Page 57 of Princess of Thorns and Ruin

His judgmental tone irks me, and I school my gaze to the front to erase him from my peripheral vision. “Yes. He allowed it.”

“I thought we’d agreed never to let him manipulate us again.”

“I didn’t—” My jaw clenches, and I let the rest of the sentence die on my lips. “Sebastian might be a jerk, but he’s the only one who treats me like an adult.”

Lucas’ heated breath tickles my ear. “Including me?”

“You knew about your uncle, and you didn’t tell me. You lied,” I whisper quickly.

“I was going to tell you.”

“You had every opportunity, but you let Sebastian break the news instead. I expected more from you, Lucas.” With that, I switch seats and sit across the aisle.

The rest of the plane ride is somber as hell, my gut in knots over my fight with Lucas and the terrible shade of Leo’s bruise. In ten years, I don’t remember being this upset with my best friend or more anxious about my life, and I sink my nails into my palms. The entire group seems to be holding its breath, and the TV screens, books, and hearts remain shut and silent for the entire duration of the voyage.

A sense of foreboding hangs thick in the air, like we’re all heading toward our doom.

Alec finally slips out of the cockpit as we begin our descent. “We’re landing in ten.”

“Alright.” I think back to the last time we landed a plane together and search his gaze behind his sunglasses.

Something passes between us. Not an understanding, exactly, but a weird current of energy, and a shiver quakes me from head to toe. The bodyguard’s throat bobs as though he’s about to add something, but he quickly retreats back inside the cockpit.

I head to the bathroom to change into the clothes I set aside for my first official meeting with my betrothed. The buzz of the air gliding along the airplane dulls as I shut the door behind me and switch the light on, the change in altitude pinching my eardrums.

The midnight-blue pantsuit and white blouse look plain and brittle under the fluorescent lights, and my fingers cramp as I button up the blouse. Anxiety crawls up my gut, the instinct to order the plane around slithering inside my cells. I work my arms through the jacket and fluff my long black hair over the collar, trying to hold the panic at bay.

Why is Leo hurt? Why didn’t Lucas tell me about the engagement? Why am I going along with this charade? Why-why-why…

A knock jolts me back to reality, and I crack open the door. “What?”

Lucas pushes in and closes the door behind him. “About what you said earlier—” My friend grimaces, raking a hand through his brown curls. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away. I was…shocked to say the least.”

Without giving myself time to chicken out or think it through, I press my mouth to his. His lips are soft, warmer than they were the last time. I feel as though I’m going to burst if I don’t act, if I don’t take back control. Sebastian’s words about losing my virginity before marriage still haunt me, and I need Lucas to be on my side. Always.

Instead of deepening the kiss—or merely returning it—Lucas tears himself away. “Are you crazy? Someone could hear us.”

My heart stumbles as I take in his panicked gaze. “You kissed me before my Nightfall.”

“That was different. You weren’t engaged to my uncle then.”

“You always knew I’d be marrying someone.” I frown, confused by his reaction. “We’re both on the same page, right? I’m marrying Pereira just for show while you and I change things for the better at court. We could even…be together,” I breathe, inching closer.

Lucas molds himself to the door like he wants to crawl out of here. “Think about what you’re asking. It’s treason. More than treason—it’s wrong.”

I push his chest. Hard. “Wrong? Are you kidding me? Wrong? Wrong is learning about my engagement after everybody else,” I push him again. “Wrong is expecting me to be a perfect little saint while everybody else fucks around with blood slaves.” Each sentence sends his back crashing into the door. “Wrong is trading our sacred laws and responsibilities for empty pleasures, like your court has done for decades.”

I need him to retaliate, to show me that our friendship means something to him. That I mean something to him besides my title and destiny, but he suffers all my blows with a tired look, and I fail to get a rise out of him, so I stop. “That’s all you have to say, then?”

“I don’t know what to say. We’re just friends.”

“Just friends…” Feeling smaller than I’ve felt in years, I cover my face with my palms as Lucas returns to his seat. Tears threaten to spill over my cheeks, so I bite my tongue hard and make my way to the cockpit.

Alec is watching the pilot like a hawk, standing silently behind him as the runway becomes bigger and bigger.

The vampire is still wearing his big, opaque sunglasses, and I startle as he clears his throat. “We’re about to land. You should sit down, princess.” His polite tone is weirdly soft and subdued and so unlike him that it sets me on edge.

“You’re not sitting down,” I point out.

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