Page 19 of The Royal Flame (The Royal Academy #3)

CHAPTER

MADDISON

W ill is pissed. When Avery calls him and informs him of what’s going on, I can hear him cursing her out through the phone. Whatever happened between Avery and Will while they dated must’ve been bad because Avery looks happy with how upset Will is.

In the end, he agrees to meet us at the café, which she informs me off once she’s ended the call.

“He’s so mad,” she muses as she stuffs another bite of scone int her mouth.

“He used to get so mad when we dated too, but if I ever mentioned it, he’d flip out on me.

” She falls silent for a moment, the amusement dimming in her eyes.

“He hit me once. I was so mad at myself too. I spent years growing up, vowing to never turn into my mother, who got slapped around by my father, but was too afraid to leave him. And I get the whole psychology behind her staying—I really did—but it made me want to never get into a relationship like that. But then Will hit me and I didn’t leave. ”

“Well, you did eventually It just took you a bit.” I finish off the rest of my cookie and dust the sugar off my hands. “But you did leave. And that means something.”

“I know, but I worry I’ll end up in another relationship like that again.” She traces the brim of the coffee mug with the tip of her finger as she dazes off. “What’re guys like on the Royal side? Are they as angry as north side men?”

I consider her question carefully. “I think some are just as dangerous. They’re simply more discreet about it.

Plus, they have the money to cover stuff up.

” I raise the mug to my lips and take a sip of the coffee, River’s warm and kind eyes fluttering through mind.

“They’re not all bad, though. Some of them are quite nice, actually.

” Nice enough to try to protect me, even when it hurts to do it.

Fuck.

Why am I starting to realize that what River did may have been the right choice?

If he had chosen to date me after his father threatened my life, he’d be a bad person. But he isn’t. He’s a kind, caring, and too damn sweet.

“Shit.” I say aloud.

“What?”

“It’s nothing. I just realized that I may have messed up a relationship that was worth trying to save.”

She assesses me. “One with a guy?”

I nod. “The nicest guy I’ve ever met.”

She considers something. “Maybe you can fix it.”

“Maybe.” But I doubt it.

Even if I can get River to talk to me again, I doubt I’ll be allowed to attend The Royal Academy anymore, so I may not ever get the chance to see him again.

All of my worries about River, though, go poof as Will enters the café. The storm outside is raging and he’s dripping wet, a sight that brings me great happiness, especially since he looks beyond perturbed at how soaked his clothes are.

He’s glaring at the sleeves of his jacket as he violently swipes raindrops off his face while letting out a mutter of curses. Then he narrows his eyes as he peers around at the tables. When he spots me, his eyes narrow even more as he stomps over and sits down in the booth beside Avery.

“Well, you got me here,” he grumbles as Avery scoots away from him. “What the fuck do you want?” He directs this at Avery.

Avery points at me. “Maddy has a few questions about her aunt Ellie.”

His lips kick up into a smirk. “Guess the other night really got to you, didn’t it?” he asks me.

“Fuck you,” I retort. “Just tell me what you know.”

“Or else I’ll show everyone those videos,” Avery adds, trading a glance with me.

Will’s smirk dissolves. “You know, I could end you both with the snap of my finger.” He snaps his finger.

“But we know you won’t.” Avery carries his gaze, challenging him.

He glares at her, but doesn’t comment, facing me. He studies me for a moment, and I hate it. I hate that I’m getting information from someone like him. We make have clout over him, but that doesn’t alleviate the concern that he still might try to ruin me or Avery.

He rests his arms on the table. “A couple of weeks ago, I was doing a job down at the harbor. It was late so no one was supposed to be around. But as I was waiting for my client to show up, a boat docked.”

“So?” I say. “Boats dock at the dock all the time. That’s what docks are for.”

“No shit, smartass,” he grumbles. “But what made this boat stand out is that it was this huge, expensive yacht. One that had no business being in north side.” He leans back and shoves up the sleeves of his hoodie.

“Now, of course I’m curious about it and my mind is spinning with ways I could rob.

” He says this so matter of factly. “But then I noticed there were like these bodyguards stationed everywhere so I was like: fuck that. I started to walk toward the parking lot around the front so I could do my deals without risking some rich pricks spotting me and calling the police. And that’s when I saw like five Royal women hurrying toward the dock.

