Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
“Were you conscious throughout the birth?” Vaden shifts his weight forward, resting his forearms on the table.
My eyes land on Dad, only to find him already staring right at me. He bounces between Vaden and I, as if wondering where we’re going with this.
He won’t have to wonder long because unlike everyone else in this room, Dad’s brain ticks the same way mine does, only with a moral compass.
“Yes, but they filled me with enough drugs to kill a horse. What’s your point?”
I shrug. “None.”
A new waiter comes through carrying a tray of hot food as everyone sits in silence.
Lilith’s face softens when checks on Luna every two seconds, but it’s almost like she’s reminded of the monster she is when she stares too long.
As if she’s worth any less than when she’s not.
An hour later, midnight shadows over us. I love this time of night. When you know that the only people around are the ones who only feel comfort in the dark.
“What happens now, son?” Eli asks, burying his hands into his pockets.
Neither of us look at one another, both keeping our eyes fixed on the driveway in front. Lilith doesn’t waste time pulling up, no doubt gearing up to sharpen her claws over his back.
“Do you trust me?” I finally turn to him. I wonder if they find it odd, watching us grow to be who we are today. A product of what they trained.
He caresses his greying beard, before twirling the ends of his moustache. “I do.”
“That took you a while to answer.” My head tilts. “So many people see me as the Mad Prince. A product of my grandfather. Do you?”
“Why is it important to you?” His eyes finally land on mine. They’re way too similar in shape to Luna’s.
I look back out to the distance in front of me. “It isn’t for the reason why you’re hoping it is. I don’t care for what you, or any of the Fathers think. It is what it is, and I am who I am, and we are who we are—” Ahh…that probably slipped past him. “But it’s important not for me, Eli.” My focus swings back to him. “But for you.”
“Jesus.” He blows out a deep breath. One I once wanted to strangle out of him. “You’re a fucking weird kid, I’ll give you that.”
I snicker. “Odd way to say you’re scared of me.”
He laughs this time, patting my shoulder. “I’m not scared of anyone. If I was, I wouldn’t be a King.” He disappears into the waiting car. When their headlights disappear down the drive, a smirk crawls over my face.
Time to play a game.
Chapter Thirty
priest
I’m not ready to walk in and hear the opinions of any of them right now. Right now, silence. Silence needs to be heard because for the next step, silence isn’t what I’ll be hearing.
Pain. Sadness. Anger.
“What’s going on in your head, son?” Dad’s voice drifts over my shoulder after Eli and Lilith pull away. “Try not to give up. If you can help her recover, it’ll work in our favor.” He’s wrong, because she’ll never recover.
She’ll never return.
Because for whatever reason, she’s made it obvious since coming back that the version of Luna that people came to love is gone for good.
The version I’d chased all along is right in front of my face. This is what I wanted.
So why does it feel like shit.
Feelings and emotions do nothing but cloud your judgment.
“Take Mother home before her and Aunty Tillie fuck around and end up in town.”
Dad laughs, his head tilting back. “Yeah, I will.” Before he can slide into the car, he pauses, looking at me over his shoulder. “You never finished your comment about Perdita.”
I shake my head. “Not right now.”
His finger taps against the car. It’s obvious how hard Dad is finding it being away from the gavel, and I don’t want to make his life harder, since he’s the one person alive that I know has always had my back.
And Mom.
I guess and Halen. War. Stella, Vaden. Luna. River so long as I don’t fuck with Luna.
Fuck. Me wanting that version of her is making me weak.
My teeth clench.
“Son.” A simple word. “Remember that everything is as it seems for a reason. She was on Perdita for a reason.”
“I know.” But he doesn’t know exactly how much.
As soon as he’s disappearing down the road, I flick my cigarette onto the pavement. Bringing in Lilith, Eli, and Kyrin was my last resort.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to unleash chaos?” Halen muses, filling Dad’s spot.
“Oh, because I am.” I keep my focus on the window, where shadows dance against each other to music. No doubt Vaden prancing her around like a trophy.
“Do I need to warn anyone?” Even as a child, Halen felt like she always needed to protect me. She didn’t need to, but that was the nature of her. She’d do that shit without ever realizing. Without hesitation. To the point of annoyance, but more so, she never did it for me.