’re crazy, because you’re definitely not crazy.” He grows quiet for a beat, and I swear to fucking God, he stares at my lips again.

I’m literally about to kiss him so he can get this need out of him. I’ll take one for the team if it means we can get past this mouth-staring obsession he has.

Yeah, Maddy, because the only reason you’ll kiss him is for him. It’s not like you’re currently thinking about kissing him, too.

“I’ll let you get changed, and I’ll go change in Finn’s room,” he conclusively mumbles, tearing his focus off my mouth. Then he grabs some pajamas from the dresser before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

I release a breath I didn’t even realize I had trapped inside my chest. Then I unzip my bag and grab my pajama shorts and T-shirt. My phone is shoved in my bag, too. I’ve had it silenced since I left with River, mostly to avoid my mother texting me and the unknown caller that I’m certain is Drew.

I consider checking the messages, but I don’t want to deal with that tonight, not when a secret society is coming for me. So, I leave my phone in the bag and grab the locket. I smooth my finger over it as I think about what River told me tonight. It’d be so much easier to get answers about it if my aunt hadn’t totally disconnected from the world.

I hurriedly get changed then brush my teeth and return to the living room. River is already there, sitting on the sofa, and he has the remote pointed at a massive flat-screen mounted to the wall.

When I enter, his gaze travels to me and scrolls up and down my body. My shorts are pretty short, but my T-shirt is baggy. My tattoos are on full display, and his gaze momentarily lingers on the intricate ink.

“What sort of show are you in the mood for?” He attempts to act all casual, like he wasn’t just openly checking me out.

I sit down onto the sofa close to him but not touching. “I don’t know. I’ve never really watched a lot of TV or movies, so I don’t even know what’s good or what’s on.” When he gapes at me, I shrug with my hands tucked under my legs. “We never had the money for movies or subscription services.”

His wheels are turning—I can tell—as if he’s grasping to understand this concept.

“So, what’re your suggestions?” I recline back in the chair and put my feet up on the coffee table.

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