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“Yeah,” Nate murmurs. “But you would have to a
“Nate,” the girl says. The fact that I don’t know her name bothers me.
“What’s your name?”
Her eyes meet mine. “Valentina, your majesty.”
“Please don’t do the ‘our majesty’ thing. It’s creepy and makes me feel old.” I look up at Nate. “What makes you think you can trust her?”
Nate’s anger loosens as his hand comes to her chin, lifting her head up to face him. Nope. Nope. I’m about to crush this bitch.
“Because she’s of pure heart, Tillie. I trust her. That should be enough.”
His hand falls from her face and jealousy roars so loud in my chest that I find my feet moving in front of each other until I’m standing directly between the two of them.
I look down at her with a snarl. “You can have my kingdom, but you ca
Her head bows acquiescently. “I understand.”
Then I turn, walking away from both of them. I’m so angry with Nate, with everything. I want a normal fucking life. I want a house to come home to. I want to do nightly di
“Take me home.”
The door slams behind me, and I’m angry that I jump. “What the fuck is your problem, Tillie?” Nate barks out from behind. Maybe I’m being irrational, but Nate makes me ugly. He brings out my jealousy and leaves it out raw in the open, like a fatal gaping wound. I hate how much power he has over me, but that’s power he doesn’t need to know he possesses.
I turn to face him. “I want to go home.”
His eyes narrow, and when my eyes drop to his lips, all I picture is Valentina’s mouth on his. Did he kiss her when I left? Oh my god, why do I not like this girl? Is it because she reminds me of me? Because she’s almost at the same level as me in this world? Or is it because I watched as Nate showed her kindness. Kindness he hasn’t used on me in some time. My heart hurts and my stomach throbs from that realization.
“You can’t,” he answers harshly, shouldering past me and disappearing into the kitchen. Bishop follows closely behind him. Brantley rolls his eyes, tilting his head back like he’s exhausted from the same shit.
He wraps his arms around me, burying his face in my hair. “Little terror. You didn’t play nice with Nate’s little plaything?”
I growl.
Brantley chuckles, his chest shaking. “You wouldn’t be my little terror if you did.”
“He has feelings for her?” I ask, but it comes out mumbled because my face is buried so deep in his clothes.
“Yes and no.”
“I’m so sick of competing against other girls when it comes to his affection, Bran Bran. Throughout our entire relationship—if that’s what you can even call it—I’ve had to compete for a spot in his heart, only to watch him treat everyone nice, and me? Not so nice.” I pause when I realize I’m about to choke on my sobs. Snot and everything dripping down my nose. I rub it against Brantley because I know he won’t care. His arms squeeze me tighter.
“It’s not that, Tillie. It’s so much more complex than what you’re thinking.”
“It’s not, though. I fell in love with a man who has no heart for me.”
Brantley pushes me back, his hands squeezing my arms. He searches my eyes. “Baby, that man has everything for you.”
“I don’t believe you,” I whisper, searching his eyes. “Bran Bran.”
I pull away from him and make my way upstairs. I need a bath and two hundred shots of vodka. One for every time Nate has broken my heart.