Cruel Prince: Royal Hearts Academy - Book One

by A. Jade

  Evidently my friend is not a fan of Cole Covington.

  Can’t say I blame her. The star quarterback might be beautiful, but he’s obnoxious and cocky as hell.

  It also hurts to look at him, because he’s a walking apparition of his twin.

  A cruel glimmer at a future that will never be.

  A sad reminder of what once was.

  I’m not sure how Cole—or Jace and his family—cope with it.

  “What’s the matter, Dylan?” Those sharp green eyes of his glare daggers at me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

  For once, I’m rendered speechless.

  Sawyer isn’t, though. “Lay off her, Covington.”

  “Well, if it isn’t my favorite nerd.” His face lights up in a mocking grin as he takes her in. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Are you sure you’re not lost, sweetness?” Leaning in, he tilts his beer bottle toward the exit. “Bible study is down the road.”

  Crossing her arms, she stares him down. “Please. You wouldn’t know a study group if it slapped you upside the head and crawled up your ass.”

  He licks the tip of his beer bottle suggestively. “Oh, baby. I love it when you talk dirty to me.”

  Her face scrunches in disgust. “God, you’re such a pig.”

  Cole zeroes in on her chest and bites his lip. “Oink, oin—”

  A girl I recognize from Britney’s posse sidles up to him mid-sentence and he puts his arm around her. “Hey, sexy. Thought I was meeting you in the hot tub?”

  She starts to speak, but Cole diverts his attention to something behind us. “About time you finished.”

  My stupid, traitorous heart jumps into a sprint when I see Jace coming down the staircase.

  He’s wearing a black Henley that does delicious things to his sculpted arms, and well-fitted jeans that hang low on hips.

  His face, as usual, is goddamn perfect. Even more so with the fine dusting of stubble lining his jaw tonight.

  I’m so focused on his appearance it takes me a second to realize he’s fixing his belt…and that Britney is slinking close behind him, like a stench that lingers even after you took out the trash.

  I’m considering grabbing Sawyer’s hand and heading out to the patio for some air, but Britney’s already noticed me.

  The split-second look of envy immediately followed by uneasiness on her face is worth having to endure her for a bit.

  “Well, look what the pot-head dragged in.” She shoots Oakley an irritated glare. “Thanks a lot, Oak. I’m sure Hayley, your soon-to-be ex, is going to be thrilled when she gets here.”

  Oakley doesn’t seem fazed by her threat one bit.

  Jace makes a beeline for the makeshift bar without sparing me or anyone else a glance. Like Sawyer and I, he goes straight for the soda, disregarding the alcohol.

  I smirk as he examines the bottle and grits his teeth. “What asshole has been helping himself to my shit without permission?”

  Beside me, Sawyer goes rigid.

  I down the rest of my drink, and proudly hold up my empty cup. “This asshole.”

  The muscles in his neck tense. “What the fuck are you doing here?” His stare lowers, and his dark orbs flash with something other than disdain for a quick second before he focuses on Oakley.

  “You don’t want problems? Don’t fucking bring any.”

  “I was coming here with or without Oakley,” I inform him. “But hey, if me being here annoys you so much…you should really try to ignore me.” I trail a finger down my bare arm. “Unless I have so much of a hold on you, you won’t be able to enjoy yourself. In which case, I suggest you seek professional help.” I cast him a look filled with mock sympathy. “It’s not healthy to be so obsessed with someone who’s no longer in your life.”

  I don’t realize the horrible way my words could be misconstrued until I see a flicker of pain etched in his features.

  “Jace, I didn—”

  “No.” My stomach drops when he smiles, showcasing that deep dimple of his, and picks up the bottle of soda. “You’re right.” Faster than I can blink, he walks over and pours the soda over my head. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”

  Britney and her friend laugh like hyenas as he throws his empty bottle in my direction and stalks off.

  “Someone is obsessed,” Britney sneers. “But it’s definitely not Jace.”

