Page 23 of The Prince of Power

As if my hand has a will of its own, it reaches out, grabs Rhett’s wrist, and firmly removes it from Ava’s shoulder.

Her eyes grow huge, but I pretend not to notice. “Rhett tells me you play the piano, Ava. We have a Bösendorfer in the conservatory. I’d like to get your opinion on it.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rhett’s lips part. He never told me anything about Ava’s piano playing, but thankfully, Miles took care of that. And while Rhett would never have the balls to call me out for lying, he could do a better job of keeping it cool.

“A Bösendorfer?” Ava tilts her head. “Do you just let people… Could I play it?”

I didn’t even have to try. “Of course.”

She turns to Rhett, smiling. “Maybe I’ll play ‘Where Is My Mind’ just for you. It’s been long enough that I won’t want to bash my?—”

“No,” I say. “Rhett won’t be coming. He’ll stay here to make sure everyone has a drink in hand. It’ll just be you and me.”

Rhett’s head jerks up. “Aren’t the servers already making sure people have drinks?”

“They are,” I say, “and now so will you.”

Rhett’s spine grows rigid, and Ava shifts on her feet. Asher smirks, like he’s enjoying a joke no one else is in on. No one speaks. The tension grows thick.

“Come.” I lift my hand in the air and flick two fingers. Ava’s gaze is fixed on my hand. She swallows, probably shocked at my audacity.

Yes, Ava.

This is how it will be. You’ll come when I summon you, or there will be consequences.

Get used to it.

9

Ava

The conservatory is breathtaking, a world unto itself. Glass walls stretch up high, meeting at a pointed peak that frames the night sky. Moonlight streams through, casting silver light onto the plants and trees.

A conservatory. I didn’t know these rooms existed outside of the game Clue.

At the far end of the room stands the piano—a Bösendorfer, its black surface reflecting the moonlight.

My God, I can almost hear it without pressing the keys. The sound will be rich and smooth, like no piano I’ve ever played before.

There’s a tug at my chest. My mom would have adored this piano. I never really knew her, but sometimes, I get the sense that she’s speaking to me from afar. Not with words, but with feelings.

My gaze flicks to Damian. His hands are in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, and his gaze is fixed on me with an almostlazy curiosity. He has no idea what it feels like to be in a room like this for the first time. To wait patiently to play that piano.

He doesn’t know, because the splendor is invisible to him, just like the water stain on the ceiling of my dorm room has now become invisible to me.

I clear my throat. “This is…quite the frat house.”

His lips twitch. “It is.”

I step closer to the piano, letting my fingertips brush against the keys. “Why is it coed? I thought fraternities were for guys only.”

“It’s very old. It didn’t start out as a fraternity, but a…club of sorts.”

I nod. “A typical answer from you. Meaning, not an answer at all.”

His grin lights up his face. This isn’t his typical cold smirk. Every once in a while, I see true pleasure on his face.

Usually when I’m rude to him.

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