Page 79 of Spearcrest Prince

“She’s not that sweet.”

“You’re wrong. Do you know she painted my portrait?”

“I heard.”

She waggles her eyebrows. “Jealous?”

“Why should I be?”

“Because she only paints portraits of people she likes. Did she not tell you?”

I roll my eyes. “If you two love each other so much, then why is she not here with you?”

Kay laughs and then sets her glass down, turning to face me properly. Her men await without speaking, perfect puppies desperate for her attention. “She’s like a bird, your fiancée. Very pretty but elusive. I’ve tried many times now to get her to come out with us, but she always turns me down.”

I steel my features so that she doesn’t realise how glad that makes me.

“Maybe she’s not the partying kind.”

“No, I think Anaïs is exactly the partying kind.” Kay’s eyes narrow. “I think Anaïs would be an absolute blast on nights out. But I think her first time out in London spooked her, and now she doesn’t dare try again. Maybe you know what put her off so much?”

“I wouldn’t say put off,” I say, suppressing the urge to glare at her. “Maybe she’s just being cautious. She is engaged, after all.”

“So are you.” Kay’s smile is mocking. “And yet here you are.”

This time, I glare at her. Kay accusing me of straying is ironic, but that’s not why I’m angry at her. I realise I no longer care about any of that. Our relationship, asking her to get engaged after Spearcrest, finding out she was sleeping around the whole time.

I’m angry because I don’t want to be here, dancing with other girls. I want to be here, dancing with Anaïs. But I don’t think Anaïs wants to be here with me, and Kay seems to know that.

“I don’t think Anaïs cares about me being here,” I reply, bitterness seeping into my voice.

“Hah, for once, I think you’re absolutely right.” She lets out an airy laugh. “Such a cruel twist of fate. You could fuck every girl in this club, and Anaïs wouldn’t care at all. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“How is that ironic?”

“Ironic because if Anaïs so much as kissed someone other than you, I think you would lose your shit.”

Kay isn’t wrong, but I’d rather die than admit it. “Anaïs can do whatever she likes.”

“Oh, good.” Kay gives a melodramatic sigh of relief. “Because I’m throwing a little get-together after the exams, and I invited Anaïs.”

“Great.”

“You don’t mind, do you?”

I wave my hand in dismissal. “Why should I?”

“You’re right, you shouldn’t. I’m glad we’ve cleared that up. I was a bit worried when Parker told me he was going to ask Anaïs to go with him.”

My gut churns. For a second, I’m scared I’m about to throw up across the table.

But I swallow and bite down hard. Kay is watching me with that cocky little smirk, looking like the cat that got the cream.

“Some shit party you’re throwing,” I say finally, forcing my voice to remain low and calm. “If you’re inviting the likes of Parker.”

“I didn’t invite him,” she says, “but Anaïs gets to bring whoever she wants. Including Parker.”

“As if she’d go with him.”

---