Page 70 of Revenge of a Queen

She laughs, “You’re already doing it, look around,” she gestures wildly to the house.

I sigh slightly, “Yeah I see a house that isn’t mine, family that isn’t mine, wealth I can never even hope to amass,” I start listing off things.

Her frown is instant, “If you think that the people inside that house aren’t your family then you haven’t been paying attention. Those brothers of yours would die for you, Elle would kill for you, Zack would give you his entire fortune if he felt you needed it,” she pauses. “And well, Arthur and I are more than used to being blessed with children we don’t deserve but love them anyway. You are part of this family whether you like it or not, Jace Conrad.”

An unfamiliar feeling floods my body as I try to process her words. I have never had this, an adult that cares, it’s weird. My parents were more interested in their next fix than their own kids, and while the foster homes I were in weren’t terrible, they weren’t caring either. More interested in the paycheck than the kids they housed. So, having someone like Mrs. Royton show any kind of affection well, I don’t really know how to react.

She looks over and must-see whatever emotions I am unsure of on my face because she curls her fingers around my forearm and squeezes, “Give it time, it will come. You will feel it, you belong here, you just haven’t processed that yet,” she gives me another squeeze before she stands dusting off her pants and looking down at me. “Now go on, get to bed, it’s late and you have school tomorrow.”

I can’t help but smile at her light scolding, not once in my life has anyone ever given a shit if I make it to school or not. I stand up immediately, “Yes, ma'am,” I tease with a smile.

“Don’t sass me, boy. Don’t think Elle is the only Royton lady who knows how to brandish a blade.”

My eyes hit the roof at that, but she just smiles, winks.and then turns and walks away. Well damn. Momma Royton is also badass. I better watch my back with the girls in this house.

I'm still thinking about what she said at lunch the next day. We sit at our usual table except our new usual, now includes our little Queenie. She is sitting across from me quietly picking at her lunch and tapping away on her phone, that serious little frown she does on her face. Marcus is staring at her, she’s got his balls in a fucking vice grip, poor guy doesn’t even know how far gone he is for her. I mean I love the girl like a sister, don’t get me wrong, but what they have is the last fucking thing I want. I will keep my endless string of girls. Who would give up threesomes for one pussy? Not me. I am happy for the both of them, but I couldn’t imagine letting one person have that kind of power over me.

I flick my gaze around the cafeteria just as Marcus’ biggest mistake starts stalking towards us. Elle and Marcus are too engrossed in whatever is on her phone to notice but Lincoln has spotted her just like I have. His back tenses as he awaits whatever bullshit she is coming over here to start.

“Exciting isn’t it?” Her shrill voice causes Marcus to snap up straight, while Elle just smirks into her phone, before continuing to tap. A few quiet moments pass before she sighs, making a show of putting it away and turning around to greet her, pushing herself into Marcus as she does. I see you, Queenie.

No one responds to her and I watch as Elle assesses her and whatever angle this is before sighing again, “I’ll bite. What’s exciting, Cherry?” The way she says her name has me smirking.

“The Fire and Ice Ball, of course,” undeterred by Elle’s tone she gushes back at her. “I can’t believe we are finally getting to have a school party; we are so lucky the board of Hallows Prep decided to include us.”

I snort, “Yeah, if you like dirty money.” She looks at me with a slight frown and a look I can’t decipher in her eyes when I speak. Hmm what are you thinking about, little Cherry?

She schools her features quickly, but I can tell Elle saw it too when she looks over at me as Cherry and I continue to stare at each other. She puts on what she must think is a flirty smile and turns her voice breathy, “Well, what do you say, playboy, wanna be my date?”

Now, it’s Elle’s turn to snort.

I don’t even miss a beat before responding, “I'm already going with someone with a lot more class than you. Sorry, darling.” I sound like a patronizing fuck, but there is just something about her that irks me, unsettles my stomach. I can’t put my finger on it.

The bell rings but we remain seated as she glares at me before she smiles that sickly sweet smile again, “Your loss, I got a beautiful dress from Havensgrove,” she remarks, and I feel Elle’s flinch from across the table. Fucking Havensgrove.

What the fuck would someone like her be doing shopping somewhere like Havensgrove? It can’t be a coincidence. I feel Lincoln pull his tablet out and begin tapping away next to me. I keep my bored mask in place as I respond, “I’m sure it will look good on some douche bag’s trailer floor.”

She smirks an evil sort of smile before she turns back to Elle and Marcus. “Marcus, we have Chem together now, wanna walk together? You’ve got Bio, right, Elle?” She sounds so smug but all I am focused on is how well she seems to know our schedules.

Elle smiles wide with a glint in her eyes and I don’t miss the possessive grip Marcus encases her hip in before he responds, “Sure thing, Cherry.”

They both stand and Cherry looks like she just won the lottery. Until Elle goes to move, and Marcus grips her by the back of the neck, spinning her into him and kisses her like he is ready to fuck her right there on the table. A couple of the football douches holler, but shut it down quick when Lincoln and I glare at them. Cherry looks murderous as she watches them, but quickly smiles when she finds me glaring at her again. I see you.

Elle pulls away and licks her lips, a slight blush to her cheeks as Marcus whispers loud enough for all of us to hear, “To be continued later, my little King.”

“Later,” she responds before looking at Linc, “Come on, Superman, you can walk me to class.”

Lincoln looks at me offering me a nod before he meets Elle on the other side of the table, and she takes his arm as they leave for class.

Cherry is practically preening now that she is gone and giving Marcus what I can only assume are fuck me eyes, except her face looks fucking weird doing it.

“Come on then, Mr. King of the Southside,” she purrs before turning and walking away putting as much sway into her hips as she can manage.

Marcus moves to follow but I grip his arm tight and pull him back, “Please don’t tell me you are buying that little miss nice bullshit. Something is off about her.”

He smiles at me, “Why do you think I am keeping her so close, brother? I won’t let anyone close to my girl and that's exactly where Cherry’s eyes have been since we got together. Keep your enemies close and all that.”

“Marcus,” she snaps across the room. He winks at me before pulling away to follow her. Well, fuck me, my brother has finally pulled his head out of his ass. Finally.

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