Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“There’s no need to resort to violence, Nephew. Come, let’s go to my home. You’re my guests, and I intend to treat you as such,” Thane invites.
As he speaks, he turns his back on us, and for a brief moment, I wish I had a knife to drive into his back. Tarian craves the death of his uncle, and I’d gladly have blood on my hands to make him happy.
“Don’t get any mistaken ideas that I care about what happens to you, darling. That display back there was me helping you because the society rules have changed, and you could become a Crown. Nothing more,” Tarian hisses in my ear as we walk to the town car that’s waiting. Thane slides into the backseat, but before I can follow, Tarian grabs hold of my arm and tugs me to him. “Fair warning, Grecia, I won’t think twice about letting him kill you if I have to.”
I can’t help but wince at his angry words, and unable to find an appropriate response, I nod. I had no illusions of a fairy tale ending when I decided to accompany Tarian on this trip. I knew how he felt about me, and I came anyway.
His comment about me becoming a Crown also makes me uneasy. When I was sixteen, my father sat me down to explain I could never be a member of the Gilded Sovereign, because of its fundamental beliefs —Women are inferior. Women can’t be leaders. Women aren’t allowed at the table.
As soon as my father told me that, I knew I wanted nothing do with a society that held such misogynistic beliefs. And even though a new generation has taken charge of the Sovereign and is changing its way of thinking, there are still factions around the world that continue to deny women entry and treat them solely as entertainment.
When Rukaiya and Dahlia stepped up as Crowns, I felt a sense of achievement. They had succeeded in becoming part of a society that previously believed women weren’t worthy of their customs or their ink. I know as the oldest child of an Elder, I’m also eligible to become a Crown, but after hating on the society for so long, I really don’t know if I want to join.
I slide into the bench seat where Thane is already sitting, and Tarian takes the seat opposite us. As the car glides away, he ignores me, his gaze trained on his uncle. The silence, thick and heavy, hangs around us like netting that keeps prisoners in or danger out.
I’m not sure how long we’ve been traveling when Thane says, “Tarian, I need you to know I’m sorry.”
Whipping my head around, I take in the older man. Those were not the words I expected to hear coming out of his mouth. I’m not sure if he’s lying. Maybe he’s trying to win over his nephew with empty apologies, but I’m impressed he even knows how to say sorry.
“Save the apologies and justifications until after you explain everything to me,” Tarian responds. “But don’t ever expect forgiveness from me.”
Suddenly, Thane’s large hand lands on my thigh. His fingers wrap around the limb, and frozen to the spot, I’m unable to shove him away. My throat constricts as he slides his hand upward while his eyes remain focused on his nephew.
The familiar blue orbs darken, but Tarian doesn’t make a move to stop his uncle. He merely watches on as though I’m here for Thane’s and his own entertainment.
Thane inches his hand even higher, and I can feel the heat of it between my legs. He doesn’t make a move to touch my core, but I can sense the unspoken threat—soon I’ll touch you there, but not yet.
“Do you have feelings for the Birchwood whore?” Thane asks Tarian. His voice is husky, low and feral, like a predator inching toward its target.
“She’s not a whore.”
“You didn’t answer my question.” Thane smiles as if he’s pounced and caught his prey.
I glance at Tarian’s uncle, and his mouth tilts into a smirk. He looks so handsome I can see how hearts would be broken when he’s around. My body begins to respond to his touch, to his warmth—the things I never get from Tarian.
I close my eyes to halt the stupidity racing through me and to stop myself from getting carried away. I breathe deeply, focusing on the images of Capri and my time there with Tarian. But the moment I think about it, I remember he’s been fucking everything with breasts and a pussy ever since I arrived there.
“Let. Her. Go.” The venom in Tarian’s voice jolts my eyes open in shock.
“You have no claim over me, Tarian,” I bite out in response.
My eyes are locked on his face. The surprise that paints his expression is clear. He wasn’t expecting me to say that… for that matter, neither was I.