Chapter 13
(Lily’s POV)
“What did you just say?”
The grow slipped from my lips before I could stop it; Ravena and Vaelith’s rage rose within me.
Zion’s head whipped fast. The boys around him went still.
My eyes met his, and he subtly gave his friends a knowing look. One by one, they left quietly and awkwardly. One of them glanced at me with pity in his eyes before disappearing.
1 stepped out from behind the lockers, my legs feeling weak. My heart thudded against my ribs like it wanted to break out as shame burned in my chea
“So that’s it?” my voice trembled, “You kiss me in secret and then turn around to tell everyone that I’m nothing to you? That I am Lucien’s? Why. Zion! Why do you keep lying about me? Are you ashamed of me?”
I had promised myself I wouldn’t do this. That I wasn’t going to be the girl who begged and cried… But looking at him; at the boy who was my first… and act like I was nothing. I couldn’t hold it in,
Zion ran a hand through his hair and looked away. “Lily… I’m trying to protect you”“
“By crushing my heart!” My voice cracked. My throat felt tight. “You think that’s protection?”
“It’s not that simple,” he muttered. “Celeste and L.. we’ve been together a long time. There’s history. Our parents… they liked us together. They’d fantasized about this since we were kids.”
Of course, he was going to say that. I remembered those days when I still lived in the palace, when Celeste’s parents visited often. Lord Adonis and Lady Beauty were close friends with the King and Queen, and always brought their daughter. I remember when we would play outside while the grown–ups talked. She used to share her candy, and laugh with me.
We were children. We were happy, but time changed everything. Celeste stopped being my friend. Slowly, she started treating me like I didn’t belong. And before I knew it, she had become my number one bully.
Now the two people who were once closest to me are now the ones tearing me apart.
I swallowed the sob clawing up to my throat “After that night at your birthday party…” my voice broke “You could’ve left me alone. You didn’t have to kiss me and make me feel things that I do not understand. You could’ve left me alone, Zion,
Hu blue eyes were filled with anguish “I couldn’t… I swear, I care about you Lily. More than I’ve ever cared about anyone. But this life isn’t just miur. I have duties, responsibilities.”
“And what about me?” My hands shook now. My voice was breaking. “What do I get, Zion? To be your secret? To be your mistake? To be the girl you souch in secret and deny in public!”
He flinched. But I was past caring.
“You don’t get to play both sides,” I said, blinking away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. “You don’t get to kiss me, make me feel like I matter, and durn, throw ape aude”
Ha jaw tightened. “You don’t understand.”
“Vidu,” I whispered. “Tunderstand more than you think. You want to make
to make everyone else happy, even if it kills me. Even if it kills you”
– to say another word. The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe. He yelled after me “Please, give me time to tell my parents
1
But I dada’s turn. I didnt even know where I was going, I just wanted to be away from him. From his hes. From the way he made me feel like I was bh everything and nothing
buch
Then I turned the corner, and lulted in my tracks
Dev, Aru, and Tube good in front of nur in silence, their eyes filled with rage and pain…. Aria’s fata clenched, her lips pressed into a thin line, Dey’s yes were darker than I’d ever seen them, and Tube looked like he was trying not to explode.
They had and
12
2/2
11:15 AM
Chapter 131
The ride home was painfully silent
Arta drove roughly with both hands on the wheel; her knuckles turning white as her eyes stayed locked on the road. I sat beside her, willing myself
not to burst into tears…
Ravena and Vaclith were very quiet. Like they were mourning.
We pulled into the driveway, and Aria hit the brakes hard before getting out without a single word. Dev and Tobe also stepped out of their cars.
I opened the door, and climbed out slowly
The air felt heavy.
to get inside my room and collapse on my bed. I wanted to scream
I walked to the front steps, not knowing if my legs would carry me. I just wanted to inte my pillow and cry bitterly
But Dev’s voice suddenly rang out
“You know what…” he said, and I stopped in my tracks “You’ll be living with us henceforth!”
