Page 70 of The Prince from a Cruel Summer
Diana frowns. “It’s too late?—”
Ezra checks the sky. “It’s not midnight yet. Not even close.”
“But—”
“The moth completed the challenge, Di. Get over it,” he clips.
“Whatever. She’s still not in first place.” Diana leaves on a frustrated huff, shoving him hard with her shoulder, but Ezra dusts himself off with a smirk, unaffected.
“Oh, she really hates you, Lady Snow.”
Beth fails to mask a grin with the heel of her hand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for my performance.”
Ezra raises his cup in cheer. “Knock ‘em dead.”
The playful smile Beth sends his way as she skips onto the stage before disappearing between the black tarps goes directly to the pit of my stomach.
“Why did you tell her my initials?” I ask through my teeth.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. Diana was going to eat your girl alive. I figured you wouldn’t mind so much, given how you feel about her.”
“Is that truly the reason?”
He doesn’t answer, and I force my fist to uncurl, a sickly warmth blazing through my body. “You want her,” I croak.
He swallows a mouthful of wine, then lowers his voice. “Beth is my friend. And you know I’d never move against you.”
“Could have fooled me. You two were giggling like schoolgirls.”
“We were only chatting about the song she’s going to sing. It’s no big deal.” He holds out his cup to share, but I stare down at the crimson tint of the flameroot wine and give him an impatient shake of the head.
The last thing I need tonight is to give in to my emotions or artificially pacify my turmoil. Beth isn’t interested. She’s told me twice now. And yet she’s getting awfully comfortable with both Ezra and his brother.
Maybe blue eyes and blonde hair are more to her taste.
“I’ll leave you two to your secrets, then,” I grumble. “I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of true love.”
“Aidan!”
I leave Ezra behind, the stuffy sting of rejection and jealousy ringing in my ears. Just the thought of hearing Beth sing tonight fills me with misery. She’ll be glorious, but out of reach. I’ve never wanted anything more. I’d cut off my right arm for her to smile at me with the same ease she displayed for Ezra earlier.
I’m a creep. She said no—twice. Why can’t I just move on already? Why does she haunt my thoughts, night after night?
I can’t let this sickness rule my life anymore. I need a proper cure.
Chapter 22
Vertigo
SONGBIRD
Elio and I will be closing the gala with an upbeat tune, but as I’m setting up the mic, Devi strolls onto the stage. The satisfied curl of her damn perfect mouth spell trouble. Her gold, semi-translucent dress reveals the shape of her breasts, and the sight is almost too erotic and distracting for me to notice the long matching bow propped over her back, or the crystalline arrow in her grip.
The intoxicated crowd quiets down. If even the strongest of us turn into bumbling idiots in her presence, I can’t imagine what the villagers must feel like, considering some of them are mortal.
“Before the last musical number, I have a surprise of my own to share.” She licks her purple-painted lips. “Dear cousins and citizens of Augustus, I present to you a love arrow sharp enough to pierce a Fae’s heart.”
My pulse swirls at the news.