They had a few bodyguards with them and they were carrying, so I dipped the hell out of there.

” He smiles meanly at me. “But I recognized one of the women as your aunt Ellie. I remember her because she was at one of your birthday parties and she was acting like too nice. I knew it was fake and it was getting on my nerves.”

“She wasn’t faking. She’s a nice person. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you don’t know what nice looks like.” I smile sweetly at him, but my chest feels tight.

She got onto a yacht in north side with other women? And they looked Royal?

It had to be members of the society. Why would they get on a yacht, though?

“How do you know they were bodyguards?” I ask. “What if they weren’t.”

“Nah, the seemed to chatty with each other to be anything else,” he says with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “They could’ve been whoring themselves to Royal men. They were dressed up and everything.”

If I didn’t know about the society, I may have wondered that myself. But this has to be related to the society. Did they go into hiding? Who owned the yacht?

“Was anything written on the yacht?” I ask. “Like a name or something?”

He shrugs. “Maybe. But I was high as hell, so I don’t remember.” He contemplates something then he reaches into his pocket, causing both Avery and I to tense. When he notices this, his rolls his eyes. “Chill the fuck out. I’m getting my phone so I can show you the photo I took.”

“You took a photo of the yacht?” Avery asks with a hue of surprise in her voice.

“Of course. It was cool as hell. And I knew no one would believe that I saw it at the north side dock.” He swipes his finger across the screen, taps it a few times, then turns it toward me.

On it is a photo of the night sky, the dark water, and the dock that stretches into it, And beside that is a massive yacht that definitely has to belong to a Royal. The photo is a bit grainy, but maybe Noah can clear it up, since he’s good with computers.

“Can you send that to me?’ I ask Will.

“Sure. But only because I don’t want Avery sending out that video. I want to be clear here,” he says, his gaze fastened on me. “Once I give you this, we’re done, okay? I don’t want to hear from you again.” He glances at Avery. “That goes for you too, sweetheart.”

Avery’s lip twitches, but she manages to grit through her teeth, “Okay.”

He smiles cheekily at her. “See, I knew you knew how to be compliant.”

Avery opens and flexes her hands. I have to give her credit; it’s impressive she doesn’t punch the smile off his face.

I give Will my number and he sends me the photo. Then he stands up, stealing the rest of Avery’s scone and winking at her before sauntering off out of the café.

“God, I really hate him,” Avery mumbles, glaring at her empty plate.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her. “I feel bad for making you have to be around him again.”

She waves me off. “You didn’t make me. I offered.”

“Yeah, but that was a lot.”

“I know, but you find out some info about so it’s worth it… I hope anyway.”

I open the photo on my phone. “I think so. The photo is kind of grainy, but I know a guy who might be able to clear it up for me.”

“A Royal guy?” she asks curiously.

I nod, setting my phone onto the table. “Not the one I like, though. It’s actually his stepbrother. He’s nice too.”

She glances at my phone as it buzzes. “It’s been doing that a lot.”

I sigh. “I know. I need to answer some people, but I’m avoiding.”

And deliberating what to do. Do I want to get ahold of River? Grey?

Old Maddy wouldn’t. She would bail because that’s what I usually do with any sort of relationship or friendship. When it gets difficult, I drop it. Having parents who constantly betrayed me made me cautious about trusting people—too cautious honestly.

It’s why I don’t have many friends.

“I need to call some people, but do you wanna maybe hang out soon. My roommate is constantly inviting me to Royal parties. She’s really nice and I’m sure she won’t care if I invite you to one.” See, there, look at me trying to change my loner ways.

Avery smiles and nods. “Hell yeah.”

“Awesome. I’ll text you soon, okay?” I tell her as I stand up.

She stands up too and we part ways. I head back to the bus station, check for the bus number that will take me to the academy. Then while I wait, I sit down and pull out my phone. I turn my watch back on, jolting slightly as it buzzes. Then summoning a deep breath, I dial his number.

He answers after one ring. And I’m not the least bit surprised.

“Hey,” I say. “We need to talk.”