Page 35 of Royal Havoc

“What did you do?” he asks abruptly, causing me to roll my eyes and smile.

“Nothing. I’m Barbie, livin’ in her dream house.”

He sighs loudly into the phone at my joke. “Well,Barbie, shouldn’t you be playing school?”

I can’t help but giggle. “Barbie makes her own schedule,” I mock teasingly, happy to hear his familiar voice.

“Well, I’m not Ken, so get to the point. The real world’s busy,” he informs me shortly.

“Right. What are the privacy rules I’m being forced to endure in this agreement?” I ask, sipping my coffee.

“I don’t understand. You’re in the cottage, correct?” he inquires thoughtfully.

Licking my lips. “Yes. But, can the Donor Bag go in and root around whenever he wants?”

“I’ll have to do some checking. But in the meantime, hide your stash better,” he advises shortly as I hear him start shuffling around papers.

“Fine. Let me know what you find.”

“Behave, Onyx.”

“I’m always a good girl,” I mock before ending the call.

Smiling to myself as I lay the phone back on the table when I notice Amy standing at the end of the counter staring at me. My mood quickly darkens as I advert my eyes back to the window.

It’s nothing against her specifically. I’m just not that small-talk-share kind of girl. I don’t trust people enough to sit and talk about myself. I’m more of a sit in silence and listen while others ramble obnoxiously about their life. I don’t care if people think I’m mysterious, nice, or mean. I know I have RBF, and I’m fine with it.

Trying to shake off the dark mood that’s fallen over me, my mind spins like a Twister wheel, landing on an image of Carney and her clown from this morning. Snippets of past conversations I never cared to listen to float around my tired brain, forming hazy thoughts.

Vexen’s always been in or around my life, even when I tried to shove him away. When I’d gain a little distance, Mom would appear asking questions, which was the only time she ever took notice of anything I was doing. Unless you count the lectures she loved to give after discovering from Nolan that I did something she disapproved of.

It was never a secret that I was ‘promised’to Vex because of some bullshit bonding rule. Strip it down, and it’s just a way for the rich to stay rich without sharing it with the less fortunate.Certain names are meant to be together to gain power. Power I’ve never cared about because I don’t give a fuck about what goes on in some little town overlooking a dirty river. Honestly, money doesn’t mean shit to me. I’d rather live freely than be diagnosed under a microscope by people who pretend to know me.

So when did Carney get tossed into the salad?

If I’m expected to keep my hymen intact for a guy that I can’t stand, why does he get to dunk his noodle? How does that even add up? Never being allowed to date because myvirtuewas already given away like a cheap gift at bingo night.

Total double standards!

My eyes rake over the dilapidated building across the street as a memory presses against the back of my eyes.

The little girl on the swing snatches the two black roses from the boy's shaky hand and throws them at the bushes. “Roses are ugly! Only tulips are pretty!” the girl yells, tears spilling down her rosy cheeks.

Without thought, I shoved up the sleeve of my hoodie, my finger tracing the tattoo on my forearm. It’s a single black rose, wilting in the darkness, petals falling as they slowly die.

“Onyx?” her voice has me jumping.

Grace, Vexen’s mom, is standing a few feet away, worry etched on her face. “Hi,” I rasp before clearing my throat.

“Are you okay? You look a little lost,” she asks, glancing out the window at the rundown scene I’ve been staring at for lord knows how long.

Straightening in the chair, realizing I’ve lost track of time. “No, I’m fine,” I answer, quickly standing, ignoring the warm sensation covering my toes from the loss of feeling.

She watches me grab the trash from the table and follows me towards the trash can. “I was devastated to hear about Opal’s accident.”

“It was sudden,” I agree, tossing out the trash on my way to the door.

Her heels tap on the concrete as she follows me across the road to the gravel parking lot. “Vex said you’re having a little trouble adjusting,” she tries to question.

---