Page 132 of Bitter Prince

“Brother.” Dante appeared in the doorway of the bathroom. It was only then that it hit me. I wasn’t his brother, and yet that brotherly bond refused to waver. We’d grown up together. Suffered Father’s wrath together. My mother had nurtured us. Together.

It was at that moment that I decided Dante could truly never know.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned against the doorway casually, sliding his hands into pockets. “Mother said you needed me.” His gaze flickered to the flushed toilet, then back to me. “Are you sick?”

I rose to my full height. “No.”

“Thank fuck,” he muttered. “I’m not in the mood to play nursemaid.”

I walked over to the sink and spotted Reina’s pink toothbrush. The pain clawed at my insides. I snatched the fucking thing and threw it into the trash can.

This life would be my living hell, but I’d be damned if I let Romero win. I’d turn all this anger and agony into an icy indifference and build myself an empire that could destroy all others.

The fire in my veins burned hotter than any hell. I noticed my brother staring at me with a strange expression. He knew me well enough to know when to back away and let me rage.

I couldn’t have her, but I’d have my revenge. I’d seek it in a way that fed the soul that had been ripped from my body. It would be my life’s purpose. After all, I had nothing but time left. So I would bide it.

One by one, I’d conquer the fucking world.

A cold and bitter laugh ripped from my throat. Bitter prince. How fucking ironic that Romero had bestowed the title on me? Always a bitter prince, but never a king.

I’d fuck with their heads like a king. And then, I’d lead them all to hell and we’d burn together.

I met my brother’s gaze, pain still radiating in my chest. I suspected it’d stay there for a while, so I might as well get used to it.

“What happened with Reina?”Reina.The name alone had the power to slice through me. I still loved her; I still wanted her. My gut roiled. It was all wrong, yet my heart and soul couldn’t seem to agree.

My chest cracked. The memory of her shoulders trembling as I told her to go love someone else.

“She’s gone.”

I didn’t have any tears, but my heart cried enough to flood the creeks, rivers, and oceans. Fuck, to flood this entire planet.

It took a long time before the world went quiet. My heart never would.

Love was a hassle I didn’t need in life.

53

REINA

The journey home was a blur. One foot in front of the other though, I found myself in front of my apartment.

I wanted to crawl into my bed and never leave, but I was unable to move. I stared at the door, and the cheerful voices of my friends behind it had me breaking down.

All my emotions—the hurt, the heartbreak, the betrayal, the sadness—washed over me as I slid onto the ground. My eyes burned. My muscles shook from the force of my sobs, and I covered my mouth to stifle them.

I didn’t want anyone to hear them.

He didn’t love me. Why? What was it about me that made me so unlovable?

I loved him so much, it hurt to be without him. Like snow belonged to winter and sun to a blue sky, I’d always belong to him, whether he wanted me or not.

And still, he had thrown away my love without a second thought.

Go love someone else.The words hurt. I wanted to forget them, yet they were ingrained in my brain cells, refusing to stop whispering over and over again.You’re going to be good for someone, just not for me.His beautiful, emotionless face with eyes like dark galaxies without a hint of warmth.I have forgotten you already.