Page 164 of Vengeful Princess

“Those boys will be drooling when they clap eyes on you.”

“I doubt that,” I muttered.

“Really?” She arched one eyebrow. “Then turn around.”

The back of my neck prickled. When I turned, I spotted him.

Landon stood in a small group nearby, a drink in his hand. His eyes raked over my dress, lingering on my tits, and then he grinned.

Knowing he liked my dress made me feel warm and fuzzy inside, but I forced myself not to react. It was better if we didn’t talk this evening. I’d pretend none of them existed and they could have fun without me.

Sure, he looked hot in a kilt, but I wasn’t interested in admiring his muscular legs or exploring what lay under his kilt.

Before he could head over and kill my resolve to stay away, I muttered an apology to Eden and dashed off. I heard him call my name, but it took no effort at all to lose him in a sea of people wearing ostentatious ball gowns.

I grabbed a second glass of champagne and downed it in seconds, letting the bubbles take the edge off my anxiety.

Standing around in plain sight was a bad idea, so I hunted for a dark corner where I could hide and observe. Being a wallflower was much more my vibe.

People wandered past, laughing and having fun, not paying any attention to me. I saw Landon heading my way, but a woman in a gold dress waylaid him.

Miss Markham. I’d forgotten about that predatory bitch. She reminded me of the woman from the hotel in London, only that one had been older. Miss Markham was only in her early 30s, at a guess.

Landon didn’t seem comfortable with her hand on his arm, but he avoided making a scene. A big part of me wanted to barrel over there and slap the woman across the face, but he wasn’t mine.

I bit the inside of my cheek as she leaned in closer than was polite. The pain helped ground me.

It was none of my business what he got up to. Sure, I’d had a jealous moment in London, which he and Cassian had taken full advantage of. But it was a one-off. Never to be repeated. The memories of that night, and all the other moments when the four of them made me feel like a normal girl without a psychotic family, would keep me warm at night when I got back to my father’s house of horrors.

Maybe I could use my fond memories of the guys and their hot-as-sin bodies to get myself off once I was married to some old man.

I almost laughed at the thought. If that was the best I had to look forward to, I may as will throw myself off the nearest tower immediately.

Grim didn’t even come close.

As I watched, Landon exchanged a few more words with Miss Markham and then shoved her away. She didn’t look happy as he stormed off.

I had no qualms about ending the bitch as my gift to Landon. One less sexual predator in the world would truly be a blessing for humanity.

The second glass of champagne I’d downed had gone straight to my bladder. After making sure none of the guys were in sight, I edged out of my little corner and exited through a door at the back of the room.

The admin offices were down here, along with a few other rooms, such as the small medical clinic and Miss Markham’s office.

Because I’d been here before, I knew there was a staff bathroom. It was probably less busy than the student ones, so I decided to use that one.

I lingered for longer than necessary, fiddling with my hair and touching up my lipstick.

Maybe I should leave right now, I mused as my reflection stared back at me, her eyes dark and sorrowful. Slip out through a rear fire exit and head back to my tower room.

But a big part of me didn’t want to go. I knew that when I finally said goodbye to this place, I’d be leaving four slivers of my heart behind. Five if you counted that asshole, Dario.

Yes, he despised me and had treated me like shit since he arrived, but I couldn’t deny the fact we still had chemistry. Toxic chemistry fueled by hatred, sure, but it was there.

My childhood crush had faded but not gone away entirely. Dario had been my first love. My first kiss. My first many things.

And Kyril had been my first in another important way.

I’d never forget the crazy Russian.

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