Ruthless Noble by Alley Ciz

 

CHAPTER 1

Marriage?

Really?

Fucking MARRIAGE?

What. In. The. ACTUAL. Fuck?

Behind me, Jasper’s body turns to stone. I swear to all things holy, if muscles could speak, the ones in the leg pressed along the length of mine would be echoing the thoughts currently blaring in my brain.

Let’s not bring up the fact that I actively sought him out for comfort during Natalie’s entire brain-melting diatribe. I’m currently struggling with basic biological human functions like breathing; I can’t be expected to work out the convoluted dynamic that is…well…Jasper and me.

I can’t handle…

ALL THIS!

My pulse is erratic, the adrenaline pumping through me wreaking havoc on my system. I’ve already used my inhaler more in the last hour than I should in such a short amount of time, and doing so again could have adverse effects.

You can do this. Breathe, Savvy. Just breathe.

I close my eyes, shutting out the world, and look internally for a calm I sure as shit don’t feel but desperately need to find before I spiral entirely.

Natalie is busy muttering apologies and trying her best to cover up her faux pas of blurting out details that were meant to be disclosed in a more official capacity.

Yeah, because telling your teenage children you’re arranging their marriage is just another basic contract to slide across the boardroom table.

Behind me, Jasper shifts, and I instinctively step with him, moving until my whole body is leaning against his. A hand snakes its way around my waist and anchors itself on my hip, fingers tightening with a slight pinch when he notices the daggers Natalie glares at his touch.

Jasper doesn’t move.

I do…but not out of his hold. Instead, my shoulders brush his muscular chest as I roll them forward and back in an effort to open up my lungs as much as physically possible.

“Breathe.”The deep cadence of the softly whispered word barely registers enough for me to realize it’s Jasper joining in on my inner coaching. “Just breathe, Princess.” His thumb rubs back and forth and back and forth over my hip bone, the repetitive motion adding a sense of calm I’m in dire need of.

It also helps that Natalie keeps sliding looks toward the Nobles and Delacourtes, trying to gauge their reactions to Jasper touching me instead of Duke. If I wasn’t dealing with my own shit, I would smile at how she’s subtly suggesting we reschedule our evening.

Also…

Did she really bring up Carter, or was that some sort of weird hallucination brought on by lack of oxygen and too much albuterol?

Sure, she didn’t say his name, but that was the first time she’s acknowledged she gave birth to another human since she added St. James as her surname. And…what was with her mentioning it so casually?

Hell…

I probably shouldn’t be surprised that it was a passing comment when she spoke of pending nuptials like it was common knowledge.

“What—” I clear my throat, the action painful against the rawness inside it, and press a hand to it in counterpressure. “In—the—actual—fuck?!” I struggle to get out the question I asked myself only moments ago. “Wait…” A sudden, probably inaccurate thought hits me. I whirl around, Jasper’s touch falling from my body as I step back on wobbly legs to hunt down Duke with an accusatory gaze. “Did you know about this?”

“What?” Duke’s eyes are wide, and if I were thinking rationally, I would likely notice he’s paler than usual and seems to be as confused as I am. But I’m not—rational, that is.

“This.” I stab a finger at Natalie. “This Medieval marriage bullshit. Did you know about it?”

“Umm…”

When he stutters, I whip my attention over to a broody Jasper. “What about you?” With each labored breath that fails to reach the bottom of my lungs, my fury grows. “Was this last week all an act? Playing nice so I lower my guard and then, BAM”—I smack my hands together—“sit back while I’m hit with this?”

I start to laugh, the sound ugly and dark, doing nothing for me except triggering an uncontrollable coughing fit. Plus side? It makes some of the adults start to back away as if I’m contagious or something.

I’m spiraling, and if I don’t get my emotions in check, I’m going to be in a full-blown attack. Ask me if I care.

Spurred on by stubborn righteousness, I continue. “I gotta say…” I start to slow clap when more coughing steals my speech. “You really upped your game, Noble.” His eyes narrow at his name, and I circle a finger in the direction of my bedroom while puffing my breaths like I’m in a Lamaze class. “That whole possessive mine thing you did was pretty convincing. I would have never guessed you were only taking me for a test drive before passing me off to your friend.”

