Hollow Hearts (The Harkwright Trilogy)

“I’m fine, a little tender but it’s getting better. Besides you don’t have to apologize, I never expected to see you,” I say despondently and his eyes flicker before he strokes his hand down and over his face.

“I am sorry Luna, I shouldn’t have taken you to his room and shown you the file he had created on you. I thought I was doing it to be a friend, but all I was doing was fueling the fire

and giving you one less person to count on. I appreciate your friendship and I’m sorry I fucked it up, I won’t bother you again,” he gets to his feet and makes his way back over to the door.

“You… y-you can bother me a little, if you want,” I sound unsure to my ears but either he can’t hear it or he’s ignoring it as he comes back and makes himself comfortable on the loveseat.

He’s only here for just over four months, I’d rather enjoy his company while I still can. Life is too short to hold grudges, Millie’s experience taught me that.

“S-so tomorrow. A-are they all back then?” Just the nicer ones please, I can go a little longer without running into Shane and Scott.

“Yeah, I don’t know about the Prince though. He’s usually here for when the classes start so he’s got a couple of weeks left,” his words stir a curiosity in me. I think I may want to meet this Prince, just so I can see what all the fuss is about for myself.

“Fair enough, I think I may do some baking tonight then. Caitlyn seems to be relenting on her constant supervision, finally,” I throw my head back, being overly dramatic and I don’t miss his soft chuckle.

“Do you want some company?” He asks rather sheepishly and I roll my eyes.

“Seriously, my appendix isn’t going to grow back and then rupture all over again. I am fine to go about things as normal, I’ll be fine,” I smile wide at him and he returns it.

I can’t pretend that I don’t notice how easily it feels to be with him. I feel like I’m the version I was with Poppy before she ended up in hospital, the one very few people ever get to see. Because they couldn’t get past the anxiety and nerves, they didn’t want to wait to see how I could be when I finally let myself go.

I make some breakfast muffins so I’m not constantly eating cereal and despite the odd twinge from my side, I feel as good as new. I’m humming along to a tune stuck in my head, not that I have a clue what it’s called and will no doubt be bugged by it and I know it’s out of tune but I don’t care. That’s how good my mood is right now.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes.”

I drop my whisk and watch as it falls to the floor, splatting batter all over the place. My hand shoots to my chest as I turn around to see a male figure standing in the shadows with a hood pulled up over his head.

“Can I-I h-h-help y-y-you?”

“Don’t worry Luna, you’re in safe hands with me. I’m not even here,” I can’t deny who it is, the Prince. Emmet Harkwright himself.

“W-w-w…”

“Shh, don’t waste time asking questions that won’t be answered, I just wanted to see you for myself. Things are about to get crazy around here and I thought I’d steal this moment for myself,” his voice engulfs me and I feel weak at the sound of it. Why do I react so strongly to it? It doesn’t make sense.

“Turn around Luna, tomorrow you’ll go back to being nothing but a number and I’d rather you get this while you still have a name,” I do as he says, watching as my hands shake before me.

I flinch with every step that sounds in my ear and a wicked chuckle fills the otherwise silent space until a hand cups my throat and a shiver spreads down my spine. He slides his hand around until he’s pulled the errant strays of my hair over my shoulder. I don’t know what he wants until a weight drops against my chest and my eyes flick down to a chain that wasn’t there before. I don’t wear jewelry.

“You’re all getting one, but I wanted to deliver this one myself. See you soon,” his mouth drops onto my bare shoulder and a pain shoots out from the spot as he sinks his teeth into me.

I can’t help the moan of pain that passes through my lips and his chuckle fills the air once more and then he’s gone, merged with the darkness like he was never even here.

The necklace around my neck and the stinging bite is the only thing screaming at me that this wasn’t a fabrication of an overactive imagination or a weird ass dream. The Prince was here and maybe tomorrow, I’ll finally get to put a face to the name and dark and - I hate to admit - sensual voice.

11

Roll Call Please

The Harkwright men come back after dinner is served and they waste no time in choosing a girl or two to spend the night with. I’m lucky enough to be passed up again - hard not to take it personal - but Caitlyn isn’t so lucky. I guess Sam must have liked her before because he wastes no time in calling out her number into the mess hall.

No one bats an eye at his overly loud declaration, I guess its normal behavior but it still makes me jump. I try to ignore the laughter that goes around and pretend it isn’t at my expense.

That being said Emmet didn’t lie, every girl got a necklace over breakfast this morning and they were quick to put them on. I still don’t understand the importance behind them but Caitlyn showed me the message that came with hers.

Do not remove or we will dismiss you from the Academy with no further notice.

I need to stop going over everything that has happened today, I just feel a little… lonely. When did that start being an issue for me? I’ve always reveled in being alone and yet, it feels almost suffocating now. I guess I got used to having roommates and now that I’m truly on my own, I’m not sure I like it anymore.