Page 12 of Royal Havoc

Hazel’s nail poking at my face pops in my mind. “Um… I didn’t like it?” It sounds more like a question than an answer.

“Hmmm,” he hums, watching me twist my fingers in my blanket. “Good girls don’t lie,” he warns, watching the silent tears fall from my eyes.

“I didn’t lie,” I force out. I hate talking to him. He never listens.

“Your Daddy told me you lie all the time.”

“I hate him. He yells all the time. He left me,” I pout. “I want to talk to Mommy,” I beg.

He uncrosses his legs and leans forward again. “Mommy can’t help you. You belong to The Row now. It will make you stronger if you stop fighting,” he tells me, watching me wipe my tears.

“I don’t understand.”

He always says the same things. But I don’t know what he means this time. I’m alone in my cage. There isn’t anyone to fight. I just want to go home. To my room, with my stuff. I don’t like being in the dirty cage.

He rubs a hand over his mouth. “What do you want to be?”

“Huh?” I grunt, surprised by the new question.

He leans back again, shrugging his shoulders. “If you could be anything you want. What would you want to be?”

“Like make-believe?” I ask.

He chuckles, flashing his crooked teeth. “Yes, like make-believe.”

I think for a second, hugging my blanket. “A princess,” I finally answer. “Mommy told me I was a princess, and someday my prince would save me. But I don’t like ugly boys. They’re yucky,” I tell him, pretending to gag.

He smiles, nodding his head. “Hazel,” he calls, and the door opens immediately. He leans forward, staring at me. “Prove it,”he says to me. “Take our princess back to twenty-five,” he tells the wicked red-headed witch.

She charges towards me, snatching my hand before I can pull it away. “Wait,” I shriek, fighting her as she yanks me to my feet.

Dr. Bolton turns, holding up a hand to stop her. “What is it?” he questions.

I yank my hand away, standing in the middle of the room. “I don’t want to go back to the cage.”

He smiles, holding his hands behind his back. “Prove you’re a princess, and I’llthinkabout letting you out.”

“No takebacks?” I ask seriously.

This makes him laugh. “No takebacks,” he answers seriously before waving a hand, dismissing us.

six

Coffee Thief

Onyx: 2024

The cottage is cold, reminding me I’m alone when I crawl from the safety of the warm bed the next morning. Last night, watching Nolan leave hit harder than I could’ve ever predicted. After the massacred reunion I was legally tricked into having with Mr. My-House-My-Rules, I was mentally drained.

I have no clue what I was thinking when I stormed out of there last night. Actually, no, that’s a lie. I thought I’d get to ride out this stupid requirement without seeing him for the next three months. It’s too bad he was already a step ahead, making me agree to his whacked-out dinner arrangement.

Staring at the bathroom mirror, holding my toothbrush halfway to my mouth. “Dumbass, now you’re gonna have toendure his face for twelve weeks. That’s fucking ninety days,” lecturing my reflection, hating every syllable of truth I’m spitting at myself.

The last time I was here in the cottage was when Mom and I stayed while she was taking care of the funeral arrangements for her parent’s sudden death.

Nerves mixed with chills vibrate over my skin as I struggle to get ready for a day I wished to never come.

I don’t want to seehim, especially after our little meet and greet last night. I’ve told the universe repeatedly for years that I never wanted to see his lying face again.

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