Page 35 of Lovely Deceit

Leo lets my chin go, walks over to the cabinet where he’s stored the booze, cracks open a bottle with a long, slim neck, then hands it to me, not bothering to get a glass. I tip it toward my lips, liquid fire flowing all the way down my throat.

After a few swallows, I hand it back, but Oliver intercepts and chugs down more than a few mouthfuls before giving the bottle a disgusted look. “This is awful.”

“Sorry, your highness.”

“Fuck off,” Oliver says, but there’s no feeling behind it as he hands the bottle over.

I haven’t forgiven Leo for what he did, but it’s odd seeing him act like anything other than a hot-headed asshole. He actually seems like he’s trying to help.

Maybe he’s already drunk, and that’s why he’s acting the way he is?

“I hate to say this, but Jarvis is right. Don’t misunderstand, I’d marry you right now—this has nothing to do with cold feet—but you should try to meet with your dad separately. See why he’s doing this.”

I give him a look. “I’m kind of sick of the word marriage right now.”

He holds his hands up. “It was just for your information. I didn’t want you to think I was backing out because I will absolutely—”

I glare at him.

“—exchange vows with you someday.”

“That’s the same as themword.”

He shrugs, and I would kick him if he wasn’t such a sweetheart. Just a few weeks ago, I would’ve freaked out if he ever said the word marriage with him and I in the same sentence, but I’d be lucky to have him. I’d already be leagues ahead of my parents who only pretend to have a happy union. A life with Oliver would be exciting. Hell, enjoyable, even. I wouldn’t have to decorate the house and plan parties and pay nannies to watch our kids. I’d do whatever the hell I want.

I take a deep breath. “I’ll talk to him. Get him alone at home or something. I wonder if Mom’s heard the scheme.”

Oliver’s eyes brighten, but I hold up a hand. “We both know how that would end, I was just wondering if she knew.”

His shoulders slump in the next instant.

“I wouldn’t wait,” Leo suggests. “I say you go over there and corner him. Do you think you could talk him out of it?”

“Do I need to?” I ask because I honestly don’t know if I can. If he’s doing this for the good of the family, he might have his mind set already. It would take drastic measures—like what Oliver is scheming—to get away from it. Hell, I’ll probably have to move away, abandon all ties to them, except, I can’t do that right now. There’s something far more important than marrying me off in the mix.

“Short of freeing yourself from your whole family? I’d say yes.”

Nerves prick my skin until my entire body is coursing with goosebumps. I’ve already lost so much. However fucked up my family is, I don’t want to run away from them. Surely, I can talk some sense into my father—use the losing-another-daughter card because I will never willingly marry Keegan Forbes. Or anyone, for that matter. I won’t be auctioned off like prized cattle.

Fuck that.

“Fine,” I sigh. “Oliver, I’ll need to borrow the Mini unless my Jeep is somehow back?”

Both Oliver and Leo laugh. Seeing them do anything the same is unnerving to say the least. They both glare at each other before my best-friend-turned-lover peers at me. “You’re not going by yourself.”

My hackles rise. “My dad’s not going to hurt me.”

“No, he just lets you get kidnapped by the Knights and slapped across the face.” Leo’s chest rumbles with his comeback.

I scowl at him. “It was just a Trial, right?” I snark, throwing his words back at him. “Why wouldn’t he let them?”

Leo’s dark eyes shine with warning. Good to know that the guy who was halfway decent at the restaurant is now completely back into the asshole category. I turn toward Oliver who is much more reasonable, but even he has his arms crossed like he’s not going to hear any of my shit.

“I’ll drive you,” they both say at the same time before glowering at one another.

If I wasn’t so pissed at the both of them, I might laugh. “Wouldn’t want the Knights to think I’m shirking my duties,” Leo says, walking forward. He has that crazy caveman look in his eyes, and I take a step back.

“Don’t.”

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