The building is actually a square with an open-air courtyard surrounded by glass in the center. It’s filled with outdoor furniture and greenery. And when I look up, that courtyard extends all the way to the top floor.
“Jesus Christ,” Ax says. “Did you know he was building a dorm?”
“Of course not,” I say. “He doesn’t tell me anything.”
“Well, he’s been planning this a long time,” Ax says, his voice low, because my father is already making his big speech.
“Yeah, since he had her father killed,” I whisper back. “Fucking guilt. That’s what this building is made of.”
“… and so,” my father says, “we knew we needed to acknowledge the Hunter family and their contributions to High Court. Cadee.” He turns to her. She looks flustered and more than a little bit confused. “Welcome to your new home away from home.” He smiles at her. “I know you just bought yourself a house, but I hope you will enjoy your freshman year on campus. And of course, if you want to stay in your suite for your entire academic career here at High Court, the top floor will be yours.”
“What?” Cadee’s eyes find mine in the crowd. “I don’t understand. I’m not living here.”
“All freshmen have to live on campus, Cadee. It’s just a rule. To ease you into your higher learning life. Shall we go upstairs and find your new home? Hmm?” He’s still beaming that creepy smile at her.
“Shit,” Ax says. “Did you know about that rule?”
“I… maybe? I don’t know. I never thought about it. We didn’t even think about moving off campus when we were freshmen.”
We didn’t think about much at all, now that I consider it.
Too preoccupied with ourselves, I suppose.
My father leads Cadee up the stairs, with Jack and Leela close behind. And then everyone is going up the stairs.
I hear Jack call out, “Freshmen and sophomores! You’re on the second floor. Juniors and seniors, you’re on the third floor. Feel free to find your rooms. And of course, the King and his Queen are on the top floor.”
“Whoa, what?” Ax asks. “Since when is Cadee the Cygnet?”
“Since my father couldn’t control me any other way,” I mumble. “Which means, I guess I have a room at the top of this building too?”
It makes sense. Since I am the King in waiting.
But Ax and I are among the last to get to the top and it’s only then—when I hear Lars thanking my father for the spectacular glass suite on the roof—that I realize what my father has done.
I’ve been dethroned.
CHAPTER EIGHT - CADEE
Overwhelmed doesn’t even describe how I feel as I enter the top-floor terrace to find two small apartments made of steel and glass. They both have folding glass doors—wide open right now—that blend the inside space with the outdoors. The kind Cooper has at his mansion. And there are sheer light blue curtains billowing out of mine and dark blue velvet ones tied back for… Lars?
What the fuck is happening?
Lars is King? Since when?
I stare at my new home, trying to will this day into making sense.
“Surprise.”
I turn to find Lars coming out of his glass suite to my left. He’s wearing a dark blue suit and a broad smile.
“Lars,” I say, letting him take both my hands in his. Then I look around and get self-conscious because everyone is staring at us. “What are you doing here?”
“Well, since Cooper didn’t want to be King, I was offered the position. I’ll be living up here with you. In my own suite, of course. But forget about me. Don’t you want to see your new place?”
“Um…” I don’t know what to say. About any of it. The building has my name on it. And my parents’ names. And I’m… a legacy? “Lars,” I whisper, leaning into his ear. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”
“My dear,” the Chairman says, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You are the new High Court Queen. Go on, Lars. Take her inside so she can see her suite up close.”
“What?”
Lars leans down to my neck as he steers me towards the right. “Just… go with it, Cadee. Smile and play along.”
I let Lars lead me across the glass and steel bridge that spans the open courtyard below. Trying my best to smile and play along.
Lars pulls the sheer light blue curtain aside and I get my first real glimpse of how the ruling class really live. And OK, I’ve been around these people my whole life. I have looked at those mansions across the lake for nearly two decades. I just spent a summer living inside one of them. I know what luxury is.
But I’ve never had it myself.
The room at Cooper’s house was just a guest room. In fact, every place I’ve ever lived until I bought the inn was just another guest house.
But this building has my name on it. And this apartment on the top-floor terrace… has my stuff in it.
“Where?” I ask, twirling in place as I soak up all the things that were in the attic apartment I shared with my mother. They went missing months ago and now they are all here. In this new… home. All our family photos. The blanket we used to keep on the back of the couch. Even my favorite stuffed bear that my father gave me for my sixth birthday is positioned on the pillows of the elaborate canopy bed that would give the opulent one back in the Valcourt guest suite a run for its money.
“We found the truck,” the Chairman says. “Actually”—he chuckles—“I have to confess, I made up that story about your mother buying a house in North Dakota.”
“You don’t say,” I reply.
“I knew you weren’t falling for it.” He sighs. And his smile falters. “I was just trying to surprise you. So I made it all up. The scholarship job in the Glass House. The moving truck headed to North Dakota. The house, the will… all of it. I just wanted to surprise you. And I didn’t know if you had summer plans, Cadee. So forgive me if it came off as sneaky. I just needed you to stick around until the building was done. We couldn’t start construction with you on this side of the lake so… I’m sorry that I allowed Victor to take the gardener’s cottage. I just needed you on the other side of the lake.”
“Sneaky?” I say, looking at Lars. He smiles at me, a warning in his eyes. Smile back. Play along, that look says. “Well.” I laugh. “It worked. I am… totally surprised. And…” I place my hand over my heart. “I’m touched, Chairman. Truly.”
“Good,” the Chairman says. He visibly relaxes. Like this was a test of how gullible I might be.
And check! I passed. I guess.
“Good,” he repeats. “And please, call me Mr. Valcourt. ‘The Chairman’ is so… formal.”
“Right. Sure… Mr. Valcourt.”
Because that’s not formal. But the last thing I need is him asking me to call him Winston. No. This whole thing is weird. And there’s something very wrong with it. Especially after that creepy encounter with Dane just an hour ago. I can’t get his words out of my head. Bred for me.