The Peer and the Puppet (When Rivals Play #1) - B.B. Reid Page 0,41

the flesh covering my entire body burned. “What does that mean?”

His eyes flashed with anticipation. “It means, puppet, I finally have a pet name for you.”

Dinner that night had been yet another stilted affair.

Jamie joined us halfway through with a bruise covering most of his left cheek. Thomas questioned him relentlessly, but Jamie avoided answering. Ever casually sipped his water while Rosalyn stared into her own glass. It didn’t seem to bother her or Ever at all when the yelling began. Thomas eventually ordered Jamie into his office, and together, they disappeared, leaving Rosalyn, Ever, and me to finish dinner together. I was mulling over Ever’s bruised knuckles, which Thomas never seemed to notice, when Rosalyn finally spoke.

“How was your first day back, dear?”

“It was like I’d never left.” But I did, and I still couldn’t find it in me to forgive her for sending me away. Now that I knew Ever had talked them into it, I wasn’t sure I ever would.

An awkward silence fell over the table as Rosalyn stewed in her guilt. I was content to keep it that way, but of course, Ever had other plans.

“You should tell her about our arrangement,” he casually suggested. He never even bothered lifting his gaze from his plate. As if toying with me was as natural to him as breathing.

I could kill him.

“Your…arrangement?” I could hear the alarm in Rosalyn’s voice and wondered if I’d have to shove pills down her throat in the morning. With wide eyes, she waited for an explanation, and I wracked my brain for one.

“We have English together,” Ever offered when the silence became telling.

“Oh, how nice,” she rushed out with obvious relief.

I glared at Ever across the table when Rosalyn busied herself studying her nails. If the table weren’t so damn wide, I’d kick him and wipe that dazzling smile off his face. What it did to me frightened me more than his veiled threats did.

“If you ladies will excuse me,” Ever announced as he rose from the table. “I have shit to do.”

Rosalyn flinched at his swearing, but he pretended not to notice. Despite our agreement, I couldn’t resist returning the favor and toying with him since I had a good idea what he was going to do and who he was doing it for.

“Should I tell your father where you’re going?”

He simply winked, and I pretended a certain part of me didn’t weep as he walked away.

“What an odd boy,” Rosalyn remarked when he was out of earshot.

“I wouldn’t exactly call him odd.”

“He’s much too intense for his age.” She then eyed me curiously. “And don’t think I didn’t see him wink at you.” Her gaze sharpened when I froze. “What was that about?”

I dug my nails into my thigh, a reaction she couldn’t see. I’d stupidly fallen into his trap once again.

Oh, Ever…you’re going to pay.

And I wouldn’t just rip him from his throne. I’d crush him under my heel like the worm he was.

“A boy too into his looks?” She seemed to accept my answer and went back to sipping her water. “Aren’t you going to eat?” She’d barely touched her plate.

“I’m full.”

“You’ve hardly eaten anything.”

“I had a big lunch,” she replied in a tone that warned me away from the subject.

My appetite was suddenly gone, but I forced the rest of my food down so I wouldn’t look like a hypocrite and excused myself. I had the feeling my room would be my sanctuary until I graduated. Brynwood was relentless in its pursuit of educating, and so, at the end of the first day, I found myself with homework. I headed for the simple ivory desk and felt my heart race when I came across a folded slip of paper. There were no lines, but the jagged edges showed it had been torn from its binding.

Someone knocked on my door, but I ignored them and flipped open the paper.

Once upon a puppet, she spun a tale to the mad king.

- The Peer

“What does that even mean?” I didn’t have to question who the note was from.

Haughty bastard.

Another knock, this one more demanding, had me tossing the note on my desk.

Thomas, with his tie undone and his shirt rumpled, stood at the threshold with a grimace.

“Have you seen my son?” he demanded. My stomach knotted when his gaze swept the room.

Did Thomas think Ever was with me? The words Your prig of a son hangs with gang bangers teased my tongue, but suddenly, the note made sense.

It wasn’t a

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