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“No, I’m—”
“I’m not finished talking.” She looked around at her friends. “Did it seem like I was finished talking?”
“Nope.”
“Nah.”
“Not to me.”
Saylor shook her head. “This girl has no manners. Further proof she has no business becoming a Wilson.”
I swung to the guard, tempted to kick his ass too for not coming the night Owen and his friends attacked me, but eagle-eyeing me now that Saylor Burkhardt was in my face.
“You are going to dump Victor”—Saylor grasped my chin, swinging me back to her—“and you won’t tell him why. As far as the Wilsons will know, you backed out because you got cold feet.”
I shook her off. “Why in the world would I do that?”
“To clear the way for Everleigh and Victor. They’re ranked the same and the match will benefit both families, expanding their businesses.”
“Plus, he’s cute and great in bed,” Everleigh threw in. “My parents will start talking engagements in a few years anyway, why not lock down the most eligible bachelor in Regalia now while he’s looking?”
“Because he’s not looking,” I replied. “Victor is marrying me. I am marrying him. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Don’t be so hasty. You haven’t heard what you’ll get in exchange,” Saylor said. “No doubt the tire king was thinking he could advance himself by marrying off the ready-made kid his wife brought into the marriage. Not a bad plan, but a change in your status and the protection that comes with it, doesn’t kick in until you say I do.
“Life will get horrible around here for you, Luna Sinclair. In fact... it already started.”
Right then I knew. Saylor knew what Owen, Levi, and the others did to me.
“The wedding won’t be held until next year, but can you hold out that long?” she asked, tone soft and mock sympathetic. “Winter couldn’t.”
A growl broke the morning. It came from me. “Say her name one more fucking time and find out how much I care about that security guard.”
“Whoa, easy,” she said exaggeratedly. “There’s no need for that. Believe it or not, I’m trying to help you, Sinclair. Regalia will be hell for you until you walk down that aisle, and honestly, afterward the strikes will be more subtle but they won’t really stop. Is all of that worth it for a guy you don’t belong with?
“You’re better off matched to— Well, someone like him.” She flapped her hand at Cato. “It’s no wonder you two are so comfortable with each other. This is the guy for Luna Sinclair. If you accept that within the next few days, and dump Victor so harshly, his parents will never think of the name Sinclair-Bowden again, I will give you and your family what you want.”
“What is that exactly?”
“Power. Position. Money. Respect. And for you, Luna, protection.” She held out her hand like she wanted me to take it. “The Bowden name moves up in Regalia and the stain on the Sinclair name is forgotten. My father rips up the lease for the land Bowden Manor is sitting on and sells it to him outright. He’ll become the official tire supplier to the Burkhardt company cars. And for the next four years and beyond, no one will touch, taunt, disrespect, or bother you again, Luna.”
“It’s a good deal,” Piper tossed in.
“It’s the best deal,” Saylor corrected, “that anyone has ever gotten from me, and it’s the only one you’re going to get. What do you say?” Her hand inched closer, demanding to be shaken. “Do we have a—?”
“No.”
Saylor blinked. “Excuse me?”
“No deal. I’m not breaking off my engagement. End of. So, thanks for making me late to class, but if that’s all, I need to get going.”
Anger lit in her eyes. “Did you hear a word I said? I’m giving you better than you’ll get if you marry the guy. What is your problem? Take the deal.”
“And again, no. Your best deal stinks worse than shit.”
Saylor scoffed at my crudeness.
“Why would you track down the girl who punched you in the face, just to make my life easier? You don’t give two craps in a bucket about me. What you do care about is this little system that puts you on top.”
“That’s why I’m doing this,” she gritted. “This isn’t a double play. I’m being very clear that the only reason I’m making this offer is to keep you away from Victor Wilson. Royals marry Dregs they knock up every now and then, but not Royals like him. You’re not even good enough to carry his mistake, let alone be his wife. Do the right thing and release him from whatever you’ve got hanging over his head.”
“Hmm, nope,” I sang. “Victor chose me. This match makes sense, and if it pisses you off, that makes it all the more sweeter.”
Her lips peeled back from her teeth. “You’re messing with the wrong one, Sinclair. I can just as easily make my dad renege on the lease. You’ll be shaking a can of nickels outside the homeless shelter in a week.”
