Cruel Prince: A High School Bully Romance (Royal Hearts Academy Book 1)

I carefully inspect my faded blue streaks in the mirror. The girl at my aunt’s salon was good, but she couldn’t get rid of all the blue.

Unfortunately, the new washed-out hue is less noticeable after I toss my hair up in a bun like my aunt suggested. Combined with the preppy RHA uniform I’m donning, it’s all I can do not to gag.

Normally, I’d put up a bigger fight to not conform, but I don’t want to make waves for my aunt. Wayne’s nice to my face, but I know he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of a convict’s daughter staying in his home for an entire year. It probably took some serious convincing on her end.

Crystal looks relieved when I turn around to face her. “I can hardly see it. You look beautiful.”

She smiles and for a moment my heart pangs. At twenty-eight, Crystal’s only ten years older than me, and right now she reminds me so much of my mom…

Nope.

Taking a deep breath, I force the ache down as far as it will go.

“She’d be proud of you, Dylan.”

I highly doubt that. In fact, I’m pretty sure if she knew my father was in jail for embezzlement—which let’s be honest, is just a fancy word for theft—because he wanted to keep his gold-digging wife happy— and I was refusing to talk to him for the rest of eternity, she’d be rolling over in her grave.

Or maybe not. It’s hard to say since our time together was so brief.

Crystal once told me my mom was strong, smart, sensitive, and sarcastic. When I asked her if she flipped to the S section of a dictionary for all those adjectives, she laughed and said my weird sense of humor was just like hers.

It really sucks I’ll never get to experience it. But that’s life…bad shit happens and the only thing you can do is deal with it.

Since I’m desperate to switch the subject, I bring up my plans for after school. “I’ll probably be home a little late tonight. I want to go job hunting.”

She raises one perfectly tweezed eyebrow. “You don’t have to worry about money. I told you—”

I hold up a hand, cutting her off. “No. I can’t let you do that.”

I appreciate her offer to pay for everything this year, but I’m not her kid.

I’m his.

And given my father’s currently sitting in a jail cell and the government seized his house along with every dime he had; I officially have no choice but to fend for myself.

I’ll be eighteen soon anyway.

“It’s your senior year, Dylan. I want you to enjoy the best time of your life, and I want you to have time to study so you can get into a good college.” She sighs. “However, I know telling you not to do something will only make you want to do it more, so how about we compromise?”

I reach for my messenger bag. “I’m listening.”

“You can work on the weekends and one day during the week. Deal?”

I shake my head. “No one is going to hire me with that kind of schedule.”

Her eyes twinkle. “Well, I happen to know that Mrs. Dickinson is looking for a little extra help at Top of the Muffin. I can swing by while you’re in school and put in a good word for you.”

“Top of the Muffin?” It must be new because I’ve never heard of it.

She laughs. “It’s a coffee shop…bakery. I’m not really sure, to be honest. But Mrs. Dickinson is the most adorable old lady. You’ll love her.”

I shrug as I leave my bedroom. “If you say so.”

It doesn’t really matter where I work or how adorable my boss is. I’ll scrub toilets if I have to. A job is a job.

“Oakley.”

I knock on his door again when he doesn’t answer. “We’re gonna be late.”

“His car isn’t in the driveway,” Crystal says behind me. “I think he left already.”

Of course he did. The douchebag.

She ushers me down the stairs. “I’ll give you a ride.”

I’m not sure why my aunt was so worried about my hair when it looks like every other girl at RHA is violating the school dress code.

Their plaid skirts are shorter than sex with my ex.

“Don’t be nervous,” Crystal says as I open the car door. “Guarantee you’ll be the most popular girl here by the end of the day.”

My aunt clearly doesn’t know me. She might have been popular in high school, but those genes weren’t passed down to her niece.

“See you later,” I mumble over my shoulder as I exit her convertible.

I’m typically not an anxious person, but I hate venturing into unknown territory and I downright despise being the new girl.

I had to do it four years ago after I left Royal Manor and the adjustment period sucked.

By the looks of things…this one is going to suck more.

My mouth feels dry as I walk across the parking lot leading to the cream-brick building with high archways.

So far, I don’t see anyone I recognize from back in the day. Not that it would matter much if I did. I wasn’t exactly Miss Social.

In fact, the only true friend I ever had was…

My heart beats out of my chest and my knees buckle as I zero in on the tall figure leaning against a royal blue Lexus.

Jace Covington.

My breath catches as I take in those intense eyes, sun-tanned skin, full lips, and the dark stubble grazing his strong jawline.

Jace was always cute, but now he’s…

So attractive it almost hurts to look at him.

I shake my head, feeling like an idiot for gawking like every other female in the vicinity. This is Jace. My Jace.

As if he feels my presence, he looks up and smirks. Jesus. That smirk is as dangerous as he is.

“Hey, you,” he drawls in a husky voice that makes my cheeks heat. “Long time no see.”

And just like that, all of my problems, all of the bad shit I’ve been dealing with and keeping inside no longer matters.

He’s my person. He’s always been my person.

The only one who can reach me when it gets too dark. When it hurts too much.

