Page 79 of Brutal Prince

Briar

Imeant to throw her off-balance, but Indi has her sea legs already. Despite all this shit with Addy and Jess, I’m looking forward to riding with her again. Just to get her alone, of course. If I can lure her far enough from school, somewhere secluded…

She’d never let me, of course. I’m the predator, she’s the prey — and she’s spotted me.

Now the dance begins.

We’re riding different horses than last time. Indi chose Queen Sophia — a black mare with a white blaze on her nose and I’m sitting a seventeen-hand tall chestnut gelding named Duke of Hearts.

Yeah, Lavish brims with thoroughbreds and corny names.

“No fences,” Indi says as soon as we exit the stable, a finger held up in warning.

“No fences,” I agree with a rueful smile.

“And no galloping.”

But despite the stern tone of her voice, I hear a certain something. Excitement? Pleasure? I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling she’s enjoying this as much as I am.

All that bullshit happening in school feels miles away. Out here, it’s just us, our steeds, and Lavish’s picture-perfect backdrop. Fuck, I wish this was how I’d met her.

Not Sunday night.

Not Monday morning.

Now. Here.

Just two kids out for a ride.

I wish she’d never met Addison either. That poisonous bitch salted the earth for me. After everything Addy’s no doubt been ramming down her throat, it doesn’t matter what I say to Indi, how I act from here on out — she’ll never think I’m anything more than an animal.

“Why so glum, chum?” comes Indi’s cheerful voice from a few feet away.

I snap to the present, and glance across at Indi. She’s wearing a fat grin, melding with her horse on every step. The hand she has on the reigns seems a mere afterthought — her thigh muscles bunch as she guides Sophia with her knees. When my eyes reach Indi’s again, she’s blushing a little. She glances away, and then her hand does tighten as if she’s just remembered exactly who she’s with.

I can’t change the past. I can’t go back and meet Indi again in better circumstances.

I’ll always just be an animal to her.

Fury eviscerates my good mood in an instant. What the fuck was I thinking? We’d go on a horse ride and tomorrow we’d be holding hands and doing our darndest to figure out just how alike — or dissimilar — we really are? That shit’s for pussies and hopeless romantics.

I’m neither.

There’s no point in beating around the fucking bush anymore.

I clear my throat, and Indi gives me a curious smile. She opens her mouth, a smile forming around whatever she’s going to say, but I cut in with a rough, “You should go back to wherever the fuck you came from.”

Indi makes a soft, surprised sound as her eyes widen. “Ex-cuse me?” She sounds more confused than offended, but I turn my voice to steel.

The time for pranks and teasing is over. Should have been over a long time ago.

“You heard me.” I keep my eyes forward. “Tell your parents you don’t like it here. Tell them the boys are mean to you. Tell them whatever the fuck you want.”

“I…” But she doesn’t finish her statement.

“I can keep doing this all year long, Indi. And it’ll only get worse for you.”

It’s best for everyone, honestly. She’s the one that stirred the pot — getting rid of her will reset the clock.

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