The Crown He Couldn’t Touch

I froze the moment I heard those words. My heart twisted so sharply that I could barely breathe.

The others in the room were stunned for a second, but laughter quickly followed.

"Only Damian could use our top student as a practice dummy for sex. You've got charm, man."

"I feel sorry for all those guys chasing after Aurora. When they find out about this…"

Damian snorted. "Aurora? Chasing her would be a waste of effort. She spread her legs the second I crooked my finger."

He took a sip of his drink, clearly enjoying the attention. "Her body is decent, though. Too bad she's nowhere near Juliette in the chest department."

"You've been looking that closely? Maybe you like Aurora better. Or are you still hung up on Juliette?"

Damian's eyes narrowed dangerously at Marcus. Marcus quickly raised his hands. "Relax. Aurora's boring—all she does is study. And Juliette? No way. I wouldn't dare touch the woman you want."

"Still, who would've thought Aurora was such a secret slut? All quiet and innocent-looking, and then she just hops into bed with you without a word."

Damian laughed. "She chased me for years. I figured I'd give her what she wanted. One time, so she can remember it fondly after I'm with Juliette. That way she won't be too heartbroken."

My brain felt like it had been smashed with a hammer. I could only lower my head and hide my face.

They didn't know. They didn't know that I had secretly learned the Old Tongue—every word, every inflection—just so I could be a good Luna for Damian one day.

I understood everything.

Even as Damian held me, even as he affectionately rubbed his nose against my cheek mid-sentence. If I hadn't understood what he was actually saying, I would have thought he loved me.

Right when I felt like I was going to shatter, I suddenly stood up. I mumbled something about the bathroom and fled. I didn't stop until I locked myself in a stall.

Sitting on the toilet, I let the sound of the flushing water cover my sobs. I cried until my throat was raw.

Damian's words echoed in my head over and over.

I couldn't reconcile the man from last night with the one who had just spoken. The same man who had been buried inside me, gasping against my ear that we would get married after graduation. His breath hot, his hands everywhere. He had kept going long after I was exhausted, refusing to let me go.

My phone buzzed and pulled me back.

A message from Damian.

Where did you go?

I have something important tonight. I need to leave early.

Get some rest at home. And remember to buy the morning-after pill. I got carried away and forgot to wear a condom.

Seriously, take it. Don't make me worry.

I remembered how he had held me afterward, smiling, saying I was finally his. I hadn't even been angry about the condom. I had been too happy.

Now I saw the truth.

He hadn't forgotten. He just hadn't wanted to wear one.

He had been lying to me the whole time.

I couldn't stop the question from forcing its way into my mind. If it had been Juliette, would he have forgotten then, too?

I wiped my tears dry. I made sure no one could tell I had been crying. Then I went to the pharmacy, bought the pill, and swallowed it.

Back at my apartment, I lay on my bed and let the memories wash over me until I fell asleep.

Late in the evening, I was woken by a phone call from Harrison Cole—the father of my best friend.

"Aurora, why aren't you at graduation prom? This only happens once in a lifetime!"

"Wait… Damian's here with Juliette Ashford. I thought he asked you to be his date?"

"Oh my God. They just kissed in front of everyone. And people are cheering. Don't they know Damian belongs to you?"