Page 44 of Reckless Royalty

“Sofia,” he says, his voice calm, but there’s a tension behind it.

She smiles sweetly, leaning in closer to him. “Mihai,” she purrs, her voice soft and seductive, as if they’re the only two people in the world. “Come with me?”

I feel myself shrinking back, not sure what to do with the sudden intrusion. Mihai was fine just a second ago, but now... now he’s slipping away. He doesn’t say anything else, just gives me a quick look—something almost apologetic—and then, after a beat of hesitation, he goes with her.

Sofia’s arm loops through his, pulling him along with her. And as they walk away, she glances back at me, her green eyes narrowing slightly before she smirks. It’s a knowing, condescending smirk, like she’s already won whatever game she thinks we’re playing.

I feel a lump form in my throat, that familiar sense of discomfort settling in my gut. I don’t belong here. I don’t fit into this world. And Sofia’s smirk? It’s a reminder that I’m an outsider.

Before I can dwell on it too much, Chiara walks up to me, her eyes following Sofia and Mihai as they disappear into the crowd. She lets out a small snort, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yeah,” Chiara says dryly, her tone light but pointed, “I’m not warming up to her either.”

I glance at her, a little surprised by her bluntness. Chiara catches my look and shrugs, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

“I prefer the guys,” she adds, her voice laced with amusement. “Less drama.”

That pulls a small smile from me, and I nod, scribbling quickly on the notepad.

She doesn’t seem… friendly

Chiara reads the note and laughs, shaking her head. “That’s putting it mildly.” She tucks a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, glancing in the direction Mihai and Sofia disappeared. “Sofia’s… complicated. I heard that she and Mihai used to be a thing. And she doesn’t let people forget that.”

I tilt my head, curious, and scribble again:

Used to be?

Chiara nods, leaning in conspiratorially. “Oh yeah, used to be. Big emphasis on used to. But she’s still got her claws in him. You saw it. She knows exactly how to pull him away.”

There’s a bitter edge to her voice, and I can’t help but wonder if Chiara’s been in my position before—on the outside looking in. I write:

Why don’t you like her?

Chiara sighs, glancing up at the sky for a moment before answering. “It’s not that I hate her. I’ve seen how she acts and just don’t trust her. She’s... manipulative. Good at getting what she wants, no matter who she has to step on to get it.” She pauses, then adds, “Mihai’s a good guy, but he’s got a blind spot when it comes to her. She knows how to play him.”

I nod, feeling a little more at ease now that Chiara’s being so open with me. It’s strange but comforting to know that I’m not the only one who feels this way about Sofia.

Do the others like her?

Chiara smirks. “Connor? Definitely not. He’s never been a fan. Marina… well, she tolerates Sofia, but that’s because of Mihai. Cat? She’s too nice to say anything, but I doubt she’s her biggest fan either. I think it has to do with how spoiled she is, and the fact that she’s a Crown heir, she thinks she gets free passes.”

I smile at that, imagining sweet, quiet Cat trying to find something nice to say about Sofia.

Chiara’s expression softens as she looks at me, her tone losing some of its sarcasm. “Hey, don’t let her get to you, okay? Sofia’s all about control. She likes to make people feel small, especially if she thinks they’re a threat.”

I blink, my heart skipping a beat at her words. A threat? Me?

I’m not a threat to anyone

She laughs again, clapping a hand over her mouth. “Maddy, trust me. You don’t have to do anything to be a threat. Sofia sees it in the way Mihai looks at you. And that’s enough for her to feel… territorial.”

I frown, my mind racing. Mihai? He looks at me differently? No way. He’s just protecting me because of his father, because I’m his responsibility. That’s all it is. But as I glance back in the direction Mihai and Sofia went, I can’t help but wonder if Chiara’s right. If maybe, there’s more going on than I realize.

Chiara nudges me lightly, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Come on,” she says, her voice playful again. “Let’s get away from all this drama for a bit. You and me. Girl talk. We don’t need Mihai or Sofia messing with our vibe.”

I smile, nodding as I follow her away from the crowd. The noise of the bonfire fades into the background as we find a quieter spot, just the two of us. Chiara sits down on the grass, patting the space next to her for me to join.

I sit down, feeling the cool earth beneath my hands, and Chiara stretches out, looking up at the stars. “You ever just look at the sky and wonder what the hell we’re all doing here?”

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