24. Prince Cole
Chapter 24
Prince Cole
“The higher your expectations,
the greater the disappointment.”
— T.J. Kline
R afe sits across from me, his infuriating smirk just begging to be wiped off his face.
“I need a cigarette,” I say, trying to sound casual, but I can hear the tension in my voice.
His eyes widen slightly, but that smirk doesn’t waver. “But you don’t smoke,” he says slowly, his voice laced with confusion and curiosity. “What’s going on?”
“Always so nosy,” I mutter.
He leans forward, a teasing glint in his eyes. “What do I have to do to get you to be nice? Dye my hair red? Wear cute little dresses?”
My jaw tightens, anger flaring. “Rafe?—”
“You wanna know what’s crazy?”
I slam my hands on the table. “I am, so stop playing.”
“Here we go again,” he sighs. “What I wanted to say is that I want to help you. Isn’t that crazy?” He looks amused. “So, what happened?”
“Lorelda’s demanding that I bring her Davina’s dead body. Tell me, how can you help with that?”
“Shit . ”
“Yes,” I reply with a scoff. “Shit.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Well, if I don’t give her what she wants, she will show up here.”
“You’re worried she’ll kill Davina, aren’t you?”
“In case you forgot, we need Davina alive for my plan,” I remind him. “Without her, it won’t work.”
“Oh, please, it’s not just about the plan anymore,” he says, a grin spreading across his face as he clearly enjoys the moment. “You’re not fooling me.”
I glare at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re not just worried about the plan. You care about Davina.” He leans forward, pointing a finger at me. “Admit it.”
I give him a blank stare, though I feel the weight of his words pressing down on me. “Lorelda can’t enter the palace, so Davina is safe. But I’m worried about the twisted games she’ll play once she discovers Davina’s here.”
Rafe nods slowly. “Alright. So, what’s your plan for distracting Lorelda?”
I let out a weary sigh. “I want to take Madeline with me to meet Lorelda and pass her off as the woman I’m seeing. We’ll have dinner together, and I’ll tell Lorelda that I couldn’t find Davina’s body, which will infuriate her, but she’ll have the chance to vent her anger by insulting me. That should keep her distracted for a while.”
His eyes narrow, his look accusing. “You realize you’re putting Madeline in a dangerous position, don’t you? Is this really the best you can come up with?”
I know it’s not perfect. Hell, it’s probably not even good. But if it buys me some time, then it’s worth the risk.
“It’s the best I’ve got right now, and I don’t hear you throwing out any better ideas.”
“This is risky. But if it’s the best option you’ve got, then I guess we have to go with it.”
“Come again?” Davina’s voice drips with incredulity.
“You heard me right.”
For a moment, she just stares at me, disbelief dancing across her face. Then her gaze sharpens, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious,” I say, keeping my tone steady, though I know where this conversation is heading.
I know my plan only solidifies everything she’s ever heard about me, the rumors, the stories—some true, some exaggerated.
But it’s the only way to keep her safe.
It might be na?ve to think that Lorelda won’t harm Madeline to get to me, believing she’s important to me, but I’m willing to take that risk. I simply don’t care.
“I don’t expect you to understand,” I add, my voice softening, but I can see it only fuels her anger further.
“I’m telling you, don’t do it,” she snaps, her voice tight with fury. “It’s wrong.”
“I never claimed to be someone who cares about what’s right or wrong. Especially not when—” I trail off, knowing she won’t agree with me. “I’m not asking for your approval. I know what I’m doing. You better use the time to discover your powers.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” She lets out a sharp, bitter laugh, the kind that stings more than it should. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself, do you?”
“What else am I supposed to do, Davina? Any better ideas?”
“No, but this isn’t the solution. What if Lorelda ends up killing Madeline?”
“You’ve obviously mistaken me for someone who cares. I admire your compassion, though. You’re the reason others still believe in good people and pure hearts—but don’t make the mistake of believing everyone else has the same heart as you. Including me.”
“I know there’s kindness in you,” she says quietly. “I’ve seen a glimpse of it.”
“You think too highly of me.”
“You’re hiding behind this fa?ade.”
“Maybe you’re seeing what you want to see.”
She exhales sharply. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what, exactly? I just explained?—”
“Acting cruel and heartless ,” she cuts me off. “You don’t have to be the villain.”
I smile faintly, shrugging. “Go ahead, darling. Make me your villain.” She scoffs, her frustration is palpable. “Label me however you want.”
She shakes her head. “I don’t want to label you. I want to see the real you.”
“This,” I say slowly, “is the real me, Davina.”
She studies me, her eyes searching for any hint of the person she believes I can be. “You know what? You sicken me.”
“If that’s how you feel, then perhaps I’ve succeeded in being true to myself.”
“Indeed, it seems I was mistaken in finding anything redeeming in you. All I see now is someone who takes pleasure in inflicting cruelty.”
“Pleasure?” I repeat in disbelief. “No, it’s not about pleasure.”
“Oh, how noble of you.” Her voice drips with sarcasm and disdain. “So, it’s not about pleasure, just a pastime then? Do tell, what’s the appeal in making others suffer if not for your own amusement?”
“It’s about your survival,” I fire back and pinch the bridge of my nose, fighting to keep my voice calm. The last thing I want is to lose my temper. “Don’t you get it? We need Lorelda to be distracted. We can’t have her spending the whole day thinking about how to find your dead body.”
She shoots me a deadly glare and stands. “If anything happens to Madeline—regardless of whether I know her well or not—I will never forgive you, let alone speak to you again.”
A tight knot forms in my chest from her threat as I watch her walk away. I understand her anger, but her safety leaves little room for emotions, and certainly no room for regret.
So, what does that make me?
The villain?
Or just a fool for her?