Page 30 of Royal Deception (Royals of the Underworld #2)

CLARY

T he next day, Miranda is gone to work and I’m alone. The silence here feels almost too loud. It's like a vacuum, sucking up everything—thoughts, plans, expectations—and leaving nothing but emptiness behind.

But a smile creeps up on my face as I realize that for the first time in forever, I have nothing to do. No Rory to please, no deadline to meet, no boss to impress. It’s like I’ve stepped off a cliff and into an endless stretch of nothingness.

I take a deep breath and focus on the sketchbook in front of me.

I can do this. I can focus on something that’s just mine, something I’ve wanted for so long but never had the chance to pursue.

I begin to sketch a few designs, not really thinking about anything but the strokes of the pencil, the rhythm of my hand.

I try to forget about Rory, about the mess I left behind, about the tears that still feel fresh in my chest.

But one thing that I can’t ignore, the thing that has been getting harder to ignore lately, is the tiny fluttering sensation in my belly.

My baby.

The thought still makes my stomach twist with uncertainty, but it's real. It’s happening.

I put the pencil down for a second, staring at the soft curve of a dress I just sketched.

Then, without much thought, I begin jotting down plans—things to do, things to buy, things I need to make sure are ready.

It’s a small attempt at controlling the uncontrollable, but it helps calm my mind.

Before I can stop myself, I grab my phone, hesitating for a second before typing out a message.

Clary: Hey, Ana, you free for a chat? I could really use some tea and advice.

The response comes back almost immediately.

Ana: I’m free. Let’s meet at the cafe in 20?

Perfect.

I rise from the bed and head to my suitcase. Instead of the pencil skirt and blouse I usually wear to the office, I pull out a white ruffled dress, a pink sweater, and nude Mary Janes. It feels freeing, more me , and for the first time in ages, I feel good about myself.

The walk to the coffee shop feels like the longest part of my day, but when I finally step inside and see Ana sitting at a table, a sense of relief settles over me.

Ana stands up as I approach, and we hug before the two of us sit down. I can already tell that she knows something’s up. She’s too perceptive, and she doesn’t even need to ask.

I look at her, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. “I’m sorry,” I start, my voice tight. “I should’ve listened to you. I thought I could handle it, but I couldn’t. I should’ve been smarter about everything. You were just looking out for me.”

Ana reaches across the table, placing her hand on mine. Her expression softens. “Clary, don’t. You’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive before. I just wanted you to see what I was seeing, but I should’ve been there for you more.”

I squeeze her hand, feeling the weight of her words sink in.

“I shouldn’t have kept everything from you.

I’ve been holding it all in, trying to keep up this facade, and it’s just made everything worse.

” I let out a breath, not realizing how much I needed to get it off my chest. “I didn’t want to admit that I was in over my head. ”

Ana leans back in her chair, letting out a small laugh. “We’re both idiots, huh?”

I can’t help but smile, the warmth of her presence making me feel a little lighter. “Maybe. But we’re figuring it out, right?”

She nods, her eyes soft with understanding. “Yeah, we are. And you’re going to be okay, Clary. We’ll make sure of it.”

Ana stirs her tea, her eyes flicking from the cup to me. “So, what’s been going on with you?”

I take a deep breath and glance at the table. "I broke things off with that guy,” I say quietly. “He wasn’t serious enough. I don’t think he ever really understood what we had, and I couldn’t keep pretending it was fine. It’s better this way.”

Ana looks at me with a mix of surprise and sympathy. “I’m sorry, Clary. But I get it. You deserve someone who actually sees you, who’s ready for the same things.”

I nod, but the words catch in my throat. “What about you? You’ve been quiet.”

She fidgets with the handle of her mug, hesitating. Finally, she looks up, her voice a little softer. “Things aren’t great with my boyfriend, either. He’s been missing dates, showing up late, and when we do talk, it’s like he’s not even present. I don’t even know if I’m a priority anymore.”

My heart sinks. I’ve seen Ana put so much into her relationship with him. “He’s not seeing what he has, Ana. If he can’t make time for you, he doesn’t deserve you. You deserve someone who will be there, no matter what.”

She looks down at her tea, her hands tightening around the mug. After a long pause, she finally says, “Maybe you’re right. We come from such different worlds. I guess I’ve been holding on to the idea of what we could be rather than what we actually are.”

I place a hand over hers, offering comfort. “If he can’t see you, then it’s time to move on. You’ll find someone who will.”

Ana exhales slowly, her smile a little sad. “Yeah. It might be for the best.”

I hug her, feeling her warmth and the sense of connection between us. “You’ll be okay. And so will I,” I whisper.

“Yeah,” she says, pulling away with a determined look in her eyes. “And I promise to make more time for you, okay?”

I smile and squeeze her hand as we part ways.

As I step out of the cafe, the cool breeze hits me, and for a moment, I let the fresh air clear my head. But before I can take another step, a familiar voice cuts through the calm.