“The fuck?” The black dots dancing into my vision make it hard to see, but there’s no mistaking the blind rage twisting Jasper’s features.

An arm snaps out and he grips me by the nape, but when I expect him to drag me to him like I’m some doll for him to maneuver the way he typically would, he doesn’t. It’s not a punishing hold; it’s…supportive. It’s proprietary.

Tears burn at the backs of my eyes and I blink them away, doing everything in my power to focus on the face I shouldn’t but can’t help but think is handsome when he steps in closer.

“I have no idea what you’re playing at, but that shit stops now.” He’s not outright denying the accusations, but that doesn’t stop relief from flooding my system. Why? Why do I need him to not be involved in this…this…insanity.

“No, no, no. Please don’t apologize.” Jasper’s gaze flits over my head, his eyes following Natalie as she starts to guide his parents and Duke’s around our small cluster. “It’s my fault for letting it slip out like that. We can reschedule after the kids have time to get used to the idea.”

Yeah, oh-kay.

“It’ll never happen, Savvy.” As a unit, Jasper and I turn to acknowledge Chuck’s attempt at reassurance. I see how he eyes me warily as I continue to struggle to regulate my breathing and heart rate into less dangerous territory. Jasper? He sees a threat he tried to warn me away from.

“Don’t call her that,” Natalie snaps, whirling around as Mitchell continues to walk their other guests out.

“Why doesn’t it surprise methat you’re focusing on that?” There’s a snark to Chuck’s tone that’s reminiscent of Tessa. “Real mother of the year,” he mutters, stepping around and dismissing her by giving her his back. I’d smile if it wouldn’t take too much effort at the moment.

Jasper and Duke wear matching furrowed brows as Duke mouths, “Savvy?” and Jasper answers with an I have no idea shoulder shrug.

Chuck runs a hand down my back and Jasper growls, like legit growls like some kind of feral animal. It’s hot, and if my body wasn’t currently melting down, my girlie parts would be going haywire over it.

Yes, yes I know there is something wrong with me.

If I weren’t having yet another coughing fit, I would woman up and tell Jasper there’s no threat here, tell him Chuck’s touch is not at all what he thinks it is. He’s practically my uncle, and I don’t mean in the creepy sense.

“Savvy…” Jasper lets out another growl, his fingers flexing behind my neck at my nickname rolling off Chuck’s tongue while he does another up-and-down pass along my spine.

I meet Jasper’s angry gaze with a slow, pleading blink, holding it until the sound of Chuck’s voice brings my attention back to him.

“I mean it,” he says. Again I have to force a swallow at the dark energy surrounding him; it reminds me of the Royals. “It. Will. Never. Happen.”

Distantly I register the sound of other voices talking, but it’s muffled. Over the roar of my blood pumping through my veins, only bits and pieces of the conversation make it through to me as they say their goodbyes.

I shake my head, trying to clear it.

With the only witnesses she would care about now gone, Natalie leans in, her nose practically touching mine as she hisses, “I don’t care what Charles thinks—he’s wrong.” She shifts closer, her lips skimming the shell of my ear as her voice drops until it’s barely above a whisper. “This engagement is very much real, and you’ll do well to remember that if you don’t want others to suffer the consequences.”

A chill chases down my spine, the sensation only growing in intensity when I catch the malevolent gleam in her eye as she straightens.

When Natalie first demanded I live with her, I didn’t tell Carter about the threats she made against him. First, it was a petty thing. He’s keeping something from me, so I figured it was only fair I keep something from him. But the truth of the matter is, my brother has spent a good chunk of his life protecting me; it was time for me to protect him.

Playing into Natalie’s perfect mother act seemed like a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. But this? I think the only person who might have been able to dream this scenario up would be Tessa, because this shit is straight-up fiction. Natalie thinks she can trade me like I’m some kind of baseball card? Offering up a betrothal to further her own agenda?

I don’t think so.

This is a clusterfuck beyond anything imaginable. Carter is going to lose his fucking mind when he hears about this. Shit! Chuck already has his phone out.

“Savvy, you need to relax before you make yourself sick,” Chuck commands, ignoring Natalie entirely.

A crushing weight settles on my chest, and I think, I really should listen to him because…

My symptoms aren’t getting better. They’re…getting worse.