Princess of Darkness (The Dark Prince #3)

by Autumn Winchester

Fayth turned, shocked that the girl talked to her in such a manner. But her shock morphed into a happy smile.

  “You just better let me know you’re safe when it’s all over,” she said instead.

  “I’ll let you know. I’m sure it will all be fine. Who knows, he may not even show up,” Summer shrugged. She’d be okay if he didn’t. Summer didn’t want to face that man, but she would, to end this spat between two families.

  “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Fayth said, catching onto Summer’s feelings. It was all understandable.

  “I hope so,” Summer mumbled out.

  Once Fayth paid for the things she found, they left the store. They split the bags between each other and continued to window shop.

  “So, what time will this all happen tomorrow?” Fayth asked out. She hated the fact that Sebastian flat out told her to stay away. Of course, that didn’t mean she would listen.

  “Not sure,” Summer shrugged out. “Gabriel is getting it all setup, I think.”

  “So I’ll be on edge all day,” Fayth sighed out with a pout. She’d find a way to know what was going on.

  “Fayth?” spoke a woman that came out of the nearby store they had just passed that had some high-end purses set up in the window.

  Summer was never more glad than to be with Fayth at that moment. There was no way she’d ever walk these sidewalks again now, least of all by herself. She may be stronger in just about every way, but that didn’t mean she liked this woman that now stood near them.

  “Valerie,” Fayth said in false sweetness, a fake smile in place. “How not nice to see you here.”

  Fayth slowly, to not draw attention to the movement, clasped Summer’s hand into her own once more. Summer gave her a small squeeze, more to let her know she was okay. She was, for the most part.

  The Princess hadn’t really told Fayth much of the girl who had drugged her on her wedding night, other than just a passing name. Of course, Summer shouldn’t have been surprised that Fayth knew who the fake tanned woman was. She was tempted to call her names but instead kept her mouth closed. She couldn’t give herself away yet.

  “Same to you,” Fayth said sweetly. Her tone of voice left no doubt to how repulsed she was. “What brings you here to this small town? Last I knew of you, Marcel had you locked away from the world.”

  “I sweet-talked my husband,” Valerie said with a roll of her eyes, lying flat through her teeth. “He’s always been easy to talk into letting me do whatever I want.”

  “So why are you here?” Fayth asked through gritted teeth.

  “Personal business,” Valerie said with a wicked smile. “Who are you?” She asked, turning her blazing eyes to Summer, looking her up and down, almost like she knew who she was. The look made Summer want to run and hide or shoot the liar in the head.

  “This is Grace,” Fayth said, wrapping her hand around Summer’s waist and bringing her flush against her. Her voice was airy and dreamy as she spoke the name.

  Summer was never happier than then to be wearing one of her newest maternity shirts that hid her growing stomach. With her black jacket over her dark pink tank top, unzipped, it was easy to hide her pregnancy.

  “Grace?” Valerie dragged out the name. “Have I seen you before? You look familiar.”

  “You mean you don’t know who I am?” Summer asked, sounding appalled. She had to give herself credit as her voice was stronger than she had expected it. She hadn’t even expected to ask what she did. “Fayth, sweets, I thought everyone knew about me?” She turned a pouting look to her friend. She even looked up at the girl through her eyelashes.

  “The only people that matter already know,” Fayth said, a glint in her eyes. She could play with fire, too. Turning back to Valerie, “She’s my girlfriend.” It didn’t matter that Fayth would play both ways if someone was to catch her eye.

  “So where did you drag her from? The depths of Hell?” Valerie muttered out, and not quietly.

  “We met on a dating site,” Summer answered before Fayth was able to respond. She knew the redhead would no doubt say something to cause a scene. “Once we met in person, we fell instantly in love.” She even looked at Fayth with a loving look.

  Fayth so wanted to punch the bitch in the face, but with Summer holding tightly to her jean loops in back, it held her in place. Plus, there was no way she’d break the spell, as Summer looked at her with a look that she wished desperately to be true.

  “That’s not safe,” Valerie huffed out through her nose, disgusted at such an idea. Summer wasn’t sure if Valerie was more grossed out by the fact that Fayth was into women, or that she believed the lie Summer sprouted off.

  “And what you have done is?” Fayth said, dropping her act. “I didn’t turn my own family in, nor did I get kicked out. I also don’t have my father threatening me to do his dirty work.”

  “How do you know that?” Valerie asked, shock coloring her voice.

  “I have my ways,” Fayth said with a smirk. She knew all about Valerie Rodrigo, and how she played the whole innocent part on everyone. Then she’d blame whoever for whatever she could get away with.

  “She’s amazing,” Summer sighed out, hoping to stop a full out argument.

  “Do you have everyone at your beck and call?” Valerie snapped, irritated. She’d been in a mood for over a year now. Her father had been at her throat, Trent divorced her, and now she was being played tug of war with.

