Page 33 of Rebellious Royals

Pulling in a breath, I nodded. "Ok, so as an outsider looking in," I said, "I could be missing a lot. But the way I see it, royalty has to be a lot like a celebrity. People are going to think it's coolto even be around you. To share a class? To chit-chat? That will be over the top. So, what happens if they find out the guy who sits beside them has been the prince this whole time? Or the queen?" I lifted a hand. "Yes, queen. Stop trying to hide it, and start acting like you're directing something. Take charge. Make it clear that your way istheway things should be done."

"And what good does that do?" Hawke asked.

"First, it shows you the sides. The ones who fawn over you two will be the allies. The ones who push back are the ones you need to watch. It also gives you social power. If you don't approve, your followers won't. The bad ones will be pushed further and further from the cool group. That removes their power - social power. They won't be able to say 'Aspen's a bitch, kill her,' because Aspen's royalty and super special."

"It's not that simple," Torian grumbled.

"But it is," I pressed. "That's the whole thing. It really is. I mean, look at Harper. She was the cool girl, so everyone wanted to make her happy. Didn't matter if they liked her. They wanted a little of her social capital to rub off as she passed by. A smile here. A giggle there. That was enough to make guys look at someone - or girls. It was enough to make others lash out or turn their back."

"And then?" Torian asked yet again.

"And once you two have claimed the social status you deserve, you make it clear the old way sucks?" I shrugged. "I don't know, but if you plant the idea now, while we're all still in school, then maybe it'll be accepted? Maybe it'll be enough for some of these kids to realize their parents don't know shit?"

"Or that their parents weren't as well-positioned as they keep saying," Wilder pointed out. "Tor, if you make it clear someone was a dishwasher instead of a minor noble? Or a shit shoveler instead of a ladies' maid?"

"It pulls the rug out from under your enemy's feet," Keir said. "Besides, I'd think you'd want everyone to know how much better you are than them."

"I'm not better," Torian snapped.

"So become better," Keir told him.

"And me?" Aspen asked before those two could start bickering cutely. "Guys, I'm the Winter Queen now. You know, the girl with a price on her head?"

"And they already know," Wilder said. "Aspen, why do you think they came after you today? It hasn't been confirmed, but they're sure enough they're willing to fuckingattackyou in the halls."

"And send the Hunt," Keir reminded us.

"Harper used iron," I reminded them. "Time and time again, they've come after you for having Winter magic. I don't think hiding who you are is going to keep you safe. I think it's giving them a false sense of security, thinking you can't do anything to stop them. But Asp, you're the queen!"

"And you've found your control," Torian added.

Aspen's head snapped over to him. "So you're on board with this?"

For a little too long, he was silent, but eventually he nodded. "I can't think of a reason not to at least try." But his eyes didn't leave her.

When Torian looked at Aspen, there was no doubting he cared about her. He was also worried about her. Time and time again, he'd rushed to her aid as if he was worried she couldn't take care of herself, but in that moment, I realized I hadn't given him enough credit.

He protected Aspen because he was convinced she'd save him. Not because he didn't think she could save herself, but because he couldn't savehimself. Everything Torian Hunt did,he did for her simply because she was the only chance he thought he had left.

But now they had us. This court wasn't like the ones who'd come before. We'd fucked it all up - and worked better because of it. Now we just had to convince everyone else this would work.

Chapter Ten

RAIN

Oddly, the next day was completely normal. No one asked about what had happened to Aspen. Sure, a few people wondered if I was ok, since I'd missed some classes, but that was about it. Well, besides Ms. Rhodes working with me on a few new defensive options for my Wild magic.

It was the morning after when the shit hit the fan. When Aspen and I headed to the elevator, the girls in line were whispering. Something about graffiti, but they weren't saying it loud enough for me to get all the details. When we got on the elevator, it was a different story.

"It's all over the first floor!" someone said as she got on a floor below us.

"Just the main hall?" another asked.

"No clue, but I'm heading all the way down to see."

"Oh, good idea!" a few agreed.

Aspen looked over at me, so I canted my head as if asking, "Why not?"

---