Page 79 of Scandal Queen

“Oh don’t look at me like that, Princess.”

My eyes narrowed at his taunt.

“I helped my brother out of that situation. She would never have kept him happy. I just stopped him making a terrible mistake.”

“So you were doing him a favour?” I lifted an eyebrow, while my fist tightened ready to punch. “You slept with his fiancée, made him a laughingstock in front of the whole world.”

“Bullshit. He never loved her; he was as miserable as sin. I took one for the team, although the fact she fucked like a bunny on speed wasn’t a bad thing.”

“You disgust me.”

“Why?” Bella stirred a little but didn’t wake up. “Because I proved to him that he shouldn’t do what he is told? If I hadn’t done that he would never have met you.”

“You broke his heart, and his trust.”

“Bullshit. Utter bollocks. Oliver didn’t have a heart until he met you. Oh yes,” he warmed to his theme, “We all see him, happy and smiling, gliding around the place. He wasn’t always like that, Princess, I assure you.”

“It’s now that matters.”

John laughed. “Really? You think that? You think you can come along and save the prince? I can assure you, the hold of the family is tight enough you will never truly be enough; he’ll always put the family first.”

“That’s not how he describes it.”

“That’s because he’s a dickhead. Where is he now? He knows Bella is struggling, high as a fucking kite as always, so where is he?” John shook his head. “He’s at Dad’s right side, while Bella and I are left to rot.”

“You’re wrong. He loves Bella. He loves you, although why I don’t know.”

“It’s not love, Leia. It’s responsibility.” He nodded to my ring. “That’s responsibility. That’s giving the people what they want so our points rise. He will never not protect the crown.”

I thought back to Oliver stood in my shabby kitchen on the council estate when he told me he’d give it all up for me.

I believed that in my heart. It was why I stood in a palace with diamonds on my skin.

The door clicked behind me and John looked up over my shoulder.

“Brother, you could not be more wrong.”

I almost sagged with relief at the sound of his voice. Oliver stepped around me and knelt at Isabella’s side. “Bella, sweetheart, can you hear me?”

“She’s out cold, Ollie.” John’s voice snapped through the air.

“Seriously, you two, stop bitching for one moment and talk to me. Where is she getting this stuff? What is it?”

Isabella’s eyes blinked open. “Ebeneezer E’s are good,” she slurred.

Why the hell is she quoting nineties shit music?

“Oh my god, is she on Ecstasy?” I asked, turning my gaze for both the brothers.

Oliver’s face scored with pain while John gave an almost helpless shrug. “Shit. This isn’t just drunk and high, Ollie. This is dangerous stuff.”

I wiped my hand around Isabella’s face, her clammy skin slipping against my fingertips. “I can’t leave the banquet for too long.” Oliver’s voice dropped, tightened, like it hurt him to say the words.

John snorted. “Off you go, first born.”

“John, that’s not fair.”

“Cut it out.” I rocked back on my heels. “Okay. We need to get her out of here. She can’t be seen.” I glanced over the princess’ face again. “I’m no doctor but I’d say she’s taken too many or it’s a bad batch.”