For the first time in four years, my universe feels right again.

I give him a smile so big my cheeks hurt. “I kn—”

A force pushes past me. “Very funny. I was with you last night, silly.”

Heart lodged in my throat, I watch as a tall, busty, redhead trots over to his Lexus, leaving her small group of friends behind in the dust.

Nausea barrels into me as she leans in to kiss him. It takes everything in me not to vomit when I realize who she is.

Britney Caldwell. 

Mega rich. Mega popular. Mega bitch.

The girl—along with her herd of Britney wannabes—tormented me every chance they could in elementary school, and made my life a living hell in junior high…and now? Now, she’s making out with Jace.

Jace—who used to wipe my tears after she’d tease me about my mom dying.

My lungs burn as I force myself to draw in a deep breath. I knew things would be different when I came back to town, but not this much.

Fortunately, their little lip lock is interrupted by a silver BMW that whizzes through the parking lot before pulling into the spot next to Jace.

“What’s up, fuckers?” Oakley greets them as he steps out of his car.

Like a scene out of a movie, I watch as Oakley, some other guy, and Britney’s crew of mean girls form a circle around Jace and Britney.

I almost do a double-take as my gaze snags on a pair of piercing green eyes and razor-sharp cheekbones. Evidently, Jace isn’t the only one who’s changed. Even though they hardly resemble one another, his younger brother Cole is every bit as good looking as he is.

Only unlike Jace, who’s silently leaning against his car and observing everyone, Cole’s shamelessly flirting with Britney’s posse.

None of them seem to mind, though. Quite the contrary—they’re all soaking it up.

My chest pangs when it hits me. There’s a Covington brother missing.

I don’t know the details, but Cole’s twin, Liam passed away around the same time I left town.

I tried to reach out to Jace after I saw someone post RIP Liam on social media, but he never responded to my messages or calls.

My dad promised we would take a trip back to Royal Manor so I could see how he was holding up—but as usual, his new job and new wife took precedence over my needs.

As much as it kills me, I can’t blame Jace for shutting me out.

Jace always looked out for Liam and they were close. Losing him must have been absolutely devastating. As his best friend, I should have been there for him.

But I wasn’t.

And it doesn’t matter why or whose fault it was. All that matters is I was nowhere to be found during the hardest time of his life. The time he needed me the most.

Squaring my shoulders, I start walking toward his car.

I’ve always been the type of person to own my shit. So even though Jace might not accept my apology, it doesn’t take away from the fact I still owe him one.

Not a single person looks my way as I approach their little circle, which is fine by me.

I’m not here for them.

“Hey.”

As though I were invisible, Jace pulls his phone out of his pocket and proceeds to type something.

Adjusting the strap of my bag, I clear my throat and try again. “Listen, I know you’re busy, but I was hoping we could talk in private for a minute.”

Nothing. It’s like I don’t even exist.

Annoyance skitters up my spine. He wants to hold a grudge? Fine. That’s his prerogative. I, however, refuse to be treated like a second-class citizen by the boy I used to call my best friend and tell all my secrets to.

For fuck’s sake, we’re turning eighteen soon, not eight.

“Jace.” The bite in my tone has everyone looking at me.

Everyone except him.

“I’m sorry, hon. Are you lost?” Britney snaps. “It’s obvious no one here wants to talk to you.”

I open my mouth to respond, but something passes in her gaze. “You look familiar.”

It’s not surprising that a selfish bitch like her doesn’t remember the girl she used to pick on.

Before I can inform Britney who I am, her mouth widens in surprise.

“Dylan Taylor.” She looks at her posse with a mischievous gleam in her eye before turning to Jace. “You two were like best friends forever ago, right?”

My heart stops when his eyes finally connect with mine.

“No.”

It would hurt less if he plunged an actual knife right through my heart.

“That’s a lie and you know it,” I whisper as he pushes past me.

I understand he’s angry, but there has to be some small part of him that still cares. Some chip underneath the block of ice I can get through to.

Slowly, he turns. “You’re right.”

The ominous feeling in my gut intensifies as he steps forward, closing the distance between us.

“Welcome back, buddy.”

The smile he shoots me is so cruel I nearly wince.

“Damn,” Cole declares as his brother walks away for the second time. “Being on Jace’s shit list is—” He laughs to himself as he slings an arm around some girl’s shoulder. “On second thought—why ruin all the fun?”

I glare at him. Cole’s always been a cocky punk, but evidently, he’s upgraded to a full-grown asshole.

“Wow—”

“Ew,” Britney screeches, looking at her phone screen in disgust. “Desperate much?”

I have no idea what she’s talking about. And I don’t have the chance to ask because she tosses her head back, giggling with her cronies as they amble toward the building. My asshole step-cousin doesn’t even spare me so much as a parting glance before he chases after them.

For a moment, I consider calling my aunt to pick me up.

No. I won’t give them the satisfaction of getting under my skin so easily.

Whatever it is, it will blow over soon. High school gossip has the shelf life of fruit. There’s always a new rumor that upstages the one before.

My steps are steady as I walk inside.

Besides, how bad could it be?