Page 17 of Queen of Wrath

The light lit up in his eyes, and it was the first time I noticed they were just as striking a green as another werewolf I knew.

“Are your parents okay with you leaving Andor without telling them?” I thought to ask this question far too late, as we had already arrived in Theskin.

Kiyan looked over at me and scoffed, “The better question is: Did my parents even realize I went to Andor for a whole day? I live here in Theskin, actually.”

“Oh.” It sounded like he and his family weren't very close. That saddened my heart to hear.

Every child deserved a close-knit family like what I had.

“Don't look so glum about it. I like having my freedom. I can go wherever I want and learn whatever I want. Don't mistake me either. My parents care for me, they're just caught up in their own things.” Kiyan was quick to cheer me up.

“I’m glad to hear that.” I forced a smile and a nod before changing the subject. There was something in his eyes that told me there was more to that story, but I didn't want to push him. It wasn't any of my business anyhow.

My focus had to be on preparing Kiyan to make potions in front of Jax.

We walked through the city, and even had a nice conversation, until we reached Jax’s company building.

He stopped dead in his tracks and twisted his head in an unnatural way toward me. “This is where you work?”

“Yes, why? Is something wrong?” I couldn't help getting excited thinking he might have some dirt on Jax that made him unwilling to want to work here.

“Nothing is wrong. I just think it would be really weird to work here…since Jaricn Ransom is my brother.”

My breath hitched in my lungs, static currents assaulted my thoughts.

I was even sure that my heart stopped beating for a few moments.

“I'm sorry, what? I don't—” I hesitated, trying to hide the hitch in my voice. “You’re a Ransom?”

I guess it explains the green eyes and raven locks if nothing else.

He looked disheartened at my reaction. “Yeah… Diesel Ransom is my father.”

It took all the willpower in me not to fall over from the shock.

I shook my head three whole times trying to restart my brain.

My teeth gritted together loudly as I tried to form a sentence.

All I could hear was my own voice screaming in my head.

The only words I could manage were, “That is very interesting information.”

6

DIESEL

“Sir, we have good news,” Striker said, bursting into Diesel’s office without requesting permission first. “Our sales have gone up by one hundred and fifty percent since Jax established his company.”

There was nothing he hated more than being disrespected—especially by someone who was so beneath him.

“Don't you know how to knock, Striker?” Diesel growled with nothing but pure disdain in his voice.

Striker had to bite her tongue to stop from saying something she would regret. Instead, she murmured, “You never used to care about that before, so I just?—”

Diesel’s eyes flickered from human to werewolf. “Before what?”

Striker pressed her lips together. She knew if she kept going, it’d be the last words she would ever say.

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