Page 154 of Stormbreaker

He shrugs, though the movement feels forced. “Just a consolation prize, I guess. You had to settle.”

“And?” I ask. “You decided to treat me like shit for that?”

“I know it’s fucked up, but I thought I’d keep the upper hand. That I could convince you I was too good for you instead.”

I exhale a breath of disbelief. “Oh, that’s great, Knox.”

“It didn’t work,” he says, somewhat miserably, and I take a long drink from my glass, hoping the alcohol will burn away this memory forever. I’ll need a swimming pool full of this shit at this rate. “You’re still too good for me, but I still love you, Poet, and I can’t help but wonder if there’s any way you can forgive me.”

I take another pull of my cocktail and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, smearing it with pink lipstick. “You’re absolutely right. I am too good for you.” I stand up, clutching my glass. “You have no idea what love actually is, Knox. And I can’t believe you have the nerve to sit there and ask for forgiveness after everything you put me through.”

He holds up his hands. “Please, what can I—”

I don’t let him finish, merely upend the rest of my drink onto his head. He jumps as ice, booze, and sticky strawberry juice drip down his face. “What the hell, Poet?”

“There is nothing you can do,” I say through clenched teeth. “Not one single thing you could ever say or do to make up for how much you’ve hurt me.”

I glare as he wipes his face, taking one last look before I turn and walk away.

Entering the dance floor, I press a hand to my chest, willing my racing heart to settle. Domino spots me, and I shake it off. I don’t want to talk about it, so I plaster a smile on my face.

I hold up a finger, telling her I’ll be there in a moment, then head for the bar, where I order some water before joining my friends and losing myself in the lights and noise for the next several hours.

56

Throughout the night, Domino, Journey, and I alternate between dancing together as a group and with more than one cute face.

Domino is getting cozier with Calloway, the guy she’s been crushing on for a while, and Journey has been spending more time than not dancing with a girl from House Tera whose name I don’t know yet.

Eventually, I start dancing next to a guy from Aria who’s also a Storm Guard cadet. Riley is tall with wide shoulders and a tapered waist. Dark-brown hair curls around his ears and is streaked with pops of lilac at his temples.

He’s handsome, and I’m sure those adorable dimples and that easy smile melt the knees of plenty of others. Not me, though. I’m here for the music and the freedom.

The good news is that the pounding, thumping music has the intended effect of taking my mind off what happened at the Tempestade and the conversation with Knox. I haven’t seen him since, and I hope that means he left and, more importantly, took the hint never to bother me again.

I don’t believe that he really loved me. I think he loved the idea of what we could have been. The scion of Fiama and his docile wife attending parties and reveling in the perks of our positions.

Even if Knox had been faithful. Even if I still felt anything for him, I would never have wanted any of that.

I’m spinning and moving my hips, but I’m also lost in my thoughts.

“You okay?” Riley asks, leaning down to shout in my ear.

“Sure, but why are you talking to me?” I ask, raising my voice. “You’re supposed to shun me, remember?”

He gives me a warm smile and shouts back, “I happen to think you’re kind of cute.”

I snort. It’s not a very dignified sound.

“And that’s enough?” I ask.

He shrugs and then grins. “It’s a start.”

I giggle. Then throw my head back and laugh. It’s definitely not that funny. It might even be a little bit offensive, but everything is hilarious right now. Pouring that drink on Knox set something free. A heavy weight I’ve been carrying over my head.

I smile and twirl, hands raised, again and again until I get a little dizzy. I stumble, and Riley reaches for me, trying to help, but he misses, and my ankle bends.

Suddenly, I’m on the floor, but I’m still laughing.