Page 64 of Unforgiving Queen

And then there was Reina, working the crowd, glowing like an angel. The eyes of every man in this space gravitated to her.

My jaw clenched as I returned my attention to Aiden. “Not really.”

It was a half-truth. She wasn’t the same person; neither was I. But one thing was true, I’d lived up to my title and become the bitter prince, through and through.

The movement of pink from the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned my head to find Dante’s hand wrapped around Reina’s wrist.

“Excuse me,” I told Aiden and made my way across the room.

“Your father wants to talk to us,” I heard Dante say.

My jaw locked involuntarily, anger curling my hands into fists.

“I’ll see him later.” She was smiling brightly, her eyes scanning the crowd as though nothing was wrong, but the tension in her shoulders was unmistakable. She hated my brother as much as she hated me.

“Now.” I tensed at the demand in his voice.

“Dante,” I said, a hint of warning in my voice.

Reina’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, I let my mask slip. Her eyes sparkled crystal blue and her cinnamon scent engulfed me. Her golden curls were longer than the last time I saw her, shining brightly. Then as if she remembered her distaste, her eyes became colder than Arctic ice waters, and she turned her head.

My brother tipped his chin and the familiar glimmer in his eyes that spoke of trouble flared. It didn’t escape me that Reina didn’t acknowledge me.

“There you are, brother,” Dante drawled. “You can join in too. We have big news to announce.”

What the fuck was he talking about?

She yanked her wrist out of Dante’s hold. “It’s really not a good time for me, Dante,” she muttered, but before she could take a step, her father appeared.

“Ah, there you are, Reina.”

She let out a small sigh but kept her smile on. Somehow I had a feeling she’d gotten good at hiding behind it. “Hello, Papà.”

Romero’s gaze flickered to my brother and then me. “Dante. Amon. I’m assuming you two have already spoken.” I didn’t like this at all. “Let’s step to the side, shall we?”

“I’ll see you later—” My voice was cold but my insides warmed in her proximity. I couldn’t remain around her for too long without losing my mind. This was the exact reason why I needed continents between us.

“Stay.” Romero’s eyes flashed as he sucked his teeth.

Irritation unfurled in my chest and my hand twitched at his tone, but I didn’t react. I fucking hated being told what to do.

He nudged a hesitant Reina to the left, urging her forward until we weren’t in the middle of all the commotion. Music still played and chatter filled the air.

“What’s this about, Papà?” Frustration flickered across her expression while she kept her back to me. “This event is extremely important. My career hinges on making a good impression.”

Her anger was palpable, multiplying by the second, and it was aimed at all of us, it seemed.

“You aren’t too busy to hear this.” His tone was sharp.

I fucking hated seeing Romero at all, but hearing him talk toherlikethatmade me fucking go bananas. I fixed my mask of indifference and crossed my arms, moving to lean against the wall. I couldn’t risk killing him now.

Dante let out an amused breath, but the harsh flicker in his eyes didn’t escape me.

“Okay, what’s this about?” Reina faced her father, her spine so straight it could snap.

“You and Dante are to be married.”

Shock. Surprise. Fury.