Bully King - J.A. Huss Page 0,22
for the various camps. There’s a horse camp. An art camp. A football camp. Lots of camps.
But I think they stay because their parents don’t like them.
At least that’s what I’ve told myself over the years. It’s only natural to want to be the winner in some category, regardless of how small and meaningless.
And I won the jackpot with my parents.
Anyway. My point is that I know about Swan Camp.
And now I’m going too. Kind of.
As… the help.
But this is good. Because I’m pretty sure that Mona is going to Swan Camp too and that’s why those weird bodyguards of hers dragged her home. And that means that Mona will be there all summer. With me. Plenty of time for me to get on her good side and prove to her that she needs someone like me—someone who can watch her back from the outside, while she watches mine from the inside—so that both of us can get what we need.
I know what she needs. I think. The Cygnet is in charge of all the Swans. She is the queen. She calls all the shots in the secret society they have in the woods. Just like the King over on the male side of things.
I don’t know much about the Fang and Claw or Wing and Feather societies. I barely know anything, actually. But I know they are real and I know that a freshman girl like Mona would never be put in charge. There is, right now, some uptight girl calling herself Cygnet just waiting to make Mona’s life miserable all summer.
I can help take the queen down.
Whoa. Easy there, Cadee. That’s kind of diabolical.
This makes me smile. I’m learning. And this is definitely the offer I’m going to make Mona to make her help me… do what?
What will she help me do?
Do I need money from these people?
I mean, sure. I’m not going to turn down some free money. But I’m not going to break the law and bribe someone to get it.
The Chairman has already offered me a scholarship. I have no intention of accepting that. My dream has nothing to do with the drama of High Court College and the ruling class fighting for the crowns.
Maybe I can cash it in?
Somehow, I think not.
So what can I get out of these people?
Hmm. How about an apology?
Yeah, Cadee. Like that’s going to happen.
How about the truth about what really happened when I was fifteen?
I would be satisfied with that.
So the truth. If Mona helps me shine light on the truth about the dirty tricks the Valcourt family deals in, then yeah, I’ll help her depose the current Cygnet queen and do whatever it takes to put that crown of feathers on her head.
That’s four years of power for Mona. Definitely more than I’ll be getting out of it.
She will say yes.
She has to say yes.
But should I aspire to something higher? What if Mona laughs at my request? What if she thinks I’m simple and stupid for not wanting more?
Maybe I should get even? Make Cooper pay for what he did?
I realize it’s not all his fault, but I don’t care. I blame him anyway.
If his father is going through all this trouble to make him stay for the summer, then that can only mean one thing.
Cooper Valcourt is the heir to the High Court College Crown. He’s a senior this year. He had to have known he would be put in charge. He might not want it, but it doesn’t matter. It’s his, like it or not. Taking it away from him would only make him happy.
So I’m not going to take it away.
I’m going to make sure he’s crowned King at homecoming in the fall.
With Mona at his side.
I actually laugh all the way back to my door.
And I’m still giggling as I drift off to sleep in my new room inside this ridiculously luxurious mansion.
A knock on the door wakes me and I sit straight up in bed.
“Cadee?”
Jesus. What the hell? “Yes?” I call.
The door opens and the Chairman walks in. He looks over his shoulder, like he’s checking for people, and then quietly closes the door behind him.
I get out of bed and stand over by the small desk on the far side of the room before he even turns back. No way am I going to be sending this man any mixed messages. I don’t really understand why he’s got me here, but having him sneak into my room sets off all