Princes of Ash (Royals of Forsyth University, #8)

by Angel Lawson

If there’s one thing the Royals have in spades, it’s daddy issues.

Lex would sink into her softness. Wicker would seek out the toughness. But I want it all.

“Verity Sinclaire is the best woman in Forsyth. Wanna know why?” He flinches as I lean in, my stare hard. “Because she’s mine.”

Effie’s voice softens. “Gentle, gentle.” I stroke distracted fingers along her back. “Yeah, that’s our girl.”

Verity Sinclaire might not like belonging to me. But she’s about to find out that belonging to Lex is so much worse.

“Family is about more than DNA and zip codes. Eventually, they’ll remember that.” Her statement isn’t as comforting as it should be.

“This must be why men have testicles. They need somewhere to store all the fucking audacity.”

Maybe I don’t need to break them apart, but instead, figure out a way to tie us all together.

“You’re playing poker, right? That DKS one—Five Card West.” He drops beside me on the settee, which is when the smell of beer and vodka hits me. He is wasted. Wicker slaps the table. “Deal me in. I got ammo.” But when he starts patting his back, he snorts a laugh, gesturing to Lex. “Gimme my gun, bro.” Lex scoffs. “Yeah, that’s gonna happen. I wouldn’t even trust you with a blow dryer right now.”

Instead, I’m struck by a sense of awe, protectiveness, and truth. I just see my baby boy. Our baby boy.

“I guess I figured whoever the father ended up being would get to decide.” Pace stops, staring. “I named my bird after a keystroke. Do you really want to find out what I’d name a baby?” I laugh without meaning to. A really bad laugh, too. It’s a deep, snorting bark that immediately makes heat rise to my cheeks.

“Oh my god,” I breathe when it hits me. “Is that what this is? The coffee, the touching, the hair…” I shove his arm away, hissing, “You’re trying to get into my pants!” “Obviously,” he says. And then, a glare. “You like my hair.” My face must be glowing crimson. “Oh my god, and in stats class!”

“He was going to take Effie away?” Slowly, it starts to connect. “He was going to kill her.” I look at her. “That’s why you stepped in. To save Effie.” “Pace killed Charlie to protect me,” she says, the expression on her face somber yet knowing. “And she’s more than just a bird to him, isn’t she? She’s… she’s his heart.” Holding my eyes, her head tilts pensively. “It’s like he was afraid of having a soul, so he gave it to her to keep safe. Something untainted that would love him back.”

“No. No one has ever done something like that for me before.” He looks at me with red-rimmed eyes. “Not when I was ten, or fifteen, or twenty.” He inhales, eyes searching. “So why, Verity? Why do you do it, knowing damn well I can’t rescue you back?” I lift my hand and cup his cheek, knowing the answer. “Because, Whitaker Kayes, despite how hard your father tried, this isn’t a transaction for me. I showed up because I see what you don’t.” With a sad smile, I stroke his cheek. “That you’re worth saving.”

But I was the worst. Belittling and abusive. Mean. All because she scares the fucking hell out of me.

“For the first time in my goddamn life, I don’t just want to get off, Red.” I trail my kiss to her warm cheek, watching her green eyes flutter. “I want you to be mine.”

“Ballsack,” I call, knowing how I’d feel if it’d been Verity. I wait for his tired eyes to meet mine before nodding. “I’m sorry.” His mouth presses into a tense, joyless grin. “Funny, isn't it? How easily you’ll say it to me, but it’s taken you months to say it to her?”