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"Let’s go, Lola" Xavier sighed deeply and we exited the room in silence He stopped briefly in the corridor, pulled his jacket off and handed it to me "Wear this," he said stiffly, and he watched as I pulled it on and buttoned it up quickly We continued walking in silence until we made our way outside and a valet pulled up to the front with a car "Get in," he said, his tone still low and his eyes dark I knew that he was upset within the room I felt like it was a double standard Why was he allowed to be mad at me when he had been with Violeta? Why was he the one as acting like he ronged when Violeta had just dropped a bo in the seat, feelingsnapped in me This wasn’t oing to ignore er "Don’t you think you oweyou" His lips curled up as he stared atyou home, aren’t I?"

"In silence," I huffed "And when you do talk to me it’s with an attitude"

"Att-i-tude?" he said slowly and deliberately "I have an attitude?"

"Yes, you do Stop acting like I’" I turned away from him "I didn’t ask for this"

"What do you want from me, Lola?" He asked so softly that I barely heard hied, suddenly e I wanted him to tell me that he was sorry for this whole ain I wanted him to tellother than what it was

"I aazed atmy uncomfortable slouch and tense shoulders "I’h, Lola They don’t exist At least I don’t know any princes that would fit into fairytales" His fingers caressed the top of my head "Real life isn’t a Disney cartoon"

"I never said it was" I bitto ride up on my white horse and whisk you away to a castle" He rolled his eyes "This isn’t so to be envied and fantasized about I mean, there is a ride I can take you on, but it will be very bumpy, if you knohat I mean" He paused and licked his lips as he stared at h, I’ve heard bumpy rides are theroyalty" I moved away from him, annoyed at his assumption It was true that I’d never been someone that had any aspirations to beco if I didn’t ad swept away and wooed by a prince Who didn’t want a man to love and cherish theical ride of love?

"This world--my world--is dark and deep and sinister There are no happy endings No fairytales No knights in shining armor There are just men that have titles and men that have money And there are some men, like me, that have both, ods We’re just like regular people, but we play ames I aame to intiaames?"

"You really want to know, Lola? You really want to be exposed to that darkness?"

"You’ve already exposed hter "You already exposed ets ine much" His eyes searched mine, and for a few seconds we just stared at each other in the darkness "How do you think ot into power, Lola? Do you think God came down and said, ‘I think you and you and you should rule the others’?"

"No"

"Have you seen Game of Thrones?"

"A few episodes" I nodded

"That show is like et into power That is how all the royal faotten into power Our history is deep and dark" He sat back "And that is why I love art I need color inthat hasn’t been spoiled by greed"

"That’s why you love art so much?"

"Yes, that’s why I love art And that’s why I’hed "I want to know that, for at least part of my life, I lived for me"

"And the rest of your life?" My voice trailed off as I stared at hi a hundred miles a minute "The rest of your life you become a part of the darkness?"

"This is who I arabbed my hand "I was so worried when I walked into that roo had happened to you Iyou here It was unfair to subject you to this life"

"What are you saying?" I frowned at the look in his eyes