Page 2 of Forbidden Heart

I nod and lower my voice to a whisper. “Is Silas here?” Even thinking about the Dark Prince makes me feel sick.

“He went back to his place to change, but he’s meeting us all later at the audition.” JJ pauses. “I know you two got off on the wrong foot, but he apologized. And he’s really not that bad. I promise.”

“Okay...” I whisper, even though I don’t agree. The apology he gave me last night was clearly forced. He only said it so they’d let him stay. He didn’t mean it, and he hates me.

But I can’t tell the guys that. Not when he’s in their a cappella group. Not when he belongs here much more than I do. Not when I know that if they had to choose, they’d have no reason to pick me.

“He saw how amazing your audition song is! I’m sure you two will get along great now,” JJ continues.

I know he’s wrong, but I nod anyway.

JJ waits for me to say something, and when I stay silent, he adds, “Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. I hope you like blueberries.”

A smile crosses my lips. Of course I like blueberries. Blueberry waffles, blueberry pancakes, blueberry jam on toast... Who doesn’t like blueberries?

The warm and fuzzy feeling returns. It’s nice to wake up to a good-looking guy offering to make me breakfast. Much nicer than my alarm blaring at the crack of dawn. Or worse, Father shouting for me to get my lazy ass out of bed and make him something to eat.

I push aside the less than happy memories and smile at JJ. “I love blueberries. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Take your time, Sleeping Beauty.” He chuckles and closes the door softly behind him.

I grin and hurry to get ready. Despite the persistent rib pain, I move as fast as I can. I know JJ told me to take my time, but he cooked breakfast. I don’t want it to grow cold because of me.

I grab a pink bag—another gift from Charles—and peek inside. This time, he got me a pink dress made of soft silk. It looks expensive, just like all the other clothes he’s gotten me. I shouldn’t accept it, but I can’t help wanting this fairy tale to last a little longer.

I try on the dress, and the silk feels soft against my skin. The dress really does make me feel like a princess.

I twirl down the hall to the bathroom. It’s where the guys and I first sang together, our voices echoing beautifully across the small room. I start to sing our song—their song, now; their audition song with Silas—and abruptly stop. The blender whirs in the background, reminding me that JJ is making breakfast and that the guys are waiting.

I hurry up and finish getting ready. As soon as I’m done, I rush into the kitchen, only to stop short. Instead of three handsome princes, I’m met by the purple zombie apocalypse. Not really, but close.

Tate and JJ are in the middle of a conversation, but all I see are purple lips and blue teeth. Charles has his ereader out, but when he looks up at the sound of my footsteps, he’s got splotches of purple on his black beard and equally purple lips peeking out from underneath.

“Good morning?” I say tentatively, hoping the scene in front of me will somehow start making sense.

All three guys stare at me, like I’m the one who looks strange.

“Good morning, Roonie,” Charles says slowly, and I catch a hint of beastly blue teeth. He’s wearing all silk again, black pants and a black button-up shirt—the upscale version of pajamas—and his huge feet are bare.

While I take him in, the handsome mixed with the bizarre, his dark eyes travel over the dress he bought me in a slow inspection.

I shiver under the Beast’s intent gaze. For a second, I worry that he might hate the way the dress looks on me, but his purple lips curve up slightly under the beard in a smile that I interpret as approval.

“Would you like some coffee?” Tate asks, flashing his own set of blue teeth. He grabs a mug from the coffeemaker and hands it to me. “You look tired.”

Actually, I probably look confused. Tate’s the one who looks tired. He’s in LUV Academy PJs—a flannel pants and t-shirt set. My cozy Prince Charming’s eyelids are drooping over gorgeous light brown eyes, and when he smiles at me, my heart melts.

He hands me a coffee mug, and as our fingers graze, tingles travel up my fingertips like electricity. Tate doesn’t seem to notice. He turns, grabs a matching mug from the counter, and takes a large gulp of coffee. It seems to do nothing for his purple lips or blue teeth, which makes me wonder if they’re using waterproof makeup for tonight’s audition. If their goal is to stand out, it’s doing the trick.

“Do you want to go back to bed?” JJ winks at me. His tone implies that he’d like to join me, but it’s hard to take him seriously when his lips and teeth are purple and blue.

I just shake my head and take a sip of the delicious, and probably expensive, coffee Tate made for me. It’s got hints of hazelnut in it, and I give a contented sigh. Followed by a yawn.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.” JJ looks guilty. “I really thought you were already up.”

“I was, and you didn’t wake me. I’m a little tired because I’m not used to sleeping in.”

“You’re not?” Charles asks curiously.