Page 136 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

The Royal Promise

River

I’m restlessly tapping my finger against the steering wheel as I drive down a road that weaves away from the castle-like academy and dips into the shadows of northside. Finn and I have been quiet during the drive; Finn is staring at the window while I’ve been fixated on how to deal with this Drew situation. I plan on paying off Maddy’s debt, but I’m worried how the deal will go down. More than likely, Drew will know I come from money, and he may demand more if I’m not careful.

“You’re restless,” Finn notes the obvious. “Which means you’re freaking out but trying not to show it.”

“I’m fine.” It’s a lie, and he knows it.

“Bro,” he says with a shake of his head. “You can’t bullshit me. I’m your other half.”

“I’m not trying to bullshit you.” Listening to the GPS, I slow down to turn onto a dark road lined with boarded-up buildings. “I’m trying to figure out the best way to approach the deal I have to make with Drew.”

Finn knows enough about the situation that I don’t have to explain more details.

“You think he’ll try to negotiate for too much money?” he asks, dragging his hand through his hair.

I nod. “You race down here enough to know how stuff can get on this side of town. Maddy has said it a dozen times—people from here like to hustle.”

He lowers his hand. “Well, I think you’ll just have to play it out. There’s probably a way around negotiations.” He wavers. “I still can’t believe the shit Noah got himself into. He’s such a dumbass.”

Instinctively, I open my mouth to agree, but then I close it. Maddy’s words replay in my mind. She told me I should get Noah’s full story and also said that perhaps there’s more to what’s going on than I understand. She could be right. The Noah I used to know would never do something like this.

“What?” Finn asks as his gaze dissects me through the dark.

I lift a shoulder. “Maddy told me to hear Noah’s story before I judge.”

He rubs his lips together. “And after everything he’s done, you’re going to?”

I shrug again. “I’m considering it.”

He studies me. “You like her a lot.”

“Maddy?” I play dumb.

He gives me a look that shows he thinks I’m an idiot. “Yes, Maddy. Who else would I be talking about? You’ve liked one girl.”

“Only because I wasn’t supposed to like anyone except for my betrothed,” I mumble as I check the address on the GPS. It’s showing we’re about a mile away.

“And yet, even after all that trying not to fall for someone, you couldn’t stop yourself from having feelings for Maddy.”

“What’s your point?”

“There must be something about her that you can’t resist.”

My mind wanders to when I started to fall for Maddy. If I’m being real, it was the moment I laid eyes on her. That was the first time I felt like someone else knew what it was like to constantly feel as if they were falling into an abyss.

Then I got to know her, and I was a goner. There’s no going back from Maddison Averly. I want her so badly it aches inside my soul. It’s something I haven’t ever felt before.

But I haven’t talked to Maddy about my feelings for her. Technically, we’re only fake dating, and she seemed uncomfortable when paparazzi was taking photos of us. Even if I asked her to date me, would she even want to? Especially when I can’t promise her anything long-term?

Unless I can find a way out of my arranged marriage.

“You’re about to miss the turn,” Finn announces, yanking me back to the present.

I blink and then brake, the tires squealing against the asphalt. I turn right into the parking lot of a building.

“This is the place?” Finn dubiously eyes the building as I park the car close to the front entrance, beside a truck with tinted windows.

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