Prologue
A legacy, that’s what they both said to me. The King and the Prince of the Academy. But what does it mean? How can I be a legacy fit for a prince, or am I misunderstanding him? It’s likely, seeing as I was half asleep when Emmet appeared in Aeron’s room, and proved to me just how versed in deception and trickery he really is. I will be kicking myself over how he made me believe and fall for a guy who never existed. How not only Emmet tricked me, but so did Tucker. He must have gotten a kick out of questioning me over the cleaner knowing it was Emmet the entire time, and what about Maddox? He saw him at my door, but I remember his face and his demeanor after, how he would only come into my room to work but never to just talk. I think he fears Emmet, and although, I wish he had told me the truth, I can’t blame him. This place is just as hard for him as it is for us, only he can never escape it. Unless he pulls a Cole and renounces his hold on the name.
That’s not even to mention Carly being found in the center of the maze, and nearly everyone is saying Emmet did it, or they were until Sir threatened to obliterate anyone who even dared mention Emmet being involved in the ‘incident’. So much has happened, and as I prepare to say goodbye to my first year here and hello to the second, I realize, they may play a dangerous game, but I will not shy away.
There’s a lot I have to do to prepare myself for my next year, but with two months left to go, all I can do is pack my bag and get ready for the retreat. I should have known that being claimed by Aeron would earn me an instant invite, but I wish it hadn’t. I don’t want to spend God knows how long with the Harkwright men, but at least Daria will be there. Aeron has been true to his word and hasn’t left the Academy for the last two weeks, but tomorrow, he’ll be leaving, and I won’t see my claimer until I arrive at wherever the retreat is being held.
I can’t say I’ll miss him, but I know things will be even harder this year, because these last two weeks, Emmet has been in full attendance. I’ve watched as he’s taken girl after girl to his room, never the same one twice, I’ve seen girls shove their hands down his pants while he’s been staring right at me in the mess hall. Oh yeah, the sweet Liam is well and truly gone. The Prince they warned me about has arrived in his place.
If he wants to play a game and mess with my mind and heart, then all I can say is, let the games begin. One thing is for sure, I have no intention of losing anything to him. I once said I would never give my heart to a Harkwright guy, and all Emmet has done is prove to me how true those words have to be.
1
Some Questions Should Never Be Asked
The sound of a shower running filters through the bedroom as I crack my eyes open and stretch my arms above my head. I always feel a little disoriented when I wake up in Aeron’s room, but that’s usually because I don’t fall asleep in his bed. He’s a sneaky one, that’s for sure. Although I feel even more out of sorts when I wake up in mine, because it’s rarely happened since that night. Today is the day. The only reason I would be in my room is if Aeron is leaving today.
It’s been two weeks since Shane got the shit pummeled out of him in the garden and since they discovered Carly within the maze. Two weeks of watching the guy I was falling for acting as though it never happened, that none of it was ever real. I can’t help but wonder though, was it all fake? The many times he warned me off the Prince, off himself in reality. The times he opened himself up to me, or at least, I believed he was. All the things I said to him, about the Harkwright men and about himself, and he used it. He took the things I told him in confidence and used it to make Shane pay. He questioned Aeron that night in the kitchen, and I don’t doubt that he did more than lay down a decree that no one was allowed to touch me.
Funny how everyone seemed to listen to it, other than Tucker and Aeron. Although, if Tucker was in on the deception, then why did he pursue me the way he did? Then again, pursue is probably the wrong word. He showed me kindness and made my body sing to the rhythm he wanted and then he threw me away like the discarded trash he thinks I am. Yeah, I can believe he knew all along what Emmet was doing, but I doubt Emmet is aware of what Tucker was doing with me behind the scenes. Using me, fracturing what little sense I still possessed. Although, maybe I should be thankful, because I can feel in myself that with each shot these guys take at me, I keep coming back. A little wiser and a lot stronger than before.
The shower shuts off, and it takes no time at all for Aeron to stroll into the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets running down his chest, over his pecs, and across the plains of his stomach. Rolling all the way down until it meets the towel. Ahem.
My eyes snap up to meet his sparkling hazel eyes and I know he has caught me ogling if his cock sure grin is anything to go by.
“If you want a better look, come closer.”
“With the way you’ve been lately, you’ll probably walk away,” I mumble, and I watch with downcast eyes as he steps closer, his towel brushing against the bedsheet.
“If you have something you want to say, go for it, Little Zero. No punishment from me. I think I have it in me to give you one more free pass before I leave,” he’s smirking and I don’t know if I want to slap him or kiss him. Fuck, can’t I just do both, and in that order?
“Why did you claim me if you want nothing to do with me, I s-should b-be happy, I guess? I just don’t understand i-it. You c-could claim any girl and yet, you go f-for o-one you don’t w-w-want to touch.”
He grips my chin and lifts my head so I’m looking at him. I watch as he places his hands on my shoulders and a gasp escapes me as he pushes me down onto my back. He uses his knee to part my legs before settling himself between them, his towel, my satin shorts and panties are the only things separating us. My top grows wet as his chest pushes against mine and the covers are lying crumpled on the floor, one less barrier between us.
“Oh, Little Zero. You can’t be that naïve, surely.” He rolls his hips against me and I can feel every hard inch of him, I bite my tongue when I feel something a little extra. Although it was probably the towel… right? “Look, playing the gentleman isn’t my usual thing and to be fair, it royally sucks. However, I saw how you were after Shane and I thought I’d play nice. But if you’re ready for me to go back to normal, then that can be arranged.” His head drops to my neck and I feel as he runs his tongue along it. His teeth then follow the same path.
His hips roll with more force and I can’t keep my moan in, I know for a fact that my panties are soaking and I wonder if he can tell. He props himself up with an elbow, while tracing his finger around my hard nipple through the light satin of my top. His mouth feels so good, too good. I shouldn’t be enjoying this so much. Shouldn’t want him the way I do. Is this wrong? Should I stop before it goes too far? Could I stop him? I don’t know. His mouth feels too damn good to ever stop.
He lowers his mouth and draws me in, capturing me fully, and I’m wishing the satin wasn’t in the way of his tongue. He releases me with a loud pop before using his chin to drag my top down, as my hands fall on his chest, one catches against his nipple before connecting with the barbell he has in place. He hisses and rolls himself down harder, capturing my nipple once more and dragging his teeth across it, no pesky fabric keeping me from feeling him this time.