by A. M. Hardin
I chuckle as I climb off her. “You wish you had as nice of an ass as I do.”
Jade’s eyes immediately go to where I’m standing, her perceptive gaze taking in way too much considering that I’m standing so stiffly because of my back. She sits up but movement at the door catches her attention.
“Seriously?” she asks dryly. “You brought an audience?”
I smile as my eyes go to my guards. “They’re kind of stuck following me everywhere, Jade. Get used to it.”
“Don’t fucking want to,” she mutters as she throws the blankets off her and climbs out of bed. “Get out so I can get dressed.”
I salute her before grabbing Celeste’s hand and drag her into the hallway with me.
Levi raises an eyebrow at me. “You guys do this a lot, huh?”
“One of us has to go to Jade’s house everyday just to make sure her ass gets up,” Celeste explains. “Before Crystal came along, Jade and I lived together, so it was a little easier on us regarding time. However, if we have both of us getting her up, Jade gets up quickly. If it were just one of us, she’d drag her feet.”
“Why is it so hard for her to wake up?” Ezra asks.
I look at him and answer as vaguely as possible. “Jade’s powers take a serious toll on her mentally, just as mine do. I just don’t require as much mental, physical, or magical strength to keep my shit locked up tight.”
Chapter Eleven
Crystal
All three of my guards’ frown in unison. They seriously look like mirror images of each other. I bite my lip to keep myself from smiling. Jade exits the room completely dressed a moment later, frowning.
“What the fuck are you wearing?” she asks as she falls into step beside me.
Sighing heavily, I look down my body. “My mother wanted me to wear it. I figured since last night was such a shit show that I might as well heed her on this request.”
Truth be told, the fact that it was a shit show has nothing to do with it. It’s more along the lines of my friends would notice something was wrong if I’m injured more than I already am. Glancing at Jade from the corner of my eye, I see the scowl on her face. That’s if Jade hasn’t already figured out that I’m hurting.
We get to the dining room without running into anyone other than a few maids and a guard here and there. That most likely means that we’re the last to arrive. Fuck my life.
Levi and Maxwell reach the doors before we do, each of them holding a door open for the three of us to step through while Ezra walks in after us, placing himself against an empty area against the wall. Levi and Maxwell follow suit, stepping up to the wall on either side of Ezra.
My mother frowns as I make eye contact with her. “You’re late,” she chides, a chill to her voice that she attempts to hide, but she doesn’t manage it completely.
“Apologies, mother,” I say, keeping my voice calm and without any of the anger I feel coursing through me at just the sight of my perfect family. Perfect, my ass.
“It was my fault,” Jade says, her tone just shy of snapping. “I didn’t realize we had to be here at a specific time.”
“Hmm.” My mother doesn’t acknowledge her words but motions for us to sit down. She gestures to the prince from last night and I just barely fight the frown from surfacing when I see him. “You will sit by Julian again, Crystal.”
I take a deep breath to center myself then move to the empty chair beside the prince. He’s watching me closely and I can’t help but get the feeling that he knows something when he looks at me. Hell, if I can figure out what it is though.
“Now that we’re all here, I thought we could chat about the ball that will be happening tonight,” my mother starts before taking a sip of her juice.
I double-blink, looking between my parents. “Ball for what, exactly?”
“To welcome you back home,” my father says, his tone holding a slight warning to it.
“Prince Julian and his parents will be there as well, of course. We got confirmation this morning,” my mother says, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
I glance at the prince out of the corner of my eye and frown when I see him watching me. What is with this guy? Does he even talk?
“Crystal.” I look at my mom, my frown smoothing out as I force my expression back to neutral.
“Yes?”
“I figured after breakfast you could show the prince around. He’s been here for a couple weeks now, and we haven’t had the chance. Plus, it’ll give you time to bond.”
Inwardly flinching, I nod, pasting a fake smile on my face. “Of course.”
“Maybe your friends could find something to do to occupy themselves,” she suggests. I sigh and look at Jade and Celeste who are sitting beside a weirdly quiet Rita.
Celeste and Jade exchange a look then both shrug at the same time. “Yeah, we can do that.” Celeste gives me a small but supportive smile while Jade looks like she swallowed a lemon. I smirk at her expression. It’s most likely in response to my mom’s meddling. Jade’s never been one to keep quiet when people don’t mind their own business.
Rita looks up at that moment and I meet her eyes. Immediately they go from angry to hateful. “What?” she snaps.
I raise an eyebrow at her, shake my head and take a bite of my food. “Absolutely nothing. You’re just unusually quiet today.”
She scoffs. “Because I’m wondering when this bullshit is going to come to an end.”
Jade and Celeste glance at my parents, gauging their reaction as I continue studying my sister. I feel the tension in the room skyrocket as she glares at me. “What bullshit are you referring to exactly?”
“That you’re actually welcome here,” Rita says. “You’ve been here a fucking day and all that anyone can talk about is the precious princess who returned home. They seem to be missing one special fact. You ran away. You’re not fit to be a princess. You’re sure as shit not fit to be a damn fae.”
“Rita,” mother snaps. “That’s quite enough.” Her eyes flick to Julian before hardening as she looks back at my sister. “We have a guest.”
