Page 41 of Brutal Prince

Indi

Marigold looks up when I come thundering down the stairs and into the dining room the next morning. She called me down for breakfast fifteen minutes ago, but I lost my appetite when I remembered the hellhole I had to attend today.

“I need clothes,” I say, shifting my hips to the side and crossing my arms over my chest. “And a longer skirt.”

“I’m afraid my budget is already allocated for this week. You’ll have to wait until the weekend.”

“But I literally have like two pairs of underwear, and one’s dirty.”

“So best you wash them,” Gran says, setting a delicate china cup down on its saucer. I scan the teak dining table and then shrug at her when I see there’s no food on it. “I thought you said there was breakfast.”

Marigold takes another tiny sip from her cup. “That was fifteen minutes ago.”

“Isn’t your job as my guardian to feed and clothe me?” I yell.

Marigold’s shoulders melt at this. In response, my chest grows tight and I take a step back before I can stop myself.

“My job as your guardian is to make sure you don’t fail school.”

Shock slams into me like a wall of ice. I try to speak, but words utterly fail me.

Marigold gives me a cold little smile. “Aren’t you running late for school? They take tardiness into account. I’m sure they won’t hesitate to adjust your grades accordingly.”

“I don’t know how Mom could stand being around you,” I say. My voice is so thick, I can barely understand myself, but Marigold doesn’t seem to have the same problem.

“Leave,” she says. “Before you say something you’ll regret.”

I laugh. “You know what I regret, Granny?”

My gran’s already pale face goes translucent. She stands, her body quivering with righteous indignation, but I carry on before she can open her raspberry red lips.

“I regret not being in that house with Mom.”

I’m surprised Marigold doesn’t have something to say about this. In fact, to my utter astonishment, a tear flashes down her cheek.

“Get out,” she whispers. “Get out of my house!” The last is a shrill yell. She charges for me, and I turn tail and run like the fucking coward that I am.

I slam the junker’s door so hard, I’m shocked it doesn’t fall off. I get to school in record time, everything en route just a blur of speed and tears.

I’m still sniffing back snot and blinking away my last tears when someone raps on my window.

Jerking, I spin to face the window. For a horrific moment, I’d thought it was Briar. The thought that he’d see me in hysterics makes me want to throw up.

But it’s Addy out there, face wrinkled with concern. She whirls her finger in the air, demanding that I roll down the window. I comply, but with bad grace.

“What?”

“Have you—?” She ducks her head to get a better look at me, and even when I tip my head down she just follows. “Why are you crying?”

“None of your business,” I snap.

“Yeah?” Her voice is as edgy as mine. “That’s what you think.” She shoves her hand through the window.

Pure instinct has me grabbing her wrist. She squeals, and tugs back at her hand, but I’m holding her tight.

Then I see the joint between her fingers.

It glitters.

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