  Trent demanded her help to draw out John, who refused to let her anywhere near him. Her own father wanted to kill her, and only the Marcel family could keep her safe.

  Valerie was positive that she knew this Grace, and it was yet another thing hidden from her. She'd had enough. She was just . . . done. Done playing nice. She knew it was her own damn fault everything was falling apart, but that didn’t stop her words from falling past her lips.

  “You know what,” she seethed, a look of fury on her face. “I don’t care. You both can go rot in hell for all I care. I’m here to do my job, so I can leave this place once and for all. Go back to daddy dearest, Fayth,” she spat out. “You never did care.”

  “Actually, I did care, Valerie,” Fayth said, dropping her shoulders. Summer’s ears perked up, knowing there was a history between the two.

  “I did care,” Fayth repeated. “I cared enough to help you find a way out, which you refused to take. My own father would have helped you before he lost his life helping someone else. But you were too damn proud to accept his help.

  “I was your friend, Val. Your friend and you turned your back on me to marry into more money. You never once thought of the damage you would inflict on that family. You did it because your father demanded it, all for money and revenge.” By the end of the rant, Fayth was furious and she gained back her breath.

  “You no longer deserve saving,” Summer said, looking Valerie up and down, her nose wrinkled like she smelled something horrible. She no longer wore name brand clothing, that was for sure. But her black hair was still pinned back and her makeup was perfect. “I’m sure whatever they did to you so far is nothing. Try being in someone else’s shoes for just an hour.”

  “How dare you!” Valerie said, outraged. She was brave enough to take a step forward. How dare this . . . chick talk to her in such a way. She had no idea who she was messing with.

  “What? What will you possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done?” Summer asked, tilting her head to the side. Let her try, Summer thought, ready to fight if needed.

  “Have I said how much I adore you, Grace?” Fayth whispered in Summer’s ear with a pleased smile, watching as Valerie’s look of outrage turned even darker. Fayth couldn’t help but press a lingering kiss on the Princess’ cheek for good measure.

  “Valerie?” spoke a man from a nearby car, his voice light but hard at the same time. “Are you ready?”

  Summer turned, seeing Pastor Evans sitting in the driver’s seat, sporting a black eye. She wondered what had happened to that man, but knew whatever it was
, he deserved it. Even as his burning look penetrated Summer to her spot.

  “Sick fuck,” Fayth muttered with a glare.

  “Yes,” Valerie said, forcing a calm look on her face.

  Fayth, having had enough and not wanting to talk to the child molester, pulled Summer closer to her, turning and walking away.

  “Bye, Valerie,” Summer said with a small evil wave over her shoulder. “See you in Hell.”

  “You!” Valerie seethed, things clicking into place. She was too shocked to do anything else as the two girls walked down the sidewalk, towards Sebastian’ car with tinted windows that was parked in the lot.

  Fayth couldn’t help but move her hand to Summer’s butt, slipping her hand into her back pocket with a happy smile, hearing the Pastor shouting his disgust at the two, not any wiser to who the blue-eyed girl was. Valerie would have no proof.

  Summer couldn’t wait now, knowing that Valerie would show her face again soon enough. Next time, she wouldn’t hold back. She’d never let that slut talk bad about her family or her friends.

  Chapter 28

  When Summer finally made it home early that afternoon, she was more than ready for a nap. She had gotten so used to taking one, now her body always wanted a nap most days. She blamed it on her hormones, as she tired easier than she had before.

  Sebastian, surprisingly, didn’t say much about the run in with Valerie. He was impressed with the Princess for standing up for herself and in turn Fayth. She did have a backbone. Just too bad she hadn’t had it all those years ago.

  Who knows where Summer would be today if she had. Sad thing was, she’d mostly likely be dead, knowing that Jason Meads would have loved a reason to stop her heart from beating. It wouldn’t have taken much from that man anyhow.

  Summer was in a better mood now, at least better than when she had left that morning. Being up so early had not helped her in that matter, either. She hadn’t been able to get back to sleep after the confrontation with the two men that lived in the house. Her mind wouldn’t stop.

  Her thoughts were filled with so many ‘what if’s’ and she knew they were out of her control. She’d live hour by hour. It was all she could do. There was no point in trying to look farther than that.

  Summer had filled Fayth in, and although she didn’t exactly agree with the plan, she would stand beside the Princess, no matter what. Her grandparents could handle the animal shelter on their own.

  “That’s what friends are for,” Fayth had said, giving Summer a small hug, showing she would be there, no matter what. Summer knew that her friend would, too.

  Now, sitting on the back porch, her legs dangling over the edge as she watched Sophie play around in the yard, chasing things, Summer refused to let her thoughts consume her. She didn’t know what to do, or even how to act at that moment. All she knew was that she had to be strong.

  She was strong. She had taken her father down, and she could take John down. She was strong enough to make it through all those years, coming out alive on the other end. This would be no different.

