Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy, #4)

by Ashley Jade

I can’t believe I was standing on a cliff drunk in the middle of the night. And out of all the people in the world I chose to call when I was at my lowest… I called him. That has to mean something, right?

“It suddenly occurred to me that the only good memories I have when I wasn’t trashed out of my mind are…” His voice trails off with a shake of his head. “Doesn’t fucking matter.” “Are what?” I press, taking a step closer. Something passes in his gaze. “With you.” His words punch into my heart.

“Then why the fuck do you want me in your life?” The truth pours out of me. “Because I feel something when I’m with you. Something I can’t explain.” Something that makes no sense. All I know is the heavy feeling of dread in my chest goes away whenever he’s near.

I need him in my life.

feel like I can tell him anything in the whole wide world and he’ll never judge me. And the safe feeling I get whenever he’s near—the one that tells me he’ll always protect me, no matter how much I may frustrate him—I’ve never felt that with anyone else. Just him. Only ever him.

I’m suddenly struck by how I’ve never felt more myself than when I’m in his company.

“You’re still here, though. Which means you’re stronger than what tried to break you.”

someone else’s love will never be enough to get rid of your pain when you can’t manage to love yourself.”

Not only did I trust him enough to divulge some of my darkest secrets, Oakley has a way of making me feel…free. Like I can be myself around him—whatever that is—and he won’t ever judge me. “Or maybe it’s because I feel something with you that I don’t feel with anyone else. Something good and raw and pure…and every time I have another flashback it just confirms you’re not the heartless asshole everyone seems to think you are.” And whether anyone likes it or not, I know he belongs in my life. I feel it in my marrow.

her happiness is the only thing that matters.

Dylan wraps her arms around me. “I love you, Oak.” I return her hug. “Love you, too.” I start to back away, but she grabs my cheeks. “I didn’t say it before, but I’m really proud of you. And if you ever need anything, please call me. I don’t care what time it is. I don’t ever want you to feel like you don’t have me, okay? I’ll always be there for you.”

I trust Oakley with everything I have in me.

A soul as black as the night sky. Lips as red as the blood she’s out for. The girl who leaves them running scared. She's a beautiful nightmare.

Bianca Covington was the best thing that ever happened to me... And I fucked it all up.

“I don’t know how you do it.” His expression turns serious. “Do what?” I loop my arms around his neck and hug him tight. “Manage to make me feel better when no one else in the world can.” He draws tiny circles up and down my back with his fingers. “I can say the same about you, baby girl.”

love him in a way I’ve never loved anyone else. A way I never can love anyone else. And I didn’t even need all my memories to come back in order to realize it. I just needed him.

I’ll fight them with him, for him, and beside him. Whatever it takes.

“You might just be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Two broken pieces of the same soul.

“I lost a brother, but I also gained one the day I met you.

I fell in love with her when I least expected it. And she’ll have every fucked-up piece of my heart and soul until the day I die.

With his fingers interlaced against my stomach, the letters tattooed on them don’t spell ‘back in a’ after all. I tilt my head to look at him. “That’s my name.” “I know.” A slow smile unfurls. “Like I told you…I got the thing I love most in this world.”