Page 214 of Swallow Your Sorries

‘She shouldn’t even go here!”

‘Her scholarship’s fucking bogus!’

“What?” I mouth again to Gant.

“I told you I don’t care about any of this king shit. I did it to get control over you and I quickly realised how much better it is when it’s just you and I because I fucking hate sharing. I’m selfish, remember?”

Before I can say anything, he’s sliding off the tabletop and guiding me onto the thick bench before settling in behind me so that his thighs are on either side of mine. The position shouldn’t embarrass me any more than anything he’s just said to the entire school, but it does. It feels wildly intimate, not that Gant seems to care as he reaches for a plate of Belgian waffles that’s seemingly appeared from nowhere. My mouth waters just at the sight of them.

“Your favourite, right? Breakfast for dinner?” he asks as if the entire hall isn’t still gawking at us. As if people aren’t still recording us like zoo animals as he pours maple syrup onto only one section. I don’t like the other sections to get soggy.

“How did you—”

But then I catch Zedd’s eye.

He’s been making my lunch.

He’s been making me Belgian waffles at least three times a week at Stassi’s request.

“I know everything about you, Elle.Everything.”

“Ummm excuse fucking us,” Rin says, “but we’re still standing right here, you know, and we need a new ruler. One that isn’t a shameless traitor. One that won’t ask for our help and then throw us away at the first whiff of pussy.”

“I agree,” Gant says, cutting the waffle and holding up a piece to my lips. I want to ignore him, but if I do, I’m afraid he’ll just chew it up himself and spit it into my mouth like a baby bird. “I know…Hale.”

“Hale?”

Contemplative murmurs break out around the room, and Hale positively beams as he stands slowly.

“Hale?” the voices sound more sure now.

“Hale.”

“Hale!”

“NO!” Kesia stomps her foot. “It doesn’t work like that! The old king can’t just appoint a new one. You have to work for it. You have to earn it.”

“I’m not appointing him. I’m suggesting him.”

“And who’s earned it more than Hale?” Zedd adds, much to Hale’s apparent surprise, as his eyebrows shoot up. “Think of all he’s done for the student body at large. Getting staff fired.”

“One,” Étienne says, holding up a finger.

“Being the best communal boyfriend known to man,” Zedd goes on.

“Two,” Étienne says and Hale spreads his arms wide.

“It’s my biggest policy. Making sure every single, senior female student has the chance to experience genuine affection and connections,” he says, lacing his fingers together pointedly and the hall explodes in sniggers.

Stassi isn’t sniggering, though. She’s suddenly interested in Zedd’s rice.

“And by default, he’s exposed and promoted the hundreds of hidden talents each lovely lady has to offer,” Bae adds, and Étienne lifts another finger.

“Causing an explosion of new couples every Valentine’s Day via his recommendations,” Zedd says and Hale smiles modestly. “He’s everything a king should be. Humble—”

“Honest,” Bae nods.

“Handsome.” Gant winks.

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