The Queen They Buried

Chapter 7

The school day blew by. Aubree’s high school had evening study sessions, but she’d gotten a pass from her teacher to skip

them.

She grabbed her bag, ready to hit the store for some groceries to cook dinner. Needed fuel for a late-night gaming sesh at

the internet café.

But right outside the school gates, someone stepped in her way.

It was Emery.

His face was twisted, eyes flashing with disappointment and anger. “I thought cutting off Dad was bad, Aubree, but this? Didn’t think you’d go this dirty.”

Aubree frowned, totally lost. She took a step back. “What’re you even talking about? If it’s nothing, just… let me go, okay?”

Emery’s jaw clenched, like he was biting back a yell. “Why’d you post that video on the school forum? You know how much this’ll wreck Carmen?

“She’s at Rithol Art School, training, and called me crying her eyes out. Says she doesn’t even know why you’re mad at her, and you’re out here ruining her. That’s cold, Aubree.”

‘Cold?’ Aubree let out a sharp laugh, then smirked. This was too much. They all knew about the forum drama—the lies trashing her name-and didn’t care.

But the second her comeback hit Carmen? Boom, she’s the bad guy, no questions asked.

“Emery, is your brain just for decoration?” she snapped. “Only people at the Wilson family party knew about that video. You think those big shots would mess with the Wilsons? So, who leaked it, huh?

“If I wasn’t getting slammed online first, you think I’d post that video for giggles? And FYI, that video’s legit. It’s the truth, isn’t it?”

Emery blinked, thrown, but rallied fast. “You’re always ticking someone off, Aubree. That forum post? Probably just payback from someone you annoyed. Carmen would never do that.”

Aubree rolled her eyes so hard it stung. She was done with this Carmen fanboy. “Buzz off,” she growled.

But Emery wasn’t dropping it. As she turned to leave, he grabbed her wrist. “You’re coming with me to apologize to Carmen. Now. I’ll sort out the truth later, but you’re fixing this.”

He wouldn’t let go.

flared. She glared at him. “So, you don’t even know what went down, and it’s

his mouth-probably to bring up Carmen’s dumb staircase fall-but Aubree shut it

back to the Wilson family. Carmen was getting trashed at school,

show. You all rushed over to make sure everyone knew Carmen was still the Wilson princess. Bryan even sent a lawyer’s letter to the jerk

What’ve you done to back me up?

mad I cleared my

1/3

Chapter 7

over this? Then what about me? I’ve been torn

your favorite sister, fine. Why

favorites, and then there’s

didn’t say a word, because he knew she’d hit the nail

to claim the family cared about her too, but their icy vibes

deep breath, he said, “C’mon, just come

him

confident voice broke in. Alvin, decked out in a

brows low and screaming I’m over

been thrown off when his uncle, who’d been MIA for three years, rolled up to grab him

going nowhere,

Bowen hit him with.”Alvin, you gotta

with his uncle’s glare burning holes, Alvin

Alvin, sure, but they weren’t tight enough to just

was her golden ticket to

and stepped up

though. ‘What’s the story with Aubree and Uncle

quick looks as they headed for

20

Turner, and that carried

Aubree took off, Emery’s phone lit up. It was the

in. Mind swinging by to grab

blacked out and landed in the hospital,

shaking off Emery, Aubree flashed Alvin a grin. “Alvin, thanks for the save. I’m gonna

car’s back door. That was when Aubree spotted a shadowy

make out his face-just a