Page 78 of Spearcrest Prince

“That’s fucked up,” Evan mutters.

“Is that why you’re having no luck with Theodora, Zach?” Luca asks lightly. “Because her dad’s angry about yourcanker?”

A dull silence falls in the room. Theodora is a no-go topic amongst Young Kings—we all know that. Luca must really be feeling bold today.

Zachary drags his gaze away from Evan and to Luca. There’s so much icy hatred in his eyes, it’s a miracle Luca doesn’t drop dead.

“Did you think that barb was particularly trenchant?” he asks, voice dripping with disdain. “Because it did little to impress me.” He stands, and his lips twist in a cold, insincere smile. “Why don’t you try harder, Luca? You’re starting to bore me—actually, that’s a lie. You’ve always bored me.”

He leaves.

In the silence he leaves behind, Luca cackles. “You guys are wound up too tight. All of you. What’s it going to take to get those sticks out of your assholes? Shall we head into London tonight? You all look like you could do with letting out some steam.”

Evan sighs and sets his book aside. “My head’s a mess. Might as well. I’m in.”

“Me too,” Iakov grunts from the floor.

Going out clubbing is only going to make me think of Anaïs in a sequined skirt, dancing in changing lights, but what’s the alternative? Staying in Spearcrest and thinking of Anaïs in silver stars writhing on my cock?

“Fuck it. Count me in too.”

Musicpounds,vibratingthroughmy bones, my veins.

In the crowd of bodies, in the pulsing of lights and shadows, it’s easier to get out of my head. Loud music drowns out my thoughts. Tonight, I’m on the dancefloor. Tonight, I’m losing myself.

Girls press themselves against me, dazzling me with their shine. Shiny eyes, shiny lips, shiny dresses. They glitter like statues of gold and silver, waiting for me to collect them, to place them high on the shelf of my esteem.

I wrap my arm around a slim waist, and my cheek brushes against perfumed hair. Isn’t this what Anaïs wanted? For both of us to be free and do what we want?

Isn’t this what I wanted? To ignore my fiancée and take any girl I want to my bed? I don’t even know what I want anymore. To be free? For my parents to leave me alone? To do what I want, when I want? To fuck my way through life without consequence?

Anaïs?

Maybe it would be simpler to figure out what I don’t want. To be engaged to someone who doesn’t want me. For my parents to manipulate my life like it’s a puppet, and they hold the strings.

And I definitely don’t want the freedom of fucking whoever I want if it means Anaïs gets to do the same thing.

Pulling myself out of the tangle of shiny girls, I leave the dancefloor.

My eyes glide over the crowd, searching faces. What if she’s here too? What if she’s looking for someone to drag away from the dancefloor? Someone to touch her and make her feel so good they’ll erase the memory of me from between her legs?

My eyes catch on a familiar face, and I make a beeline through the crowd.

Kay looks stunning as usual in a tiny dress of cream silk, her hair down to her waist, her skin sparkling with gold. Gold shoes, gold jewellery, gold rings in her braids. She sits at a table with three young men courting her, her dark-brown eyes assessing them, measuring them.

I drop myself down next to her on the leather couch, to the men’s surprise and annoyance. I shrug and turn to talk to Kay, ignoring them.

“Where’s your new protégée, Kay?”

“My new protégée?” She leans back against her seat and takes a sip from her glass of champagne. “Who would that be?”

“Don’t play games.”

“I’m not. I’m a very open-hearted person, as you know. I have many protégées in Spearcrest.”

“But there’s only one of them who’s engaged to me.”

Kay’s glossy lips stretch in a little smug smile. “Oh. Is it my sweet bestie Anaïs you’re asking about?”

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