Page 12 of The Broken Queen

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. If she thought I was going to be wearing this all evening, she had another thing coming. There were hundreds of eyes on me, but I didn’t give a fuck because I didn’t want to be here.

She came up beside me and untangled my arms so to position them at my side. “Act like a lady,” she whispered, and I groaned.

We came down the stairs together, and I avoided the heated gazes from every man in the room. The dress I wore was a crimson, low-cut dress that showed off my curves. So instead of making me wear something simple and subtle, Mother sought her revenge by making me wear something a little more grown-up.

I grimaced when my heel landed on the last step because soon, Father would take Mother on his arm, and I would be left to the masses to be harassed. This was one of those coming-of-age dances that every Duke and Duchess brought their striking young men to meet the King and Queen’s daughter. Because at the young age of sixteen, it was already time for them to essentially pair me off and prepare me for the next stage of my life.

The King stepped in front of us and gave a bow, and we curtsied in return. “You girls look beautiful,” Father said. Gag. He looped his arm with Mother’s and gave me a warning look that said “Don’t fuck this up for me Raven.”

I rolled my eyes. As if.

Standing at the bottom of the steps, I pondered what to do. I saw the dessert table and pursed my lips. I could easily make myself occupied for at least the next hour at that table, and I had a sweet tooth that would not be denied. I made my way over to the table, but stopped when someone stepped in front of me. My lips morphed down. It was my least favorite person. Logan Richardson. Asshole extraordinaire.

“Raven. You are looking rather delectable today.”

This guy had some nerve. Delectable? Who the fuck said shit like that? “Logan,” I replied through gritted teeth. “If you don’t mind. I have somewhere to be.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. The sweets were calling my name.

I walked around him, but he gripped my elbow and forced me back. “And where do you think you’re going?” He turned me to face him and his green eyes turned darker; they were almost a murky swamp color. Absolutely disgusting.

“Away from you.”

I tried to remove myself from his grasp, but he wouldn’t budge. I looked around the room, but no one, and I mean no one, was paying attention. His finger touched my cheek and trailed down my jaw and to my neck. I was rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do, when a large, masculine hand forced Logan’s hand away.

“What the hell was that for? We were just having a conversation, King.”

“I thought you knew not to touch what was mine, Richardson.” Ah, he was here. The man of the hour, or more like, liar of the hour.

“Well, while you two have your little pissing contest, I’m going to be over there...stuffing my face. Bye!” I hurried away from them and moved to the sweets table. There was a plate of chocolate brownies that were calling my name.

As soon as I reached the table, I was once again turned around. “I swear if people don’t stop touching me, I’m going to fight-” I trailed off when I saw who was in front of me.

A pair of steel eyes watched me with amusement. His full lips were spread into a wicked grin that made me want to punch his perfect face. I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes. “Funny running into you here. I could’ve sworn you told me earlier you had plans.”

He grimaced. That’s right fucker, caught you in the act. “Well...”

“Yeah, not interested in hearing your lame excuse.” I turned away from him and once again, tried to go for the brownies.

“C’mon Raven, don’t be mad at me. I wasn’t planning on coming to this stupid thing either, but your mom guilt-tripped me.”

I laughed. Of course she did. I faced him once more. “Well, don’t stay on my account. You obviously had better things to do, anyway.”

He sighed and shook his head. He took a step closer, invading my space. God, he was perfect in every aspect. His eyes were so beautiful and clear that it almost looked like I was gazing at myself through a thin sheet of ice. His brown hair was shorter on the sides and longer on top, making it look neat, yet messy at the same time. I loved his hair.

He was dressed in black slacks, and a white, button down shirt that had no tie or jacket to accessorize it. He was the epitome of a heartbreaker in a nutshell. All of the girls at school went crazy for him. Hell, even some of the old ladies did on occasion. While his looks made them all googly eyed, hisattitude is what made them swoon. He was a carefree spirit who would do anything, and I mean anything, to protect those he loved. And thankfully, I was one of those people. Although, it did come at a cost.

“What’s wrong, Rav?” he asked with a pout.

“What’s wrong is that I specifically asked you to come with me to this thing so I wouldn’t have to be here alone, but you had plans with your ‘girlfriend’ which I eventually came to accept. Then I come to find out you’re here, looking like the knight and shining fucking armor I needed to rescue me from this social disaster. Why couldn’t you have just agreed in the first place?”

He ran a hand over his face like he didn’t know what to do with me. That’s what he signed up for when he decided to be my friend. So, he can’t blame me for being unorthodox.

“Why are you always so damn difficult?”

I shrugged. “Maybe you should go ask my father that question. It seems he never knows what to do with me either.”

I stalked away from him and went outside to the garden. That room was suffocating with everyone staring like they’d never seen someone dressed up before. I walked over to the fountain and took a seat on the bench in front of it. The moon was out, bringing a beautiful glow to the garden, accentuating each and every flower. It made it peaceful, which was a stark contrast to my lifestyle.

I couldn’t figure out why I was so angry with him. Maybe it was because he originally did have plans with his girlfriend and it made me jealous. Or maybe it was the fact that I was second place in his life and no longer first. I used to be his everything, and now...well now, I was just his friend.

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