Evan

I cocked an eyebrow as Amberley stormed away. Lion boy? What the hell was that supposed to mean?

I look to my two friends but they only shrug and turn back to their food. Of course they won't talk to me! They're all about Team Amberley these days.

"That might have been my doing, love," a voice calls from behind me. I recognize the prissy, high tone and feel my teeth grate together. Great.

"Rene."

I turn and she grins at me. "I may or may not have let slip that you and I are a little more than friends."

I stare her down. "A little more than friends? We aren't even friends."

She frowns playfully. "We could be though. I could be so much better than her. I mean have you see her, she looks like a doll and her hair looks like she rolled around in black oil. And she's a total prude?" She ranted.

"Compared to you who gives away free blowjobs and somehow finds cosmetics in an underground Institute to make themselves look like Amberley does naturally? Sorry, no thanks."

She glares at me before placing her hand on my shoulder.

"She may be pretty with a nice voice. But that's all she'll ever have. She's a broken little doll. I mean have you seen those nasty scars? Why would you want some deformed person like that?"

That hit a nerve. I stood up and jabbed my finger. "I am a male who wanted sex and you were the first girl I saw so don't feel special. And if you say one more thing about Amberley ever again, I'll give her permission to make you cry off that hideous, fake mask you wear. Watch your ugly, big mouth, Rene," I threatened before pushing past her.

She called after me but I ignored her. God, she was a literal pest in every way possible. If she hurt my already damaged relationship with Amber, she was going to regret ever sleeping with me.

I walked out of the cafeteria and caught sight of two Altrus who had finished dinner early. I walked up to them. "Have you seen Amberley?"

They nod and gesture to right. "She went to the locker rooms."

I nod and curse my stupidity. Of course, she always takes showers right after dinner.

The girls locker room was empty except for the soft hum of Amberley as she folded towels over her arm. I cleared my throat and she jumped, locking gazes with me.

Her eyes took my breath away and she left me speechless. "Girls locker room, Evan. Key word being girls."

I grin and step toward her. "Unlike you, I'm not prejudiced against sexes. Boy, girl, why can't we all share a locker room?"

She cocked an eyebrow and leaned against her locker door. "Because there are boys like you who don't quite know how to control themselves in front of woman. Especially tall, blonde, green eyed girls."

I frowned and closed the distance. She was talking about Rene. She kept my gaze stonily as I placed my hands above her head. I reached down and grabbed a piece of hair. "This definitely isn't blonde."

I leaned even farther down to match her short height. "Definitely not tall." And I stared deeper into her eyes, drifting so far forward our noses were almost touching. "Those definitely aren't green. Or are they, I'm a little color blind."

She swallowed and rolled her eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm talking about...," I grab her chin and lift it upwards. "How you're the only girl I can't control myself around. Maybe you haven't noticed, but I've been off the rocker since I've met you. You drive me insane."

Her lips lift upward and I grin. I glance down at her full, rosy lips and want so bad to kiss her. Not yet, Evan.

"I don't mean to," she say innocently. She blushes and glances away shyly. I put my finger underneath her chin again and pull her gaze back to mine.

"After everything, you still don't see how great you are. Look around Amberley, you're going to save everyone of them. They all love you. I love you."

I saw a tear streak down her cheek as she listened. I wiped it away with my thumb. "She said you would never want me, that I was ugly and broken."

I chuckled and held her out arms length. I let my gaze travel up her body so slowly that I saw a blush creep onto her body. "Mmm. Definitely not ugly and definitely quite whole."

She let out a choked laugh and launched herself at me. She wrapped her arms around me neck and stuffed her face in my chest. I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her waist. I placed a kiss on the top of her head, savoring her floral scent.

"I missed you so much Evan. You have no idea. I was so lonely, even with everyone around me."

I signed and rubbed her back. She seemed to relax underneath my touch. "I'm so sorry, Amb. I should of been there for you."

She nodded against my chest and hugged me tighter.

"I'm scared. So scared. I've seen war all my life, sat through war councils, listened to my fathers lectures. But I feel like I don't know anything at all. I'm going to fail them all."

"You took down twenty of them within seconds. And you've gotten so much stronger. Altrus are survivors, they know how to live. They've already put their faith in you, it's your turn to put your faith in them."

She nods and pulls away from me. "I'm sorry, I'm such a bad flirt. Every time you talk to me I turn into a blubbering mess."

I smirk and pull her back me. "A sexy, blubbering mess if you ask me."

"Sexy? Im wearing a grey jumper that hides every possible curve."

"I can still see the curves, jumper and all, you're beautiful."

She smiles and places her forehead again my chest. A moment of silence passes between us.

"Amberley Da Ville was trying to flirt with me?" I question, coming to the realization. She hits my chest and glares at me.

"Again... Key word being tried."

I grin and twirl a piece of her midnight locks around my finger. "I'll give you a second chance. Go ahead, seduce me."

She takes the bait and looks me up and down before her gaze lands on my fair hair. I don't miss her smirk. "You're hair is a golden as the straw my father used to feed his heifers."

I act shocked and flick her nose. She hisses and rubs the feature. "You are an evil little creature."

She barley had time to react before I my lips finds hers. I suppress a groan and pull her harder against me. Her lips are soft and smooth. God, I had missed her. I needed her.

We had somehow turned on the shower and managed to strip out of our clothes before there were no barriers between us at all.

~

Amberley had come to my room. Our naked bodies huddled closely together as if our warmth was the only sources of heat in the world.

I grin and bent down to kiss the hollow of her neck. Her dark hair was spread out around is a like a dark veil. She giggled as I took a piece and pulled it.

"Anyone could walk in Evan. We should get clothes on," she argues, yanking her hair back.

I frown and pull her closer. "I am never leaving this bed. You are never leaving this bed."

"What if I want to? What are you going to do to stop me?" She challenges, her ocean blue eyes flashing.

"I could think of a few things but unfortunately, we've already done them multiple times."

She smacks my chest playfully with a scoff. I grab her small hand in mine and bring them to my lips.

"I'm crazy in love with you, Amberley Da Ville."

She smiles and switches roles to kiss my hands. "I might be crazy in love with you too, Evan Conway."

That struck a nerve and I forcefully hid my change in emotion. I wasn't Evan Conway. I was Sterling Valentino, heir to the Iniquitous. I regard Amberley. Did I really love her or did I love the idea of being with her?

Was she worth losing an empire? I think back to the way she had made those twenty Unfeeling soldiers change sides. She could ruin everything, take my only chance at a future. She was a queen. Without the Iniquitous, I was nothing.

Staring into Amberley's blue eyes, I realized there was only one things that could solve my problems. Despite my love for her, I had to kill Amberley Da Ville.