Vicious Prince (Royal Elite #5) by Rina Kent

“Don’t listen to him. He’s old and pragmatic, and did I mention he’s been single for life?” Dad brings my attention back to his kind eyes. “I admit I made a mistake with Abigail, but it’s because of her that I have Elsa, you, and Knox. I would never regret that fact.”

I smile at that.

For a long time, I believed Dad only took us in because of guilt, but that was never the case. He could’ve sent us into the system — or even thrown us back out on the streets.

He didn’t.

“Think about it,” Dad continues. “And if you believe your decision is final, I’ll be happy to oblige.”

I nod, even though my decision is already cemented and is screaming loud and clear in my head. “Can I ask something else?”

“Of course.”

“I know Knox and I told you we’d never ask about Mum or where she is, but I think I’m ready. I want to know.”

Dad and Agnus exchange a look before the latter goes back to staring at his tablet.

“What?” I ask.

“Your mother is no more, Teal,” Dad says in a sympathetic tone. “She died that same year you ran away. I was searching for her to have her give up her parental rights when I learnt she died of an overdose.”

Oh.

I remain still, unsure what to feel. No, I know what I feel.

Nothing.

I just learnt my mother and only biological parent — the only one I know of — is dead, and all I keep thinking about is how she doesn’t have to pay.

She left without paying.

She died as if she didn’t do anything wrong.

My nails dig into my lap until I register the sting on my flesh.

Now, her accomplice will pay for both of them.

Dad pats my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

I nod. “I don’t know why, but I think I kind of suspected it.”

“One less piece of scum in the world,” Agnus says without lifting his head from his tablet.

“That’s insensitive,” Dad tells him.

“The woman abused her own children — that’s what’s insensitive,” Agnus says in his usual cool tone.

“Agnus,” Dad warns.

“He’s right,” I say, not wanting them to fight because of this. It’s not like I wanted to find her for a noble cause, or like I wanted the engagement with Ronan for the reasons I made everyone believe.

I’m the worst scum.

I guess that’s what happens when you’re born the daughter of a whore.

After wishing them a great rest of the night, I leave Agnus and Dad’s office. I come to a screeching halt at the door. Knox stands there, feet crossed at the ankles as he leans against the wall. It’s then I realise I didn’t close the door earlier and my brother probably heard the whole thing.

I make sure to shut the door this time before I speak. “How much did you hear?”

“I already knew about Mum.”

“Y-You did?”

“I wish I was detached like you.” There’s pain in his voice, and I recognise it without struggling to. Knox’s pain was the only pain I could feel — until Ronan.

“Knox…”

“I searched for her when we were in Birmingham and — wait for it — I went back to that brothel, when I was maybe fifteen. When they told me she overdosed and died, do you know what I did?”

I approach him slowly, shaking my head.

“I cried so hard I thought I would never stop crying.” He laughs, rubbing the back of his nape, but it’s forced. “Pathetic, isn’t it, T?”

“No. She was our only family.”

“She was the whore who let those fuckers in while we were sleeping and—”

I slam a hand on his mouth, cutting him off. I don’t want to hear it. I’m so close to reliving it, and that’s never good.

He removes my hand gently. “Point is, we’re each other’s family. Dad and Agnus are our family. I shouldn’t have cried for that whore, and that’s when I realised I wasn’t crying for her. I was merely mourning our childhood and how abnormally we grew up because of her. It’s okay to cry, T. It purges more than those runs.”

“Thank you, Knox. I needed that today.”

“Happy freedom day.” He grins.

On this day eleven years ago, Knox and I broke the chains. We ran and never looked back.

We were kids, but we earned our freedom. We saw an out, so we took it. If we’d stayed there, I would’ve become like my mum and Knox would’ve probably killed himself or gotten into drugs and overdosed like a certain mother.

We’ve always saved ourselves, and that will continue.

He glares at me. “For the record, tell anyone I cried and I’ll murder you.”

“Depends on how you act.”

“I won’t be your bitch, sis.” He switches to his overdramatic tone. “Remember, I came out first.”

“Which means you cried first, right?”

“You little bugger.” He puts me in a headlock, and I stare up at him with a smile.

He softens almost immediately, letting me go as awe fills his features. “You’re…smiling.”

“You’re one of the few who gets to see it, so engrave it somewhere.”

“Ronan is rubbing off on you, isn’t he?”