Page 46 of Broken Truths

“‘Miss Eden Astor to wed Mr. Leonardo Jarvis.’ Your mother is all too happy to announce your engagement,” he growls as the newspaper headline comes into view.

Holy. Motherfucking. Shit.

16

Oliver

Rage like I’ve never felt before threads through my veins, boiling me from the inside out. I feel myself coming apart, like holding onto a string that’s unraveling every second.

Eden’s face turns ashen.

Serrated breaths rack my chest. My body wars with itself—half wanting to comfort her, half wanting to thrive inside the anger pulsing through me.

Everyone is always taking something from me. They take, and they take, and they take, like I’m never good enough for anything. And the only fucking thing that I ever thought was mine—even when my world was going to shit—is this fucking girl in front of me.

Now, someone is trying to take her away.

Half the time, the only reason I thought this life was worth living was because I had a shot with her. The world is burning around me in my own personal apocalypse. My dreams floating in the ashes.

Lucky me.

“What are you fucking talking about?” Leo’s growly, testosterone-fueled voice feels like splinters in my eardrums.

Eden takes the announcement out of my hands, staring wide-eyed at the calligraphy. It’s gold-foiled and beautiful, not even remotely the kind of thing she would send out. She’d be more likely to post something on Instagram saying “Guess who’s getting hitched, bitches!”

At least, the old Eden would.

“Holy shit,” she breathes, turning toward Alaric and Leo. Alaric stands with his hair mussed, nothing on but boxers. Leo also just stands there, his shoulders lifting and lowering with his ragged breaths. At least I got in one good shot.

Because Leo is as impatient as fuck, he stalks toward Eden and grabs the invitation from her hands. As he reads, his jaw clenches, the small muscles tensing and stretching. He peers up, his eyes wild. “Where did this come from? Did it come in the mail? How did we get it?” he seethes, getting louder the more I ignore him.

“The mail. I just looked through everything that came today.”

He stalks past me, and a little thrill shoots through me when I see the beginning of a shiner around his eye. Alaric follows, and Eden turns, still appearing stunned. Walking by me, she grabs my arm. “He wouldn’t do this,” she whispers so only I can hear. “Remember what Franklin does to women who join his family?”

I grind my jaw. “Except he likes the idea of marrying you.”

She gives me a small smile in the only way Eden Astor can. “So do you.”

“Which is why I’m pissed!”

She reaches up, wrapping her fingers around my nape. The blanket she had around her falls to the floor, and she presses her naked body against mine. “Prince Oliver the IX, I love you completely and truly. You’re my best friend, my partner in crime—literally—and I have no idea why you’re so jealous. Maybe I’m doing all this wrong? I know it’s not your ideal scenario…”

I let out a breath, holding her to me. The truth is, I want her to have what she wants. She deserves it. Her loving two other guys will never change the way I feel about her, and I don’t ever want to be on the outside looking in again. I’d rather be on the inside, in this little bubble she’s created out of her madness. “Maybe… I’m being stupid.”

“No, you’re not. I obviously don’t think you guys are going to be best friends, especially because he’s Leo. He’s so different from you, but that doesn’t make him—”

“Yes, it makes him bad,” I say.

I can hear the amusement in her voice when she replies. “There’s my Ollie.” She tightens her grip and then releases me, stepping back so I can see her—all of her. “I don’t know about this whole marriage thing. I have no idea what’s going on, but just so we’re clear: even if I married Keegan, even if I married the guy who sits outside your favorite pub in London looking for spare change, I would always love you. Nothing could ever change that.”

My balls swell. Hearing her bare her soul at the same time as speaking her truth makes it more raw. “Obviously we have something more important to tend to first but, Eden Astor, if you aren’t naked in my bed soon, I’ll find you and take care of this need I have no matter who’s around.”

Her eyes glisten as she slides the tip of her tongue along her lower lip, and we share a moment before Alaric yells, “Guys, come down here.”

I cup her cheek and lean in to whisper in her ear. “Put some clothes on so the three of us can actually think, love.” Then I walk away, pinching her ass as I go.

She gives a cute little yelp. My yelling has awakened James and a few of the others, so I tell them everything is fine and that they can return to bed.

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