Page 135 of Shameless Royalty

And I should be fucking glad about that. I should be relieved. But instead, all I can think about is the fact that it should’ve been me taking care of him. It should’ve been me making sure he was eating, sleeping, and feeling like he was worth something.

But I didn’t, and now, the first time I see him in five months, he looks at me like I’m nothing but a ghost.

I squeeze my eyes shut, pressing my fingers against my temples, trying to force down the emotions clawing their way up my throat.

I never proved myself to him. I never showed him that I loved him. I thought I did—I thought that bringing him into my world, keeping him close, protecting him the only way I knew how, was enough.

But it wasn’t. It never fucking was.

I grit my teeth, my nails digging into my palms. My father was right.You need to earn him back, lad.

And I will.

I push off the wall, grabbing my jacket, already knowing where I’m going. Malachi might’ve walked away from me today, but tonight, we’re going to fucking talk. Willow Bridge is quiet atnight. The kind of quiet that isn’t real—just a thin layer stretched over something deeper, something more dangerous.

I know this place. I’ve walked these halls for years, played the game, worn the fucking crown they put on my head. But tonight, none of that means shit to me.

Tonight, I’m just a man walking toward the one person who has ever had the power to ruin him.

Malachi’s dorm is in a quieter part of campus, tucked away in one of the buildings meant for scholarship students, the ones with potential but without the right kind of bloodlines. Well, that’s what they want you to think; the Crowns know what this building represents. There are heirs here, too, but the protected ones.

Pisses me off because my boy should be next to me.

I step up to his door, staring at the number for a second longer than I should, my jaw tight. I raise my fist and knock.

Nothing.

I wait a beat, then knock again, harder this time.

Still nothing.

I breathe out and press my palm flat against the door, clenching my jaw. “Malachi.”

Silence.

I close my eyes, resting my forehead against the wood, trying to steady myself, trying to fucking breathe. “You can ignore me all you want, but we both know that’s not gonna make me leave.”

Still nothing.

I let out a sharp breath, shaking my head. “Fine.” I step back, flexing my fingers at my sides, trying to keep my emotions in check. “You wanna pretend like this is over? Like we don’t have unfinished fuckin’ business?”

I scoff, my head tilting slightly. “Alright. Then let’s talk about that ring.”

A beat of quiet. Then I hear movement. The shift of fabric.

I knew it.

I smirk, running my tongue over my teeth. “Yeah. That one.” I lean against the door again, my voice dropping even lower. “You left it for me.”

More silence, but I don’t stop.

“You could’ve tossed it, could’ve pretended it never meant anythin’ to you.” I let my hand press against the door again, like if I get close enough, I’ll feel him on the other side. “But you didn’t.”

I swallow hard, my pulse thick in my throat. “You didn’t let me go, Babyface. You just wanted me to prove that I wasn’t gonna letyougo.”

A breath. A hesitation.

Then—soft footsteps and the lock clicks.

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