Page 93 of Reckless Royalty

MIHAI

Iwalk with Maddy down the quiet hallway toward Cat’s suite, the sound of her soft footsteps beside me grounding me in a way I never thought possible. She’s quiet, but it’s not the kind of silence that feels uncomfortable. It’s the kind that makes you want to lean in closer, to soak in the presence of someone who matters.

We spent the entire day locked up in my suite and me trying different ways to get her to scream my name, before Chiara suggested the girls have a sleepover with Cat since she needs her friends.

Of course, the suite will be armed to the teeth with guards, but that also means Gio and I will be with Nikolai tonight, stopping him from doing something reckless.

When we reach the door, she hesitates, glancing up at me with those big brown eyes that make my chest feel tight.

“Thank you,” she says softly, her voice like a melody I’ve been craving.

“For what?” I ask, smirking as I lean against the wall. “Walking you to a door? I didn’t exactly slay a dragon, Maddy.”

She rolls her eyes, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips. “For today. For… everything.”

I can see the sincerity in her gaze, and it does something to me—makes me feel like I’ve done something right for once. I reach out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear before cupping her cheek.

“Enjoy your evening with the girls, baby,” I say softly, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. It’s slow, lingering, and makes me wish I could keep her locked up in my suite all night. When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed.

“I’m never going to get used to this,” she says with a shy smile, and I can’t help but chuckle.

“Tough luck, you’re stuck with me now, Little Rebel,” I murmur, my hand dropping to my side as I step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? And text me if you need anything.”

She nods, her lips curving into a shy smile. “Goodnight, Mihai.”

I watch as she disappears into Cat’s suite, the door clicking shut behind her. For a moment, I just stand there, replaying the kiss in my head and wondering how the hell I got so lucky.

I turn to head back to my suite, but the sound of sharp heels clicking against the floor halts me in my tracks. I already know who it is before she even speaks.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

I turn slowly, bracing myself for the storm that’s clearly brewing. She’s standing a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest, her green eyes blazing.

The perfect blonde hair, the mole beneath her full lips, the confident stance—all of it screams Sofia Reyes. But it’s the fury in her expression that tells me this isn’t going to end well.

“What’s your problem?” I ask, keeping my voice steady but firm.

“What the fuck was that?” she snaps, pointing toward the door Maddy just walked through.

I raise an eyebrow, already annoyed. “That was me kissing my girl goodnight,” I say coolly, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“Your girl?”Sofia scoffs, her voice rising with disbelief. She takes a step closer, her green eyes narrowing. “You threw away everything we could have had for someone likeher?”

My jaw clenches, and I force myself to stay calm. “Someone like her?” I repeat, my tone cold. “You want to explain that?”

Sofia rolls her eyes, her arms tightening around herself. “Oh, don’t play dumb, Mihai. She’s not one of us. She doesn’t belong in this world, in your world. She’s?—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” I cut her off sharply, my tone dropping.

Her eyes widen in shock, but she quickly recovers, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, I see. She’s off-limits now, is she? The little damsel in distress you’ve decided to play savior for?”

“Watch your fucking tone, Sofia,” I say evenly, my voice laced with warning. “You don’t get to talk about her like that.”

“You and I could have had everything, Mihai! We’re both heirs, both part of the same legacy. You’re throwing away your future for what? A charity case?”

I take a step toward her, my voice cold and clipped. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that.”

“Oh, please,” she says, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’re deluding yourself if you think this is anything more than a distraction. You and I—we were supposed to be?—”

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