Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129912 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“I was told I’ll have to teach you and show you the ropes of being monarch, so I will,” I proceed. “That is the only reason you’re still breathing right now. Had you been someone else, I’d have tossed you over the balcony and deemed it an accident.”
“Am I supposed to be grateful?” Devlin counters with a mocking smile.
“You should be, actually.”
At that, he grimaces. I stamp out my bloom after taking one last pull. “Believe it or not, Devlin, you have the opportunity to change where your territory stands. Everyone knows the Rippies as thieves, junkies, rapists, and liars. No one in Vakeeli respects you or your people, but with a new order and someone smart, it doesn’t have to stay that way. The truth is, Ripple Hills is a waste of space. There is nothing your territory has to offer the world, yet you all act like entitled, ungrateful idiots.”
“Watch it,” Devlin snarls.
I raise a hand. “Regardless, your worth can be amended. Instead of using your rage to come after me, work with me and become an ally so your people are better off.”
“My people would never forgive me if I allied with Blackwater’s monarch. Everyone in Ripple Hills says you should be dead for what you did to my father.”
“Yeah, well, your father tried to rape and kill my mate, so the bullet in his head was warranted.”
At that, he stares at me, baffled.
“Right. Of course no one told you the whole story, not even The Council. Fuckers.” I give my head a shake and step closer to him. “Look, you can reject my offer as an ally and keep trying to kill me, but I will come after you much harder.”
His frown deepens as he looks past my shoulder. The music swells, and I can now hear Willow’s thoughts. I smell perfume, and I hear Juniper going on about kissing someone at the lake. They’re coming back.
“Why would The Council choose you to guide me anyway?” Devlin grumbles. “I’m not a child. I can stand on my own.”
I huff a dry laugh and glance at the weapons in a pile next to him. “If that’s what you want to tell yourself.”
He shoots me another grimace.
“Yes, it’s frustrating that we have to work together, but this will make you better at ruling. This alliance will lessen deaths and prevent wars. A smart monarch would accept the offer and gain control while he can. A stupid one would turn his back and continue his weak attempts to assassinate me. Now which one will you choose to be going forward, Devlin? Smart or stupid?”
“Stop calling me stupid!”
“So you admit that you are? Stupid, that is?”
He growls and backs away, snatching up some of his weapons. “I don’t need this shit. You’re lucky you’re not already dead.”
I can’t help smirking as Devlin picks up the last of his weapons. I spot Willow and Juniper coming down the staircase, Juniper now wearing a simple gold dress with her damp hair pulled into a tight bun. Willow notices me right away and starts to smile until she sees the man standing in front of me. Juniper notices too, and they hurry in my direction.
“What’s going on?” Juniper demands, looking between me and Devlin.
“I was just telling Devlin here that I’m looking forward to teaching him,” I say, gesturing to him.
“Devlin? This is Rami’s son?” Juniper scans him as he tucks his weapons in place. “Did he threaten you, Caz?”
“Do I look threatened, Juniper?”
“No. You look as cool as Luxor snow.” Juniper narrows her eyes at Devlin, and he returns the favor. “I’m going for a drink. Devlin, why don’t you come with me? Allow me to talk some sense into you before my cousin decides to kill you because he’s bored?”
Devlin swings his eyes from her, to Willow, to me. When he focuses on Juniper again, he asks, “Aren’t you the woman who killed all those people at that party in Iron Class?”
“Are you serious?” Juniper groans. “Why can’t anyone let that go? You know it wasn’t just me doing the killing, right?”
“You still killed a fuck ton of our people,” Devlin counters.
“Well, they hit first. I just finished it. Now come. Let’s find your little girlfriend, and all of us can have a truce drink.”
Devlin straightens up, glances at me again, then follows Juniper. “This isn’t over, Harlow.”
“What was that about?” Willow asks when they’re gone.
“The kid just wanted to show me he had balls,” I tell her. “He’ll come around.”
My mate smiles at me and drapes her arms over my shoulders. “It’s been a really nice night,” she murmurs.
“If only it could last, huh?”
She peers over my shoulder, in awe of the gold-lit city and buildings in the distance. “It can for just a little bit longer.”
With a smile, she drops her arms to take one of my hands in hers.