Cruel Prince: A High School Bully Romance (Royal Hearts Academy Book 1)

I pick up my phone and call Sawyer. If anyone can talk me off the ledge when Jace isn’t around, it’s her.

“Something’s wrong,” I blurt out the moment she picks up.

“What’s going on?”

I stretch a strip of duct tape across the box in front of me. “Jace has been acting weird for the past two days.”

“Weird how? Sick weird or moody weird.”

“I don’t know…weird weird.” I place a stack of folded clothes in a different box. “I think he’s freaking out about me going to Duke’s Heart.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s not. Because I’m dorming there. I don’t know. Something just feels off.”

“Well, did you try asking him what’s wrong?”

“I don’t have to,” I mutter. “This morning he texted me.”

“And?”

I swallow hard. “He said we needed to talk.”

“Oh.” She goes silent for a few seconds before she squeaks out, “Hey, that’s not always a bad thing. Communication is important in a relationship.”

“Sawyer, how many couples are still together at the end of a conversation that begins with the words ‘we need to talk?’”

She sucks in a sharp breath. “Okay, I see your point. But it doesn’t matter. You and Jace are soulmates.”

We are…which is why I don’t understand any of this.

Two days ago, everything was perfect.

Then I mentioned I was going to be busy because I needed to start packing for school…and suddenly we need to have a talk.

Grumbling, I stand up. “I’m supposed to meet him in fifteen minutes.”

“Your place or his?”

“Neither.” Trekking to the mirror, I do a quick once-over. “He wants to meet at our old elementary school.”

“Really? Why?”

“I don’t know. The only thing I can think of is that he wants to end things the same place it began.”

There’s a sharp intake of breath. “Whoa. Do you really think Jace would be so cruel? Actually…don’t answer that. Think happy thoughts,” she says before hanging up.

The ominous feeling in my gut gets worse with every step I take toward the giant sequoia tree.

He looks up when I approach. “Hey.”

No kiss. No hug. Just hey.

“Hey.”

The look in his eyes right now is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

He motions to the spot on the ground next to him. “Sit.”

Begrudgingly, I do.

The smile he gives me is uneasy…like he doesn’t want to have this conversation any more than I do.

“How are you?”

How am I? If he’d bothered to speak to me for more than two seconds over the last forty-eight hours, he would know I’m freaking the fuck out.

“Fine.”

His dark eyes roam over my face, studying me.

I grind my molars. It should be a crime to look so hot when you’re about to break someone’s heart.

He reaches for my hand. “You know I love you, right?”

My heart seizes. Oh my God. This is it.

“Yup,” I croak.

He makes a face. “Are you okay?”

“Just peachy,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

“Really? Because you don’t—”

“Good God, man. Just get on with it.”

Break up with me so I can break your jaw and knock some sense back into you.

“Didn’t realize you were in a rush.” I feel his gaze bore into me. “You were wearing a blue dress with white stripes. Your hair was up, and you had a pair of red earbuds in your ears.” He traces the length of my forearm with his finger. “Your eyes were closed, and you were singing your favorite song.” Laughing, he gives his head a shake. “You sounded terrible…but you looked so happy in your own little world. I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about. “When?”

His Adam’s apple bobs. “The first time I saw you.”

Really? He’s going to say something like that before he smashes my heart to smithereens, and he can’t even bother to get it right.

“The day we met I was wearing overalls, not a blue dress. My hair was down…and I had headphones on. The babysitter’s cat destroyed those red earbuds the week before.”

He smirks. “I said it was the first time I saw you…not the first time we spoke.”

Oh.  I always thought I was the one who noticed him first.

That uneasy look in his eyes is back. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately.”

I brace myself for impact. “About?”

“Us.” He runs his thumb over my knuckle. “The future.”

“Okay.”

“Do you remember when we used to exchange notes with dares on them?”

Of course I do.

“Yeah, they’d have to be completed by the end of the upcoming week or you lost.” I give him a smug smile. “I never lost, by the way.”

“I know.” He pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to me. “I’m hoping you continue your winning streak.”

Confused, I unfold the paper.

My heart constricts when I see what’s written on it.

I dare you to move in with me.

“Are you serious? Like into your house?”

He grins. “No. Into an apartment…our apartment. I found three I think you’d like that are less than five minutes from Duke’s. I talked to the land—”

“Wait, what? You went apartment hunting?”

He nods. “That’s what I’ve been doing the last two days.” He blows out a heavy breath. “I know you were planning on dorming and I didn’t want to take that experience away from you, but I’m a selfish prick.” He crosses his arms. “I want to be the first one to see you when you wake up. Not some stupid roommate—whoa, what’s happening? Why are you crying?”

“I thought you were breaking up with me,” I choke out, wiping my tears with my sleeve.

He makes a face. “Breaking up with you? What the hell? Baby, why would I ever break up with you?”

“I don’t know, asshole. You said we needed to talk and then you pretty much ghosted me for two days.”

“I did not ghost you. You said you were busy.”

“I’m never too busy for you.” I twine a blade of grass around my finger. “I just had to get ready for my first semester of college. It’s a big deal, you know?”

“Yeah, I do.” He pulls out another piece of paper. “I’ll be seeing you around on campus.”

My mouth drops open. “I thought you said you didn’t want to go to college?”

He shrugs. “I didn’t, but then I figured getting a BA in computer science might not be a bad idea. It’s only part-time, so I’ll still have plenty of time to work on video games.” He tips my chin. “And for you.”

That happy, fuzzy feeling is back in my chest again. “I love you.”

Dipping his head, he kisses the hollow of my throat. “Is that a yes?”

“Are you kidding? That’s a hell yes. Of course, I’ll move in with you.”

The relief on his face is apparent. “Good. Because I set up meetings with the landlords this afternoon.”

My stomach sinks like quicksand. “I can’t move in with you.”

He blanches. “The fuck you can’t. Why?”

It’s almost laughable that I forgot how broke I am. “I don’t have any money. I only got a partial scholarship to Duke’s. The rest is all loans—”

“You don’t have to pay for anything.” He kisses me slow and sweet and my heart swoops down to my toes. “I’ve got you. Always.”

“But I’m not a mooch.”

“No, you’re not. You’re mine.” His thumb strokes the edge of my jaw. “And I take care of what’s mine—what the hell?”

My eyes widen in shock as a blue butterfly lands on Jace’s nose.

Jace, however, doesn’t seem to share my sentiments.  I stop him when he tries to swat it away.

“Dylan, there’s a butterfly…on my fucking face.”

My throat prickles as I recall what Sawyer told me that day in the graveyard.

“Jace.” I wait for him to look at me before I whisper, “Butterflies appear when angels are near.”