Page 137 of Firestorm
“And why is that?” Rafe drawled. “I’m just the little shit princeling.”
Harper gulped.
“Prince Rafael, why ever would you say such a thing? No one thinks that, I assure you.” Lucille feigned shock.
“Harper was thinking that, literally just a moment ago.” Rafe drawled before he glanced down at his phone. “Wow, Harper. That was fast.” He flashed me a look. “She contacted Alejandro.”
I clenched my jaw as Harper’s eyes widened slightly.
Lucille looked at me with narrowed eyes, but luckily she didn’t know who the fuck I was yet. I didn’t have my father’s eyes, so without seeing my entire face, she wouldn’t be able to place me. I planned to keep my identity a secret if possible. If my father found out I was here…
Don’t worry about that,Rafe reassured me. I relaxed a fraction.
“Who’s your friend?” Lucille asked, her eyes raking over me assessingly. “He seems…fit.”
I sneered at her under my mask.
“Eyes off, Brandt. He’s mine.” Rafe said with an eye-roll. I almost snorted, but then I remembered how I’d grabbed Rafe by the hip earlier and I grimaced behind my mask instead. He was never going tolet me live that one down. This was still part of my punishment for being choked out by Skye. Rafe always did love humiliation.
“He’s not your Key,” Lucille said, the whites of her eyes barely visible while she squinted at me through her clumpy eyelashes. “I thought your Key was a woman.”
“So?” Rafe scoffed before snapping into his phone. “Yes, I’m here. What do you mean?Well, I found out you’re tied to some anti-monarchists and now Lucille Brandt is checking out my boyfriend and its pissing me the fuck off. No. Yes. I already told her. Andwhyshould I believe anything you say? Whatever.” Rafe pulled the phone away from his ear. “Lucille, I fucking swear to God.”
Lucille and I had been holding awkward eye contact for the entirety of the call, and with Rafe’s snap, her eyes widened before dropping to the floor. Harper did the same beside her. I glanced at Reggie, who was looking straight up into the tent canvas overhead.
“No, it’s Lucille. You know how she is, thirsty as hell.” Rafe continued on the phone. “Well, no, you didn’t tell me some important fuck wanted to meet me. Okay. Fine. Whatever. No, I’m not bringing him.Because I don’t want you looking at him. Fine. Bye.”
Rafe hung up with a dramatic sigh. Lucille tentatively raised her eyes to look at Rafe, who ignored her completely as he turned to look at me.
He crooked a finger at me. “We’re out of here, honeybuns.”
I sneered at him behind the mask, and he grinned like he knew I was going to fucking punch him when we left here.
“Lucille, I’d say it was a pleasure, but I’m not known for lying. Harper, help is out there. Call a divorce attorney, will you?” Rafe said, then clapped Reggie on the shoulder before leaning in close and whispering something in his ear.
Reggie trembled violently when Rafe pulled away. I shot a final glare at everyone before following Rafe back into the clouded light outside the tent.
We broke into a jog as soon as we were out of view from the tent. Rafe weaved through people easily, and I followed quickly behind him.
What did you say to him?I asked.
Rafe chuckled.I told him he couldn’t sense us because our affinities are on the banned list, and he should be more careful with who he reveals that to.
I snorted as we turned a corner, making our way around a small crowd listening to a woman screaming about freedom and life after death.
I’m not your fucking boyfriend,I projected, my cheeks heating slightly.
Rafe flat out laughed.Okay, sweetheart. Either way, I just bought us some time. Lucille wasn’t lying. Alejandro is involved in this cult and he almost had me meet this Crusader at the gala, but my mom decided to come.
I clenched my jaw, taking in what he’d said. We made our way through another small crowd listening to a man tell a story of how his son was overdosing on drugs, and the Crusaderpulledthe drugs out of him, saving his life. I’d never heard anything like it.
What the fuck did these people actually witness?I asked.Do you think there’s an affinity for fucking with the head, like the opposite of what I do?
Implanting memories? Maybe. I think it’s more likely they’re telling the truth.Rafe thought back as we continued down the street away from the lull of the crowd.
Then what the fuck did they actually see?I asked.
I don’t know,Rafe said, sounding exhausted.We’ve been away from Skye for too long. Let’s get back to campus. It looks like I have to meet this fucking Crusader next week.
