Dirty Little Secrets (Kings of Bolten 1)

“Unfortunately,” I muttered, grabbing white linen wrapped silverware. How posh and absolutely absurd.

“I’m Aubrey.” She reached her hand out to shake mine.

I took it and gave her a tight smile. If I’d learned anything about the students at Bolten, they were all jerks in one way or another.

“Bianca.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

I grunted in response and turned to survey the sea of tables in the lunchroom. If I had to guess, it was divided into castes, and I’d be nuts to just find a table and sit at it. I caught Hail’s eye from across the room. He smirked at me and lifted his hand, wiggling his finger for me to go over there.

Screw that.

“You can sit with us if you want,” Aubrey called out, nodding her head toward the students.

I snapped my attention away from Hail and stared in the general direction she indicated. It was either her or Hail. The answer was an easy one.

Knowing I didn’t have much of a choice, I followed her through the maze of tables until we got to the center of the room where two other girls were sitting and chatting. I followed Aubrey’s lead and took a seat.

“Lyssa and Emy, this is Bianca.”

“Hi,” Emy greeted me with an easy smile.

Lyssa on the other hand, looked at me like I’d stepped in something smelly and brought it over. She turned her nose up and rolled her dark eyes.

“A charity case, Aubrey? Really?”

“Lyssa, be nice,” Aubrey said with a brittle smile. “She’s new and looked lost.”

“Strays always look that way, honey,” Lyssa simpered, turning to me. “What’s your story, Cinderella? A nobody like you must have gotten in as a charity case. Bolten does it every year. Let in the riff raff on scholarship. You know. The people who can’t afford to pay for it themselves.”

“Wow. You’re a bitch,” I said, getting to my feet and leaving my lunch on the table.

She let out a disbelieving scoff and gaped at Emy and Aubrey. Aubrey smirked at me, and even Emy looked like she was biting back a smile.

“Excuse me?”

“Sorry. It must be hard to hear when you have your head up your ass.” I covered my mouth in mock surprise. “My bad.”

Lyssa opened and closed her mouth several times, staring at me like I had three heads. I backed away, noticing I’d drawn attention. From a few tables away, Dominic stared at me with a raised eyebrow and a smirk on his lips. I glanced at the two guys with him who were just as gorgeous. The blond one had bigger muscles than Dominic. He narrowed his eyes at me, sending a shiver through my body. The other guy with a mop of dark hair on his head peered between me and the girls, no emotion on his face.

Whatever.

I spun on my heel and left the cafeteria, needing to get some air. I hated this place and the people, and I hadn’t even been there a day.

Six

&nb

sp; Bianca

“Hey, Bianca!” a voice called out as I trudged across campus later that evening.

I turned to find the owner, grinning at me as she caught up.

“I’ve been looking for you!” Aubrey said. “I wanted to apologize for how Lyssa was at lunch.”

I waved her off. “I expected nothing less, considering where I am and all.”