Page 16 of Reckless Royalty

With that, she’s gone, leaving the room feeling a little less heavy than before.

I stare at the phone for a long time, my fingers tracing the edges of the box. It’s strange, but I don’t feel completely lost. Maybe it’s because of Cat, or maybe it’s because of the way she treated me—like I was a person, not just a broken thing to be fixed.

Slowly, I open the box and remove the smartphone before setting it on the table next to the piece of paper with her number and the WiFi password written on it. I don’t know if I’m ready to use it yet, but just knowing it’s there—knowing she’s there—loosens the knot inside my chest just a little bit.

The food sits on the tray in front of me, and I actually feel a small pang of hunger. It’s not much, but it’s enough to remind me that I’m still here, still alive.

I pick up the sandwich, taking a small bite, and surprisingly, the taste doesn’t make me feel sick.

As I eat, I glance over at the phone again and I know that, when I’m ready, I’ll reach out to Cat. Because in this sea of chaos and confusion, she’s the one person who’s shown me kindness without expecting anything in return.

And that’s worth holding on to.

MIHAI

First week back at Willow Bridge, and I can’t think straight.

I feel like I’m being pulled in every possible direction, each more twisted than the last. The weight of it presses down on me—the choices I have to make, the people counting on me. The second I step onto the grounds it’s like my brain refuses to shut off.

It feels like I’m losing control and I don’t know what to do with that.

I rub my hands over my face, trying to focus, but it’s impossible. All I see is Sofia’s tear-streaked face from last night. The anger, the pain in her eyes, and the way she looked at me like I was the enemy.

But then there’s Madison—quiet, withdrawn, with those big brown eyes that scream a thousand things she’ll never say.

She’s just here because it’s safer. That’s what I keep telling myself. She’s not attending Willow Bridge like the rest of us; no one is supposed to know she’s here. But that doesn’t stop the tension from coiling inside me.

I walk across the campus toward my SUV, while the other students are going about their usual business—laughing, talking,completely unaware of the storm that’s brewing just beneath the surface.

They don’t know what it’s like to carry this weight, this constant pull between loyalty and duty.

Sofia’s face flashes in my mind again. She’s been grieving, broken in a way that’s hard to watch. But her temper—God, her temper—flared when she saw Madison, as though all the rage she’d been holding back finally found a target.

I can’t blame her. She lost her father, and now I’m the one protecting the only witness, the girl who might hold the key to everything.

But the thing is, I don’t even know if Madison can talk. I haven’t heard her speak a single word since the first day we met. And every time I see her, there’s this heaviness, this quiet desperation in her eyes.

It’s like she’s trapped inside herself, and I don’t know how to reach her—or if I even should.

I reach the suites later than I expected, the place we all call home, but even that sense of home is different now.

The security around the estate is tighter; every corner watched, every move scrutinized. Madison’s somewhere inside, tucked away in one of the rooms, and I know I should check on her and make sure she’s okay. But I can’t bring myself to go there just yet.

Instead, I head to my suite, throwing open the door and collapsing into the nearest armchair. My head’s pounding, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is all spiraling out of control. I’m supposed to protect Madison, to make sure she stays alive long enough to talk.

But Sofia… she’s the one who haunts me.

I lean back in the chair, staring up at the ceiling and trying to figure out how the hell I ended up in this mess. My father trusted me to do this and, by extension, protect the family. But it feelslike I’m betraying Sofia with every decision I make. She looked at me like I chose the wrong side; like I’ve let her down. And perhaps I have.

The door swings open and I look up to see Nikolai striding in, his usual smirk absent.

“You look like shit,” he says, settling into the chair across from me, slouching.

“Feel like it, too,” I mutter, rubbing my temples.

“First week back getting to you?” he asks as he leans back, crossing his arms. “Or is it Sofia?”

I shoot him a glare, my tone sharp. “Don’t start.”

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