  “You okay?” Sebastian asked, taking a seat next to her, but leaning against the post that supported the cover above. The sun was still high in the sky, warming the air.

  “As well as I can be,” Summer answered, glancing at him from the side. She was better than a month ago, and right at that moment, that was enough.

  “You don’t have to go along with this, you know,” he said gently. Sebastian knew she could get through this since she had come this far. He just hated seeing her like this, feeling so small at the moment. He could see how torn she was. Torn on what to do. So many paths to choose from, and so many rights and wrongs in each way.

  He had wanted to spare her more pain, but in the end, she really was the only one that had a say over how she lived her life, and how she did things. She could easily stay and fight, ending all this. Or she could go into hiding, never to be found again.

  The likelihood of that wasn’t high. John had men in high and low places, and Summer would be found eventually. Even if she lived on a deserted island.

  “I have to,” Summer said, moving so she was facing him more formally. She pulled one leg up, wrapping her arms around it loosely while the other leg was left to dangle over the side. “I have to, Sebastian. Who else will bring him out? What else will John demand before he’s had his fill?”

  Sebastian knew not to answer those questions. It wouldn’t do her any good. John would demand much, much more if he wasn’t stopped. If he wasn’t stopped by the end of this week, then all the hard work he had been doing would be for nothing.

  “Valerie will most likely be there now,” Sebastian hinted, changing the subject.

  “So be it,” Summer said with a shrug, not concerned. “She will deserve whatever comes. I’d love to see her in my shoes, then maybe she wouldn’t be so stuck up.” Actually, being in a slave’s shoes would be too nice. She needed to be punished with more than just that.

  “Valerie is complicated,” Sebastian huffed out, looking out into the yard as a flock of birds flew past. “She will be on whoever’s side, that offers her the most protection, money, and family. I’m pretty sure she’s screwed herself up by picking the wrong side, to begin with.” That was an understatement.

  “If it wasn’t for Trent, she’d probably be dead already,” Summer said, knowing the words were true as they passed her lips. Chase would have killed her by now for just how she ran her mouth.

  “How do you figure that?” Sebastian wanted to know. He knew of the girl, of course. How could he not? He wasn’t a fan of the tanned bitch, but it was never his place to say anything about it. It didn’t help that he saw that girl hanging off of John’s arms a number of times throughout the years.

  “A few months ago, she ran her mouth,” Summer said with another shrug. She wasn’t sure what brought her attitude on, but Valerie never did like Summer, and the feeling was mutual. Summer was always good at reading people, and Valerie was no different.

  Maybe if they hadn’t started off on such bad terms as it had, maybe it would have been different.

  “Ivan flat out told her to never show her face around any of them again,” Summer said with a smirk. Remembering that dinner seemed like years ago. “I hadn’t seen her until today, and she hasn’t changed one bit. And still working with John, even.”

  “Like I said, she’ll work for whoever offers her the best deal,” Sebastian said, not surprised at all. “John isn’t even beyond giving her false hope. He’ll make promises, and break them once he gets what he needs. That man knows how to sweet talk just about anyone.”

  “I’d like to see him try on me,” Summer mumbled. She’d dish it right back if he tried. She could play the part, and bite him when he didn’t expect it, figuratively speaking.

  “I’m sure he will,” Sebastian agreed. He knew his brother, but John would be no match for this Princess before him.

  “Tomorrow, we need to set the place up around nine. I already have video feed there, but I need you to be there before any of his men show up. I don’t want to risk it,” he went on. “You can dress however you want. It won’t matter in the end. I’ll give you a knife to keep in your sock, and also a gun. I want every base covered just in case something goes wrong.”

  “Okay,” Summer said. She expected that since he did take the time to teach her. She knew for a fact that John would come with weapons to use against her and Sebastian.

  “Now, before we start getting things set up for tomorrow, I’d like to ask you something,” he went on after a moment.

  Birds could be heard chirping among each other in the treetops, not a care in the world. Summer almost envied them, wishing things were that easy for her.

  “Sure,” Summer answered, not sure if she wanted to know what this man wanted. She knew it wouldn’t be anything that would cause her more trouble, but that didn’t stop her heart from beating faster for a few beats as she waited.

  Plus, Sebastian always like to challenge h
er, and when she least expected it. It was just who he was.

  “Do you know why Chase Marcel, of all men, picked you that day? That day before your birthday?” he asked, watching as Summer’s face gave away her shock and confusion. Her eyes were wide. How was she to answer that?

  Why would he ask that now, of all times? Did it really matter? Did Sebastian know, but not her?

  “Not really, no,” Summer finally answered, her mind blank. She gave her head a small shake.

  “I sent him your way, so to speak,” Sebastian said. He was afraid that John would say things, twisting his words around to make him look like the one covered in darkness instead. It wasn’t something he could risk. Not when it came to this girl.

  It was one of the few reasons why he didn’t want to go this route. Sebastian feared that Summer would want nothing to do with him after he told her his tale.