  Sawyer grabs a roll of paper towels off the table and hands them to me.

  “Thanks.” I start dabbing as much of the excess liquid off me as I can.

  “Okay.” Cole rubs his hands. “I’m going in the hot tub, who’s coming?”

  “Me,” the girl next to him coos.

  “I’ll see if Jace wants to,” Britney chimes in. “If not, we’ll probably head back to my house so I can make him feel better…you know, since someone ruined his night.”

  It takes a substantial amount of effort to ignore her.

  Oakley looks at me. “A quick dip might help you get cleaned up.”

  I’d really love to know what universe he’s living in, because in mine, I’m not taking a quick dip in a hot tub with Jace’s brother or Britney’s BFF for any reason.

  “Seriously, Oakley?” Britney snaps. “Unless you want Jace to kick your ass, stop inviting her places. She’s not welcome. And if you keep it up, you won’t be either.”

  Her friend pops a hand on her hip. “Same goes for her fat ass friend.”

  “Chill,” Cole says. “Sawyer didn’t even do anything.”

  They both ignore him.

  “God.” Britney tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Can you imagine seeing that blob in a hot tub?”

  “Water is a whale’s natural habitat,” her friend says smugly.

  Sawyer turns red with embarrassment.

  I, however, am seeing red.

  Especially when Sawyer’s lower lip begins to tremble.

  “Fuck them,” I tell her. “They’re just jealous.”

  “Of what?” Britney’s side-kick cackles. “Congestive heart failure and diabetes? No thanks.”

  “Awe,” Britney coos. “I think she’s gonna cry.”

  Anger brews in my gut. Britney’s the most vile, miserable person I’ve ever met in my life, and I’m so tired of her thinking she’s so much better than everyone else.

  She’s like a fungus that keeps growing, infecting everyone with her cancer.

  But she’s spread far enough. No way in hell am I going to stand here and let her keep hurting my friend.

  I clench my hands. Whoever talks next is the first one going down.

  Side-kick crinkles her nose. “Oh my God. She is. Lard ball is totally cry—”

  A fist flies into her mouth.

  Only, it isn’t mine.

  It’s Sawyer’s.

  And my girl packs quite a punch because she knocks her to the floor.

  Baring her teeth, Sawyer looks down at her. “I might be crying, but you’re the one who’s bleeding…bitch.”

  The girl lunges for her, but Sawyer’s got the advantage and climbs on top of her.

  Britney pushes me. “Get that fat ass off my friend before she suffocates her.”

  A red mist washes over my vision. This has been a long time coming.

  I grab a handful of her red hair. “Eat a bag of dicks, fire crotch.”

  And then I drive my fist into her nose.

  Chapter 22

  DYLAN

  “That was awesome,” Sawyer says from her spot on the bathroom floor.

  Despite the throbbing in my hand and the blood trickling from my lip due to the one and only punch Britney landed, I have to agree.

  For almost fifteen minutes, Sawyer stood up for herself, and I got to pummel the shit out of my childhood terrorizer.

  Things got so crazy, a circle of partygoers formed around us, and someone changed the music to the Rocky theme song.

  Cole and Oakley tried their best to break it up, but whenever they’d pull me or Sawyer off, we’d start tag-teaming to ensure
Britney and her friend wouldn’t have the upper hand.

  It got so bad they had to call Jace for backup because half the people around didn’t want to get involved and the other half didn’t want to stop the entertainment.

  The look on Jace’s face when he pried me off his little girlfriend then peeled her off the floor was priceless.

  I pet the lock of red hair on the bathroom sink. “We even managed to get a souvenir.”

  Laughing, she heaves herself off the floor. “We’re gonna be so sore tomorrow.”

  I wince as I check out my knuckles. Nothing is broken, but they are swollen and bruised. “Tell me about it. Technically this is my second fight in a week.”

  She holds out her hand and helps me up. “You should start training professionally.”

  “Only if I can use Britney as my punching bag.”