My sister rolls her eyes and places her napkin in her nearly full plate and stands. “He’ll find out how worthless she is eventually, mother. I’m merely pointing out some facts.”
“How about this for a fact?” the prince asks, speaking for the first time. His tone is low, but there’s a sliver of anger in it. His voice is gravelly and honestly sends a shiver down my spine. He steeples his hands as he leans on the table, his expression showing nothing. “I’m honestly thrilled to not be betrothed to you.”
My sister’s cheeks redden. In anger or embarrassment, I can’t say. “And why is that?”
“It’s simple really. You’re a spoiled brat. Your sister has done nothing while I have been here to warrant the words that continuously and stupidly flow from your mouth. While your sister did, in fact, leave in a huff last night, I don’t blame her for that. You’ve done nothing but belittle her the entire time I’ve been in the room with you. Even before she arrived.”
He cuts his gaze to my parents. “I’ve kept silent for most of my stay here, observing how others speak of both of your daughters. Despite leaving years ago, no one had a complaint about Crystal aside from her lack of abilities and they were all genuinely pleased that she was back. However, whenever someone spoke of you, Rita,”—he turns back to my sister— “there hasn’t been a single good thing I have heard. Whether it’s jealousy of this arrangement, or just your sister, or for some other reason that I can’t fathom, you wouldn’t be a good choice in my kingdom.”
My mom sputters indignantly. “I beg your pardon, prince Julian, but Rita is truthfully the one you should be betrothed to, seeing as she is the oldest.”
Julian smirks. “And I would have refused her.”
Rita gasps and I can’t help the chuckle from escaping as she stomps out of the room. My parents turn to glare at me.
Oh, come on! It was funny!
“And as muc
h as I look forward to princess Crystal showing me around today, I have things I have to take care of before the ball this evening,” the prince informs my parents, slanting an apologetic look in my direction. He stands and I frown when I realize he barely touched his meal either. Then again, I’m not one to judge. I haven’t eaten more than a couple bites. I guess being around my family makes everyone lose their appetite.
“Perhaps a rain check, princess?” he asks me.
More than a little stunned that he addressed me and not my parents, I can’t find my voice to respond, so I simply nod. The prince bows to my parents then disappears from the room.
My mother looks at the guards in the room for a heartbeat before turning a glare in my direction. “I hope you’re happy.”
I blink, stunned. “Happy about what, exactly?”
“Your sister wouldn’t have acted that way if you would just be civil toward her. Prompting her and egging her on is beneath you. Or at least, it should be.”
I say nothing, just stare at my mom stunned. Of fucking course. Rita loses her shit and I get blamed for it. Precious Rita can do no wrong. She’s truthfully my mother’s daughter. I glance at my dad and I’m not surprised to see him eating as if nothing is happening.
“Seriously? Her sister acts like a total brat and you blame Crystal for it?” Jade snaps as she stands, slamming her hands on the table. Dishes start rattling on the table. Not in response to her slamming her hands down. In response to her starting to lose her grip on her anger. All guards in the room tense, several of my parents’ guards reach for the swords on their waist. “After what’s already been done to Crystal since we got here, you want to pull this shit? What the hell is wrong with you? That’s your daughter!”
So, Jade does know about my back. Fuck. I was worried about that.
“Jade,” Celeste says, grabbing Jade’s arm and pulling her back. “Not now.”
I sigh and stand as well, drawing everyone’s attention to me. “That’s enough, Jade.”
“No,” she snaps, her eyes narrowed at me now. “They can’t fucking talk to you that way. It wasn’t your fault that your sister decided to—”
“I said enough!” I snap at her, glaring right back at her. It takes a moment for my words to reach her and register. The tension leaves her body, and she looks at the floor. “Celeste, why don’t you take Jade for a walk?” It wasn’t a question. If Jade or I get mad enough, we lose control over our powers. The two of us have to stay in control or bad things happen. I’m the only person that can reach her when she gets too close to the point of no return and it’s been that way as long as I can remember.
Celeste nods and leads Jade past me. Jade glances up at me and mutters an apology.
I smile at her. “I get it.” Celeste shoots me a confused look but doesn’t say anything as she leads Jade out of the room. Once they’re gone, I turn to look at my parents who stare at me. Their confusion plain on their face. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
My mom smirks. “You’re more like us than you care to admit, child. Controlling your so called “friends” like that. Yes, you’re definitely our child.”
My teeth clench at the words. “There’s a difference between my “controlling” my friend, as you put it, that you’re not considering. I don’t do it to have control over either of them. They have as much control over me as I have over them. They are my friends, mother. True friends. They’re not like your friendships where it’s all about stabbing one in the back or being better than they are. We truly care about each other. That’s the difference that I’m talking about, mother. However, I wouldn’t expect you to understand something as trivial as caring for another person. The Gods know that you don’t give a shit about anything except that crown on your head.”
My mom’s eyes narrow. “Apologize.”
Taking a steady breath, I close my eyes and whisper, my words steadily getting louder as I speak, “I’m not going to apologize for speaking the truth. You act like the doting mother, but at least I don’t trick myself into believing that lie.”
