Page 141 of Vengeful Princess

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Thea

Just as I zipped up my overnight bag, I heard a knock at the door. I frowned and glanced at my watch. The car my father had booked for me was due shortly. Whoever it was could fuck off. I wasn’t in the mood for a social visit.

The guys were all away for two days. A driver collected Cassian yesterday. Kyril and Milo had both gone home, and Landon had also disappeared with zero explanation.

Since the night in the bar, things had been a bit weird. Cassian appeared to be avoiding me. Kyril and Landon had both tried hanging out with me, but I’d made excuses and stayed in my room unless I had classes.

The closer it got to the holidays, the more uncomfortable I felt about being with any of them. Our relationships, such as they were, had an expiration date. I doubted very much my father would send me back here in the New Year.

Dad’s plan to eliminate Lucian Forsyth was dead in the water, and I failed to see what else he could do to stop Lucian disrupting his drugs trade.

There was another knock on my door. Louder this time.

“Open the door, bitch. I know you’re in there!”

Eden?I rushed over and flung it open. She half-smiled and then pulled me into a hug. I was so taken aback to see her I didn’t bother protesting.

When she finally released me, I looked her up and down and then frowned. “When did you get back?” Had she messaged me? I didn’t recall hearing any notifications.

“About 15 minutes ago. I dumped my bag and came straight over to see you.” To my surprise, her eyes sparkled with tears. She sniffed, looking a bit sheepish.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call. Declan took me back to Ireland and locked me up in his mansion for two weeks while the family decided whether they would let me come back here. He even confiscated my phone!”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously?” I bristled with anger. How dare he do that to my friend! This wasn’t the fucking 18th century!

“Yeah, he can be an overbearing dickhead.Eden, milseán, it’s for your own good.” Her impression of Declan’s deep voice was hilarious, but from the way she wiped a stray tear away, the wholebeing locked uphad not been at all amusing.

“Want me to get rid of him?” I was 100% serious. Ryanair had some good deals on flights to Dublin. I’d checked.

She looked behind us to make sure nobody was around and then kicked the door shut.

“No, we’re good. He’s agreed I cancarry on with my education,” she said, using finger quotes and a deep voice again. “But if I want to go on any more nights out or leave college for any reason whatsoever, I have to let him know so he can order some of his men to guard me.”

“That’s a good idea,” I agreed. “I’d feel better if you had protection.” Once I left, she was on her own. My phone buzzed, reminding me I had 10 minutes before the car arrived.

Eden waved her hand dismissively. “Enough of me. The reason I came here was to thank you, for, you know, saving my life. I didn’t get the chance to, um,thank youafter it happened. By the time I came around, I was on a plane back to Ireland and you’d gone.”

“Um, you’re welcome?” All this emotion was making me feel uncomfortable. Of course I’d saved her. She was my friend!

“So we’re good?”

I frowned. “Why wouldn’t we be?” Had I missed something?

“I wasn’t sure whether you’d think hanging with me was dangerous.” She chewed her lip anxiously. “I mean, knowing I’m related to Declan.”

“Trust me when I say Declan doesn’t scare me.” I grabbed my jacket from the bed and pulled it on. “Look, I’m sorry, but I really need to go.”

“Go where?” Eden looked disappointed at my abrupt departure.

“I’m meeting my father in London,” I told her, turning away to pick up my phone from the bed.

“OK, right.” She nodded and then moved to leave before pausing at the door. “You haven’t said much about your family. When you get back, let’s have a Vampire Diaries binge and you can fill me in. Seems only fair now you’ve met my asshole cousin.”

“Sure,” I lied. For a start, I wasn’t even sure whether I’d be coming back, and also, I had no intention of telling her about my dear father.

From the knowing look in her eye, she suspected I was hiding something, but she didn’t pry. Instead, she gave me one last hug and then left.

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