  I turn on the faucet and wash my face since it’s still sticky from the soda Jace poured on me.

  “Shit,” Sawyer says as she looks at her watch. “It’s one-fifteen. I’m gonna be late for curfew.”

  Crap. We’ve been holed up in the bathroom gathering our bearings and time must have slipped away from us.

  She takes out her phone. “I’m gonna text my dad and tell him I’ll be home as soon as I drop you off.”

  “No, I can hitch a ride with Oakley. If you leave now, you’ll make it home on time.”

  She eyes me warily. “Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you stranded here. Plus, Oakley’s been drinking.”

  “He has, but I haven’t. I’m sure he’ll have no problem with me driving.”

  After giving her a quick hug goodbye, I walk her to her van and search for my step-cousin.

  I figured he’d still be in the living room, but there’s no sign of him. In fact, half the people who were here are gone now, and I’m seriously hoping he isn’t one of them.

  I walk over to two guys sitting on a couch. Their red eyes and the way they’re slouched over—not to mention the big ass bong they’re sharing—tells me they’re Oakley’s people and they might be able to tell me where he’d be.

  “Hey.”

  The guy wearing a beanie lifts his head. “Oh, shit. It’s you.” He slaps his friend’s shoulder. “It’s the cousin fucker who beat up that Britney chick before.”

  If I never hear the term cousin fucker again in my life, it will be too soon.

  His friend blows out a big puff of smoke and coughs. “You’re a legend, B. Mad respect.” He points to his bong. “You wanna hit this?”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m actually looking for Oakley. Have you guys seen him?”

  They exchange a glance.

  “Nah,” one of them says. “Not since the fight.”

  “But Cole’s outside in the hot tub,” his friend adds. “O-dawg might be with him.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  I start to walk away, but they halt me.

  “Yo, B. Maybe next time you fight, you can pop a titty out or something.” He swishes an imaginary basketball. “Try to go viral and be on some next level shit. Know what I’m saying?”

  God help me if I ever take social or career advice from these guys.

  “Sure. I’ll see what I can do.”

  With a short wave, I leave them to their bong and make my way outside.

  Tiny strings of light illuminate the path leading to the large hot tub stationed on the far side of the patio.

  And just like they said, it’s where I find Cole.

  With the exception of a few people passed out on some patio chairs, he’s all alone.

  However, there’s a good chance he’ll know where Oakley went.

  His eyes are closed, and the back of his head is resting on the ledge of the jacuzzi when I approach.

  He’s so relaxed I have to clear my throat to get his attention.

  “Hey, sorry to bother you, but I was hoping you knew where Oakley was. I need a ride home.”

  He opens one eye. “Didn’t you come here with Sawyer?”

  “Yeah, but I told her to go home because she was late for curfew.”

  Stretching his arm out, he plucks a nearby Solo cup off the edge. “Last time I saw him was right after we put the kibosh on your rumble with Britney and Casey.” He takes a leisurely sip of his drink. “Have you tried calling him?”

  “Yeah.” I turn on my heel, preparing to go back inside. “Thanks anyway. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

  “Not so fast.” He pats the edge of the tub. “Step into my office. We need to have a little chat.”

  Whatever’s in that cup of his must be strong. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”

  His lips twitch. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

  “Sorry, I’m not…no.”

  He shrugs. “Suit yourself.” Curiosity dances across his face as he maneuvers to the side of the tub closest to me. “But I can’t help wondering…” His voice trails off, inviting me to either fill in the rest of his statement or inquire about it.

  “Fine, I’ll bite. Wonder what?”

  His expression turns angelic. “M-m-maybe if I t-t-talked like t-t-this.”

  It’s like a sucker punch right to the gut. Before I can stop myself, my hand strikes his cheek. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  I cried myself to sleep after I found out Liam had passed, and again after it became clear Jace no longer wanted to talk to me, and I had lost not one, but two people I cared about.

  Eventually, I forced myself to tuck my feelings about Liam’s death in the same box with my mom.