“Do we want a repeat of last night?” my father asks casually before taking another bite of his food and looking me in the eye.
A shiver rolls down my spine and my stomach churns. “Even if I don’t, it won’t change anything, will it?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
Dad smirks. “Well, would you look at that? She learns.” He sits back in his chair and regards me for several long moments. My heart starts pounding in my chest. I clench my fists and wait, for what, I don’t know. I just know that it’s either going to be really bad or somewhat good. “I suppose we can let this slide, for once. Seeing as your sister was the one who originally started all of this.” He points his fork at me. “However, this will be the only time I will be so lenient, Crystal.”
“Of course, father,” I mutter, my heart still racing. Without looking at anyone else in the room, I leave with my guards following close behind me. “Well, that was a disaster,” I say as soon as the doors close behind us.
“You think?” Levi growls. “What the hell were you thinking?”
I stop walking and turn around, putting my hand on his chest to stop him from bumping into me. “I was thinking that I needed to protect my friends. I was thinking that even though they will hurt me, they won’t kill me. They would kill my friends.”
Levi looks between my eyes for a long moment and I’m keenly aware of Ezra and Maxwell’s eyes on us as well. “What happened to the Crystal I used to know?” Levi finally asks, sounding a little sad.
I smile bitterly. “She died, Levi. She’s dead and she’s not coming back.” I pat his chest before turning around to walk back to my room.
Chapter Twelve
Crystal
It doesn’t take long for Jade and Celeste to meet me at my room. My guards, thankfully, don’t force their way into my room, choosing instead to stay outside the room for their visit.
“Show me,” Jade snaps as soon as the door closes behind them.
Celeste gives Jade a confused look. “Show you what?”
Not pretending to misunderstand, I walk to the vanity and find a pair of scissors. Without thinking anything of the dress, I pull it away from my chest and start cutting down the middle until the cut reaches my bellybutton. Within moments, the dress is in a pool around my feet.
Celeste gasps as Jade mutters a curse. “I fucking knew it. Why the hell didn’t you say anything?” Jade asks, anger coloring her tone.
Celeste glares at Jade. “You knew? And you didn’t say anything?”
Jade narrows her eyes right back at Celeste. “She didn’t say anything either. I saw it happen after you guys woke me up.”
Fuuuck.
One of Jade’s abilities that she has to work on controlling is seeing pain and the origins of it. She can control it when she’s wide awake, but when she’s asleep, those walls drop. Just like mine do. I forgot that she would have been able to see what happened after she woke up.
Jade chuckles humorlessly. “I see you forgot. That doesn’t matter, right now. What matters is that you kept it from us. Or tried to, anyway.”
I sigh and go to the dresser and grab a pair of leggings, a short sleeve shirt, and a pair of socks. “I didn’t want you guys freaking out.”
“Too fucking late!” Jade snaps at the same time Celeste dryly says, “That worked well, considering I’m freaking the fuck out.”
I roll my eyes as I throw the clothes on. I turn and face them again, my frustration at their anger melting away at the worry in their eyes. “I’m fine, guys. The wounds are much better now compared to what they were this morning.”
Celeste’s eyes widen and Jade scowls. “We should never have fucking let you come back here.”
I sigh as I sit on the edge of my bed and pull my running shoes out from underneath it. Tugging them on, I shake my head. “It was my choice, Jade. I’m just sorry I dragged you guys into my messed up family.”
“You’re going fo
r a run?” Celeste asks, voice shocked. “You’re injured, Crys. You need to rest. Not run.”
“I’m fine,” I mutter as I stand. I’m totally lying. Running will aggravate the wounds in my back. But I can’t just stay here and wait for tonight, either. “I just . . . I need to think, okay? I need to be alone for a little while.”
Jade raises an eyebrow. “How do you expect to be alone when you’ve got the sexy three musketeers following your every move?”
I smirk. “That, my friend, is where you come in.”
Jade groans. “Really? We’re covering for you to sneak out just for a run?”
“Yup,” I say, making the ‘p’ pop at the end.
Celeste sighs. “How are you going to leave without them noticing?”
I move toward the balcony doors. “Hello? Do you not know me?”
Celeste laughs softly. “Alright, I get it. Dumb question.”
Opening the balcony doors, I pause for a moment before turning to look back at my friends. “I really am sorry you guys got dragged into this.”
Celeste smiles and Jade shrugs. “It’s what friends are for,” Celeste assures me.
“Plus, it’d be boring as hell at home without you there,” Jade adds.
Chuckling, I move to the edge of the balcony railing and smoothly climb over it. A dark smoke escapes my outstretched hand and wraps around the vines that are climbing up the wall a few feet away. I bring the climbing vines toward me, careful not to tear it away from the castle walls, so I can use it to climb down.
“Be safe,” Jade and Celeste say together.
I peek over my shoulder as I grab the vines and find purchase for my feet. “Always.”
Without another word, I start the steady climb down, feeling freer than I have since I set foot on the castle grounds yesterday with every step I take. It would be nice if Jade, Celeste and I could just leave from this place as we please, but I know this will most likely be the most freedom I’ll see while here.
