Page 15 of The Broken Queen
“Presley! Congratulations,Lánya,” Scotty cooed approvingly. Reaper’s face appeared next, and I had to fight the tightness in my throat that threatened tearsto the surface.
“Hi! I wanted you, Mom, and Dad to be able to see how beautiful my engagement party is.”
My uncle smiled and then shifted the phone the smallest bit. “Let me get your parents, hang tight.”
He disappeared, and for a few seconds, it was just the empty room in the manor staring back at me. The emptiness felt odd, like visiting the grave of an old friend and hoping they’d somehow speak to you, only to be met with silence. My focus moved to the space around me. Glowing lights from the room created a soft ambiance, along with the various teardrop chandeliers and gorgeous marble that shaped the historical building. Every feature shouted opulence, as did the entire guest list with suits, dresses, and expensive jewelry.
I wasn’t paying attention to the phone screen when I suddenly froze at the voice coming from it.
“You look beautiful.”
My gaze slid down right along with my heart. Kingston’s handsome face came into view as he carefully took the seat Scotty had sat previously. He wore tattered clothes, covered in dust and bits of paint, while his hair was longer than I remembered, but it was messy and unstyled.
My mouth parted as my entire soul seemed to freeze.
“I always wondered what you’d look like when you danced at your engagement party. Guess this answers that question. Perfect and yet...” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “Somehow, you still look like you’re ours.”
“Well, I’m not,” I snapped harshly.
He studied me then dipped his face. The chaotic rapping against my chest was concerning, to say the least.
King’s voice came out quiet and calm as he replied, “Sorry…not ours. Gio’s. You look like you’re my brother’s. Even as you pretend to be Adrian’s, there’s a part of you that will always be his. I hope you don’t ever forget that, Elvis.”
He stood, slowly slid his hands into his pockets, and walked out of the room, somehow taking the air with him. Even though we werein different locations and in different countries, my chest felt empty, and my lungs felt weak.
Scotty was back moments later, a smile on his face, but the wetness against my face had me swiping away the evidence that Kingston had any effect on me.
Elvis. He didn’t say it sarcastically, or in that tone he’d used a thousand times, as if he were jealous that Gio called me it. He said it as though that were my only nickname, and he was trying to erase something that was once there.
What did he mean?
“You okay?” Scotty asked, curving his brows.
I nodded. “Just a big night. I feel a little emotional without everyone here.”
My uncle glanced over his shoulder and then faced me again. “Show me around the room,Lánya. Your mother and father are here next to me.”
A new thickness was in my throat as I did as he said and moved around the room, smiling and playing the part. Gliding from one couple to another with gratitude and thanks for their attendance, all the while my mind was stuck on my best friend who had told me I looked beautiful and then reminded me that I was no longer someone in his life that he deemed worthy of keeping.
It cut me in a fresh way that I wasn’t even aware he had the power to unleash.
Yet my body radiated with pain.
Elvis.
Elvis.
Not, Mi Reina.
An hour later, my phone was nearly dead, and Adrian’s hand was on my hip as he guided me out of the party. My left hand had a gleaming diamond that shone under the dim lighting of the exterior lights that guided us to our armored car. Renzo and Benni met us there, like usual, but instead of having a driver, the two guards tookup the places in front while Adrian slid into the back, pulling me with him.
Benni began driving, and I tried to calm my nerves.
“Where’s Viktor?” I stroked over Adrian’s hand, but he gripped my fingers and pulled me into his chest, where our mouths slid against one another.
Benni answered from the front. “He’s enjoying an evening off.”
I relaxed the smallest bit, knowing that it was typical for Adrian to give his staff certain days and especially holidays off. It was something that had endeared me to him.