  However, being taunted with his memory by his identical twin is not only downright ruthless, it sends a rush of pain crashing to the surface.

  Tears spring to my eyes and I clutch my chest.

  Liam should be here…but he’s not. My friend is never coming back.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper as my brain processes what I’ve done. “I’m so sorry.”

  Cole starts to say something, but I’m already running back to the house.

  It hurts too much. I can’t breathe. I can’t…

  A force slams into me and I stumble, but a steel grip captures my upper arm, righting me before I fall on my ass.

  “Watch where you’re going,” Jace bites out.

  The fact that he’s shirtless and there are two girls in bikinis trailing behind him are insignificant. My focus is on the tattoo across his chest.

  Scrawled in thick black script, the words, My Brother’s Keeper sit perched above a pair of intricate angel wings spanning over each pec.

  A lump rises in my throat as a fresh wave of pain washes over me. Liam.

  Impulsively, I brush my fingertips over the ink.

  Jace sucks in a sharp breath…then whacks my hand away. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

  “I—” I shake my head, feeling stupid for doing something so personal. So insensitive. “I’m sorry.”

  Curling my arms around myself, I push past Jace and the bikini-clad girls.

  I need to find Oakley so I can leave. Being here, dealing with these buried emotions…it’s all too much.

  Chapter 23

  DYLAN

  I’ve been searching for Oakley for over twenty minutes, and there’s still no sign of him.

  In a last-ditch effort, I climb the staircase, preparing to barge through every door I come across.

  After checking the first two bedrooms and pissing off two couples in the throes of passion, I make my way to the one stationed at the end of the hall.

  The door is closed, so I knock a few times.

  When I don’t get a response from the other side, I let myself in.

  The room is dim, but I spot Oakley right away. He’s alone and sprawled out in the middle of a king-sized bed.

  I breathe a sigh of relief. I hate to wake him, but the sooner he hands me his keys, the sooner he can sleep in his own bed.

  “Come on, party animal.” I tap his ankle. “It’s time to go home.”

  He makes a low noise in the
back of his throat.

  “Oak.” I pat his leg. “Get up.”

  He squints at me through bloodshot pupils. “It’s you.”

  “Yup, it’s me. Sawyer had to leave.” I scan the nightstand for his keys but come up empty. “Where are your keys?”

  His lids lower. “Huh?”

  Placing my knee on the bed for support, I start digging through his pockets.

  “I miss you.”

  His speech is so slurred, I almost don’t hear him.

  Evidently Oakley is the I love everyone kind of drunk.

  I rub his shoulder. “Miss you, too. But you know what else we’re missing? Your keys. Do you remember…” Nope, no point in asking. He won’t. Shifting on the bed, I try my best to get into the back pockets of his pants.

  He closes his eyes in pain. “You’re killing me.”

  Dramatic, much? “Sorry, but I need to find your car keys.”

  His hands frame my face. “I can’t.” His hooded, glassy eyes become even glassier and his voice cracks. “It hurts.”

  I blink, unsure what to do or say. Drunk or not, there’s a lot of conviction behind those words and my heart aches for him.

  Oakley deserves happiness. But even more than that? He deserves the freedom to love who he wants.

  His grip becomes tighter and he trembles. “I can’t take it.”

  Oh, man. I’ve always been bad at this sort of thing. However, I want him to know I’m here for him and he will get through this.

  “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here—”

  He tugs me closer. “I need you so fucking bad.”

  The alcohol is clearly impacting his comprehension. “You have me. I’m not going any—”

  He shoves his fingers through my hair and the next thing I know…his lips are on mine.

  What. The. Fuck.

  I open my mouth to ask him what he’s doing, but the second I do, his tongue plunges inside.

  I freeze, completely caught off guard. I get that he might be confused, but I am so not the right person to test the waters with.

  I slap at his shoulders when he deepens the unwanted kiss.

  He shifts his hips and groans.

  My stomach churns as one thing becomes abundantly clear.