Page 94 of Reckless Royalty

“Supposed to be what?” I interrupt, my voice rising. “Perfect? Convenient? A fucking alliance?”

“You’re throwing everything away for a girl who has made you forget who you are!”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “She hasn’t made me forget who I am. If anything, she’s reminded me of who Iwant to be. You wouldn’t understand that, Sofia, because all you care about is appearances and power.”

“That’s not fair,” she snaps, her voice trembling with frustration. “You don’t even realize what you’re throwing away!”

I step closer to her, my tone cutting like a blade. “What I’m throwing away? Sofia, I’m choosing the one person who makes me feel like I can fucking breathe again. The one who doesn’t see me as just Mihai Vasile, heir to the Romanian Crown. When I’m with her, I don’t have to pretend. I don’t have to carry the weight of this legacy or be the perfect heir. She sees me forwhoI am, notwhatI am.”

Sofia’s jaw tightens, her eyes blazing with anger. “And what about me, Mihai? I’ve been by your side through everything. I’ve always had your back. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“It does,” I say, my tone softening slightly. “But not in the way you want it to. Sofia, I care about you. I always will. You’re family to me, and nothing’s going to change that. But that’s all it can ever be.”

Her eyes narrow, and she takes another step forward, her voice dropping to a hiss. “You’re making a mistake, Mihai. And if you think I’m going to stand by while she takes everything?—”

“Stop right there,” I interrupt, my tone turning icy.

Her mouth snaps shut, and I step closer, my voice dropping to a deadly calm. “If you so much as look at Maddy the wrong way, I’ll make sure you regret it. You know what I’m capable of. You know why I have the highest body count of the Five Crown heirs. Don’t make me remind you.”

She stares at me, the bravado slipping for a brief moment. I don’t break eye contact, letting her see that I mean every single word.

Then she takes a step back, forcing a smirk on her lips. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

“Dead serious,” I say, my voice unwavering. “Stay out of my way, Sofia. And stay the hell away from her.”

“You’re choosing her,” she says quietly, her voice barely audible. “Over me.”

“I’m choosing what feels right,” I say, my tone softer now. “And for the first time in a long time, that’s not you.”

Her face pales, and for a moment, I think she might cry. But then her expression hardens, and she juts her chin out defiantly.

“You’ll regret this,” she says, her voice shaking. “One day, you’ll see that I was right.”

I shake my head, letting out a humorless laugh. “No, Sofia. One day, you’ll see that you’re wrong. And when that day comes, I hope you find someone who can give you what you want—because it sure as hell isn’t me.”

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she doesn’t say another word. She just turns on her heel and storms off, her heels clicking angrily against the floor.

I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. My heart is pounding, and my other hand is still clenched into fist, but I feel lighter somehow. Like I’ve finally put something to rest.

Maddy is worth it. Every fight, every argument, every moment of chaos. She’s worth it all.

MADDY

Isit on Cat’s bed, my knees tucked under me, still trying to process the argument we just overheard. Mihai’s voice is still ringing in my ears—sharp, angry, and possessive in a way that made my stomach flutter and my cheeks burn.

His words—his threats—weren’t just harsh; they were spine-chilling, the kind of thing you’d hear from someone capable of following through without hesitation.

“If you so much as look at Maddy the wrong way, I’ll make sure you regret it. You know what I’m capable of. You know why I have the highest body count of the Five Crown heirs. Don’t make me remind you.”

Chiara’s squeal cuts through the silence, breaking the tension in the room. She claps her hands together, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she looks between me and Cat.

“Oh my God, did you hear that? Mihai just told Sofia off like that! For you, Maddy!”

Cat nods, a small smile tugging at her lips despite everything. “I mean, Sofia’s Sofia. But it was… kind of nice to hear him defend you like that.”

I blink, still stunned, and glance at Marina, who is practically vibrating with excitement. “Nice?” she says, her voice louderthan it needs to be. “That was better than nice. That was iconic. My twin brother just declared war on Sofia Reyes for you. And not just for anything—because he’s clearly head over heels for you!”

I groan, burying my face in my hands. “He wasn’t—he didn’t?—”

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