Page 71 of The Prince from a Cruel Summer
Wry laughs and dubious exclamations buzz through the crowd.
“Look at her…”
“What did she say?”
“It’s impossible.”
“Is this a joke?”
“Shut up and listen,” Aidan roars over the rowdy chatter. His arms are crossed over his chest, his entire posture rigid and uncharacteristic.
He’s been in a sour mood since he got here. I almost thought he was going to faint, earlier, when I whispered his full initials. His skin was warm, and I couldn’t resist the urge to brush my lips to his ear. I figured he might be upset that Ezra had shared such an intimate and personal secret with me, but I also expected him to be proud of my success, in a way. For it to tie us together tighter. Instead, he just looks… hollow.
“I need two volunteers,” Devi announces. “One will write down their full name, in discreet calligraphy, along the shaft of the arrow. Then, I will shoot someone else, and until dawn, my target will feel genuine romantic love for them—the same way it works for a mortal.”
My heart plunges past my feet when Aidan climbs onto the stage. “Shoot me.” He’s so close, barely two feet away, yet I’ve never felt a wider chasm between us.
The devil of Spring raises her perfectly plucked brows. “Aren’t you afraid to endanger your precious…jewels?”
“You can play with my jewels anytime, Devi,” he jokes with his back to me, and my mouth dries up.
“Remove your shirt, then. I don’t want to miss.”
Howls and cat calls erupt from the crowd as Aidan unbuttons his vest and shirt and dumps them over the edge of the stage. A heavy lump settles in my throat as I stare at the smooth expanse of his back. Why did he choose to wear gold tonight? Any of the women here would be all too eager to sleep with him. And I’m not naive enough to believe he would turn them down.
“There’s a catch, though,” Devi adds.
Aidan chuckles, shaking his head. “Isn’t there always?”
“Are you in love, Aidan? Because if you’ve already fallen for someone else, it would be dangerous for me to shoot you.” Devi grins from ear to ear. “I’m not speaking in jest.”
Aidan’s smirk falters, and he scratches the back of his head before jumping off stage and picking up his clothes from the ground. “Choose someone else, then.”
“Sounds like Aidan found himself a nice mortal girl in the new world,” Johan booms over the gossip.
I catch Ezra’s gaze across the square, the Prince of Light looking quite glum, too.
A feline smile stretches Devi’s lips before she turns to Iris. “Will you do the honors, Little Flower? You’re not in love with anyone, right?”
“My heart is free as a bird.”
“She’s your friend. How are we to know she’s not pretending?” Aidan asks Devi with his eyes narrowed.
“Make her fall for Elio, and I’ll believe it,” Ezra cracks.
Blood drains from Elio’s face, my friend already sitting on the piano bench. “Please don’t.”
But Ezra doubles down on his suggestion, the wicked shard of his soul rising to the occasion. “We all know my brother would never press his advantage, and this way, we’ll be sure it’s real.”
“Come on, Elio. I’m game for a kiss, if it works,” Iris adds with a wink.
Blood flushes Elio’s neck, and he gives a small incline of the head, clearly unwilling to argue this further in front of everyone.
“Perfect. We have consent on both parts. Let’s see.” Devi hands over the arrow and a pen to Elio.
He quickly writes down his name along the shaft and rises to his feet to hand it over.
Iris raises her arms to the sky, her lips pursed in a daring, seductive pout. “Alright, I’m ready.”
