CHAPTER 100
ZION
Curiosity flares up inside me, searing through my veins like wildfire as I keep my eyes locked on Harry.
What the Fuck did she say to him? And why is the bastard smiling at me like that?
Harry and I have been tight for as long as I can remember my ride-or-die. My cousin. My brother. Always has been. He's supposed to be one of us, no question. But right now, it feels like he's got one foot in us and the other firmly planted with Winter.
Winter's succeeded in making a rift between me and Harry. She likely cried a bit, casting herself as the innocent while making me out to be the villain. As a result, Harry, being the soft-hearted guy he is, bought into her act completely. Now, it looks like I'm the bad guy in his eyes.
Frustration gnaws at me as I take a long swig from my beer, the liquid barely soothing the growing tension inside me. I slammed the can down on the table with more force than necessary, the glass rattling under the impact.
"What the hell, Zion?" Ronald's voice cuts through the noise, his gaze following mine to where Claire and Winter are huddled in the corner.
"Nothing," I grunt, grabbing a half-empty bottle of vodka that's conveniently within arm's reach. This time, I skip the shot glass and take a deep pull straight from the bottle. The burn is intense, but I welcome it, letting the fire scorch away the unease gnawing at me.
"Bullshit," Ronald retorts, his tone sharp. "I know that look. You're up to something."
"Hell yeah, I am," I snapped back, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before taking another swig. "I'm planning on getting as wasted as humanly possible and then finding as many willing girls as I can to help me forget this bullshit."
The words spill out, raw and unfiltered, but they don't ease the tension coiling in my chest. Instead, it tightens, wrapping around me like a vice. I'm not just pissed-I'm restless, itching for something I can't quite pin down. The more I drink, the more I try to drown it out, but it's still there, lurking beneath the surface.
Harry's eyes drifted to the corner of the room, and I instinctively followed his gaze. Of course, it's Ariel. He's been hung up on her since he first laid eyes on her a year ago, though I'll never understand why he hasn't made a move. He's as much of a playboy as the rest of us, so why the hell is he acting like a lovesick puppy? He shouldn't have any trouble getting into her pants.
Grinning, I lift my bottle and give a mocking salute to both Ronald and Harry.
"Hey, Ariel!" I called out, my voice cutting through the chatter, just to see that familiar scowl darken Harry's face.
I realize it's petty, but given the way, he's been acting today-playing Winter's protector and messing up my plans for revenge-it's satisfying to get under his skin.
Ariel approaches me, her eyes briefly flickering over to Harry before settling on me. She squares her shoulders, bracing herself for whatever I'm about to say. Despite being a shy, good girl, she's ready to face whatever comes next.
As the alcohol starts to work its magic, I can see Harry's irritation with me beginning to soften, but I'm not letting up.
"What do you say, Ariel?" I ask with a smirk as she approaches. "Wanna be the first to kick off the celebrations with your favourite Royal?"
Harry's head snaps toward me, eyes blazing with the kind of fury that could kill. Good. Let him stew. Maybe he'll think twice before playing Knight in shining armour for Winter again.
"You're going to get yourself killed if you keep this up," Ronald mutters under his breath, but I just shrug.
"He knows I'm just messing around," I say casually, though I know full well I'm toeing the line.
Ariel, however, isn't having any of it. "Fuck you," she spits out, her voice sharp as a blade. "I'd rather shove a cactus up my virgin vag sideways than let your limp dick anywhere near it."
Her words hit like a slap, but I couldn't help the laugh that burst from my lips. It's the kind of fiery response I expected from her, and while Harry might be fuming, I find it all too entertaining. The tension in the air crackles, a perfect mix of alcohol, anger, and barely contained chaos.
Cindy's eyes lit up with a twisted amusement.
"Funny," she sneers, a smile curving on her lips that's more venomous than playful,
"I figured all those nerdy girls you hang around with would be pros at handling that kind of dick," she quips, her gaze darting away from mine for the briefest second.
"Enough!" Harry snaps, shooting a glare at Cindy, who just rolls her eyes in response. Ariel shakes her head, before turning to walk away. Harry watches her go, torn between staying put and running after her. He's more into her than he even realizes.
A split second later, Cindy's hand slips inside my shirt, as if she owns me. My entire body recoils at her touch. My desire for Cindy had evaporated a long time ago before it ever truly existed at all.
I tear my gaze away from her, my jaw tightening as I scan the room. The noise around me fades into a dull hum, my focus narrowing to a single purpose—finding Winter. When I finally spot her, she’s leaning against a tree, her arms crossed tightly over her chest like a shield.
Her eyes are already on me, and the look on her face is unmistakable—pure, unfiltered disgust. It’s like my presence alone is enough to make her skin crawl. Her lips press into a thin line, and her brow furrows as if she’s trying to hold herself back from spitting something venomous in my direction.
A wave of satisfaction washes over me, hot and electrifying. I can’t help myself; my lips twitch into a smirk, the kind that’s equal parts challenge and provocation. The corner of my mouth lifts, my expression daring her to come at me, to say whatever it is she’s holding back.
For a split second, her eyes flashed with something—anger, defiance, maybe even hatred—and it only fueled the fire burning in my chest. Every line of her body screams that she wants nothing more than to storm over and unleash hell on me, and that thought alone makes the smirk stretch wider across my face.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
