I’d made the deal and now I had to stick with it, so I didn’t argue as he gently nudged me forward. “I’m going to get cleaned up first, but I’ll meet you at the library.”
“Okay,” I replied, wishing my voice wasn’t quite so goddamn breathless. What was he doing to me? I mean, it couldn’t just be the prince thing, right? I never thought I’d be that girl; if anything, the prince part should be the largest turnoff. Especially a crown prince.
I didn’t want that life, one of service and rules. I wanted at least a facade of freedom, like most commoners.
“See you soon, Violet,” Alex said, and I forced myself to casually wave before stumbling back out of the sports center. It was empty of almost all students now, Alex and I having lingered longer than I’d thought, and I couldn’t see Mattie or Nolan anywhere.
Thankfully, there was also no Rafe because in my currently rattled state of mind, I’d probably do something really stupid.
Like punch him.
Chapter 10
The library was packed now. A low hum of conversation could be heard, and I guessed that maybe the section I’d been in before had been one that wasn’t quite as strict on the silence thing. I couldn’t see any unoccupied desks, so I wound my way through the rest of the twenty-foot shelves, trying to find a place to study.
Alex found me before I’d found us a table.
“It’s packed in here,” I whispered.
He looked around like he hadn’t even noticed. “Oh, right. Well, that’s easily fixed.”
He walked back to the main seating area and stopped by a table occupied by a young guy. He looked about sixteen, so he was either a prodigy going here early, or he just had one of those baby faces that would haunt him until he was forty and then he’d be happy.
“Move, I need this table,” Alex said abruptly, and the guy’s deep brown skin almost looked green for a split second when he realized who was standing beside him. Without a word he started to gather up some papers, his palm reader, and these intricate-looking science or math instruments that he must have been using for calculations.
“Wait a second,” I said, my brain finally catching up to what Alex was doing. “No, seriously. We’re not kicking anyone out to take their seat.”
Confusion marred the golden prince’s face. “Uh, why not? He doesn’t mind, right?”
He turned back to the boy, who was already standing. “Nope. Not at all, Prince Alex. I was done anyway. Table is all yours.”
Holy fuck.This was why I hated royalty. This was why I’d hesitated, despite my attraction to Alex. This bullshit pissed me right the fuck off, and Alex didn’t even understand why what he’d done was so wrong.
“I think I’m going to just study in my room tonight,” I bit out between clenched teeth. “I’m not feeling that great, so I’ll have to take a rain check.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but I spun, following the same path as the young student he’d rudely turfed out of the seat.
“Violet,” Alex called, not caring that everyone turned to look at us. Thankfully I was almost out the door at that point, and picking up my pace, I rushed through the school.
My face felt hot as I fumed and dwelled on my own stupidity. Why had I thought Alex was different? Why didn’t I trust my instincts?
Shallow bitch, my subconscious reminded me. It was partly true, but I’d thought I saw something better in him as well.
Guess I’d been wrong.
In my blind fury, I hadn’t been watching where I was going, and I almost charged right into Rafe. Stopping just in time, I sucked in some deep breaths, my chest hammering for multiple reasons. My emotions were a shitshow of fucked up right now, and I was probably going to say something really bad in reply to whatever asshole thing was about to leave his mouth.
Only he didn’t say a word. He just let that enigmatic gaze rest on my face, no doubt seeing a ton of stuff I wished he wouldn’t, and then he straightened and continued on down the hallway.
It was only after my brain caught up to me that I realized he’d been dressed entirely in black, and had that been a black balaclava clutched in his hand? Not to mention that look on his face … It had been focus and determination. An expression I’d recognized from my many years with Master Shensei.
But what did that mean? Could Rafe possibly be…
Spinning on my heels, I raced after him, intent on figuring out exactly what was going on in this school. Despite the fact I was full on sprinting, there was no sign of the prince. And considering his size and the general open lengths of these halls, I was at a complete loss as to how he’d disappeared so fast.
Frustrated, I turned back the way I’d been going originally and finally made it unscathed to my room. Despite the roar of my thoughts, so many of them swirling until I actually felt sick, I somehow managed to get the last of my homework done. By no means was any of it amazing, and I hadn’t caught up in classes yet, but it would get me through another day. Maybe tomorrow Alex wouldn’t act like an arrogant dick, and I’d be able to get his help.
* * *
