Page 7 of The Broken Queen

For the first time in what seemed like days, giddiness took over. A smile graced my lips and butterflies filled my tummy. There was something about this boy that made me feel safe, calmed the chaos and uncertainty currently living within me. “I would love to!”

Seeming satisfied with my answer, he took my hand and led me over to the bookcase. My eyebrows bunched together. “Uh, why are we staring at a bookshelf?”

He dropped my hand, placed an index finger on a red book and pulled it towards us. My eyes widened when suddenly the bookcase moved aside and revealed another black door. “What the-”

“You really need to do better at learning the ins and outs of your own home.” He lifted his shoulders. “This is my way of sneaking around at night.”

“Wow,” I breathed. It was like one of those Disney movies I used to watch, where there were all these secret passages hidden behind the walls.

I moved forward and placed my hand on the knob and slowly opened the door. I peeked out and there was a dark tunnel ahead of me. I took a hesitant step back. No one ever said anything about dark tunnels.

A laugh came from beside me. I looked over and Slade was almost rolling on the floor with tears coming out of his eyes from laughter. “Are you afraid of the dark?”

My happy mood went downhill fast.Maybe he’s never known darkness like I have.“I didn’t use to be, no.”

He must have seen something flash across my face because his face turned from happy to sad in a matter of seconds. I instantly wanted his laughter back, but I was scared, emotionally and physically drained. Suddenly, an idea occurred to me.

“Will you...will you go with me?”

His eyes widened and then crinkled at the corners. He ran a hand through his hair and gave me a breathtaking smile. “I guess I can do that. Close the door and let me get dressed real quick.”

I did as he asked and closed the door, then leaned up against it and watched him, like a creeper. He took off his white t-shirt, and while I had never seen a boy or a man naked before, I could tell this boy was steadily coming into his manhood. Underneath his shirt was tanned skin that revealed a small set of muscles from the work I assumed he did every day, and there were ripples going across the middle of his skin where his stomach resided. I think I remember Mother and one of her friends saying those were abs.

He was about to unbutton his corduroy pants when he looked up and smirked. “Are you going to stand there and watch me all day or turn around?”

My cheeks flushed, and I quickly turned around to face the door. I winced and released slow breaths when the pain in my stomach returned. This boy was already making my head fuzzy and if I wasn’t careful, he would get me into even more trouble than I already was.

“Alright, all done. Let’s go.”

I opened the door once again but shrieked when he turned the lamp off and we were encased in darkness. My shuddered breaths were soothed when a warm hand intertwined with mine. I looked over and saw nothing, but knew that as long as he was by my side, everything would be okay. I could face the world as long as he was with me.

I didn’t know at the time how wrong I was.

Chapter One

Raven

Nine years ago...

The Mercedes pulled up to the curb and my heart leaped out of my chest. My eyes slid over to the stoic man in front of me. His hands were curled into fists, and his older face was hardened in place. I took a harsh breath and looked away. A lonely tear escaped and slid down my cheek. My chin wobbled and my lips trembled.

How could this happen?

I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to catch my breath. She was gone.She's really gone. The fate I've been trying to cope with, to accept, was cruel. For her to be taken before her time, sliced me wide open with my scars on display for everyone to see.

I couldn't breathe. The idea of going through the world without her was too much. The driver opened the limo door, and I waited for Father to get out first. I didn't want to go. He couldn't make me. He couldn'tforceme to say goodbye.

But when he held out his hand for me, I grasped on for dear life. Our relationship was anything but simple. I hated him, and he hated me. We didn't have the daddy/daughter relationship most people had. In reality, Mother was the glue that held us together as a family. Now that she was gone...I cursed.Don’t go there Raven.

With every step, a piece of my heart broke. Every step, my labored breaths became more ragged and uneven.How dare she leave us!I was angry. Sofuckingangry with her. My emotions were all over the place. I assumed I was going through thefive stages of grief.Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.I was only on stage two. I sighed.I have a long way to go.

Father’s hand gripped mine and squeezed. I knew he was struggling. Hell, he loved her more than he ever did me, but that didn’t mean I forgave him. I wouldneverforgive him for what he did to me.Fuck, what would life be like without her?It was already a shit show even when she was alive, but he would become even more of a monster now that she was gone.

He was a man nobody dared to cross. Since she was murdered, it was only a matter of time before he went nuclear on everyone. Whoever did this would no doubt pay for their sins in the harshest way possible.

Father was King and because of that, his presence alone would strike fear in anyone. He did it to me everydamnday.

Up ahead, there were dozens gathered in a group. Colors of black and gray were mixed into the crowd, which only showed a small glimpse of how bleak and dreary the day actually was. I looked down at my red dress and shook my head.Way to stand out in the crowd, Raven.

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