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Emma and Ashley move off to the side, watching their old leader while shaking their heads. Caden walks over to stand between me and Sidney. It’s chaos, but I know they’ve got me. I glance out into the students dancing. They watch what’s happening on the stage, waiting for the drama to unfold.

Tanner stands with his arms crossed as teens dance around him. His eyes are locked on me, and when he notices my attention he grins.

A cold chill sweeps through me, and Eli tightens his arm around me. This isn’t over.

CHAPTER 16

The True Queen

Luke

“Ms. Brown, you can’t continue to threaten an administrator of the school.” Principal McGrath slides a finger under his collar. He’s turned an unhealthy shade of red.

While Sidney isn’t that much of a threat, Angela Brown holds power and she’ll wield it for whatever her daughter wants. For some reason, my dad holds Angela in high regard. Enough that he wants me to marry her daughter.

“If you’ll excuse us, Principal McGrath, I’ll see if I can make this go away.” I block him out of the conversation but meet his eyes.

Sidney makes a huffing noise, like I’m annoying her.

His eyes go round, but they’re filled with fear and then appreciation. This job is important to him, and he knows going up against Sidney could bring him down. He nods and goes to calm down Parker, who is gesturing at Sidney like she’s the creature from under the bed. In some ways, Parker isn’t wrong.

We’ve let Sidney get away with too much at this school.

I glance over at Eli and Harper. He holds her against him. Caden is between Sidney and them. My pulse settles. Harper is safe. Even with me distracted, they’ll take care of her. This doesn’t appear to be part of Zach’s plan, but I can’t and won’t underestimate him.

“Are you going to escort me out now, Luke? Is that the plan?” Sidney crosses her arms and cocks her hip. She’s conventionally beautiful. Always has been. It’s why she’s popular. That and her mother’s influence and wealth helped her along.

But her beauty is only surface-deep. Inside, she’s vile and conniving.

I need to find a way to make her blow herself up, so it doesn’t come back to bite Harper in the ass. The music isn’t quite as loud as it was before, but people are paying attention to us while dancing.

The microphone is right there. It’s still connected to the speakers. A plan is forming in my mind. I need the queen bee to fall, but I’ll hand her the sword to fall on.

I shield the mic stand with my body as I face Sidney and take the microphone in my hand, holding it down by my side so I can turn it on at just the right time.

“Would you like me to walk you out in front of everyone, Sid? Make an even bigger scene? Maybe get the sympathy vote from our classmates?”

Her eyes narrow, and she tips her head slightly at the nickname, Sid. It was never a pet name or nickname. It’s just a shortened version of her name that’s easier to use. To me, it means nothing. If she gives it weight, that’s her problem not mine.

“That crown is mine. I want to see the ballot box. I want to see who would have won last night.” Sidney stiffens her spine and glances toward her friends and Harper. “None of those bitches deserve it.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have thrown your lot in with Zach Gray,” I suggest.

She laughs bitterly. “That fucker is obsessed with your little pet too. That’s all he ever talks about, taking her from you. I told him it wouldn’t matter. She’s not long-term for you.”

“I suppose you told him you’re my long-term goal.” I arch an eyebrow and look down at her in disdain. Never. There’s not a world where I tie my life to Sidney Brown’s. Even without Harper in the picture.

She shrugs like my disdain doesn’t bother her, but there’s hurt in her eyes. If my goal was to be with her, she would fuck me over for the rest of our lives because of this moment right here.

“You’ll do what your father wants.”

“Like you did?” I smirk. “How was my old man? Did he fuck you like I did? Was it worth it?”

She presses her lips together, but I’m getting under her skin. Her fingers curl and uncurl. I don’t want her to mistake my questions for jealousy, because they aren’t. They’re only meant to rile her up. Make her explode.

“Did you wish it was me while he had his hands on you?” I laugh in her face. “Do you think about how Harper is everything you’ll never be, and that’s why I love her?”

I click the microphone on as her face reddens. Her eyes narrow. The claws are coming out.