“Well, well. If it isn’t little Miss Clarissa,” Kate says, her voice dripping with something I can’t quite place. I freeze, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine. When I turn to face her, that smug, shit-eating grin is plastered across her face, her eyes gleaming with something unpleasant.

“What do you want, Kate?” I ask, my voice flat, even though my stomach is twisting in knots.

She steps closer, cold, gray eyes flicking up and down my figure, clearly enjoying the discomfort she’s causing. “I know the truth, Clary. You lied. Your man Rory doesn’t know he’s the father of your baby, does he?”

I feel my pulse quicken, panic bubbling up in my chest. My mind races, but I don’t have an answer for her. She’s got me cornered.

“What the hell are you talking about?” I try to sound casual, but it comes out more like a desperate plea.

Kate’s grin only widens. “Oh, come on. You didn’t think I wouldn’t find out, did you?

You’ve been playing the sweet little victim card, pretending you’re the innocent one in all of this, but I know better.

" She steps even closer, almost looming over me.

“You think you can manipulate him, keep him in the dark while you play at being the delicate, needy little thing? Newsflash, sweetheart. Girls like you piss me off.”

I swallow, feeling the weight of her words pressing down on me, suffocating me. “What do you want, Kate?” My voice is quieter now, laced with fear. I can’t even begin to guess what her angle is.

She tilts her head, studying me like a predator sizing up her prey.

“You think women like you have it so easy, don’t you?

The pretty, fragile ones who get attention without lifting a finger.

Meanwhile, women like me, the ones who actually work their asses off, have to struggle every damn day just to get ahead.

And yet, here you are, playing at this little drama with Rory and his family. ”

Kate’s words burn, but they don’t have the power to keep me down.

The fear that churned in my stomach a moment ago is being replaced by something else—something stronger, more defiant.

I straighten my spine, shifting my weight to one foot, and I lock eyes with her, refusing to let her see the doubt creeping in.

“You know what, Kate?” I start, my voice steady, but the fury behind it is unmistakable. “I’m done with this. I’m done letting you walk all over me.”

Kate stops in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she waits for me to continue, clearly expecting me to back down.

I take a step forward, refusing to let her intimidate me. “You want to make me feel small? Sorry, but that shit doesn’t work anymore. So, here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to tell you to fuck off. And I’m going to make it crystal clear. Stay the hell out of my life.”

Her jaw tightens, but I don’t stop there. The words spill out before I can hold them back. “And just so we’re clear, if you ever come near me again, I’ll have you arrested for stealing from my bank account. Don’t forget, I’ve got all the evidence. I could have you locked up in an instant.”

Kate’s face goes pale, the smugness from earlier slowly draining from her expression. For a brief moment, it looks like I’ve caught her off guard, and I can see the threat in her eyes as she weighs her options.

Her posture softens, just a little. She takes a step back, but not before fixing me with a glare that could kill. “You think this is over, don’t you?” she sneers, voice dripping with venom. “It’s far from it.”

I stand my ground, my pulse steady, my breaths controlled. “I don’t care. Just stay out of my way, or I’ll make sure it’s the last mistake you ever make.”

She huffs, clearly pissed, but after another tense moment, she turns on her heel and walks away. Her steps are quick, purposeful, but there’s a shadow of something in her retreat that tells me this isn’t finished. Not by a long shot.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, my heart still pounding but a sense of relief washing over me. I don’t have to let her control me anymore.

When I arrive back at Miranda’s place, the door swings open, and I step inside, my heart still pounding from the encounter with Kate.

The tension in my chest hasn’t loosened, but the confrontation gave me a strange sense of control.

Still, as I close the door behind me, a heaviness settles back in.

The silence of the apartment feels louder than ever.

Miranda is already home from work, her coat discarded on the back of a chair. She looks up from the kitchen, where she’s been rummaging through the cabinets, and her eyes immediately land on me.

“Clary, what happened?” she asks, setting the jar of tea she was reaching for aside and walking toward me. Her expression softens with concern.

I drop my bag on the floor and lean against the doorframe, suddenly feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. My thoughts swirl in a chaotic mess—Kate’s threats, the baby, the lies, Rory. I can feel my breath catch in my chest as I try to sort through it all, but it’s too much.

“She came after me,” I start, my voice cracking, though I didn’t expect it to. “Kate… she knows. She knows I haven’t told Rory he’s the father.”

Miranda crosses the room, pulling me into a hug without hesitation. I lean into her, closing my eyes, appreciating the warmth and steadiness she offers. For a moment, I just stand there, letting the tears threaten, though I don't let them fall.

When she pulls back, her hands on my shoulders, she searches my face, her voice softer now. “What are you going to do about it, Clary?”

I look at her, uncertainty filling me as I realize I have no answers right now. “I honestly have no idea.”