Page 29 of Ruthless Royalty

Leo lets out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing as he turns back to me. “You okay?”

I nod, but the truth is, I’m not sure how I feel. Giovanni’s words have left a bitter taste in my mouth, and the moment Leo and I almost shared feels distant, overshadowed by what Giovanni has insinuated.

“Yeah,” I say, though the word feels hollow. “I’m fine.”

GIOVANNI

Ican’t take my eyes off her.

I watch Chiara from across the clearing, my eyes never leaving her. She’s still with Leo Volkov, talking and laughing like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

I don’t like the way he looks at her, like she’s some sort of goddess he’s trying to worship. It pisses me off more than I’d like to admit.

Out of everyone she could’ve chosen to spend her time with, she picks him? A king who gave up his crown, an outsider with no real place in our world?

It feels like a slap in the face, like she’s deliberately choosing the one person who doesn’t belong here.

I didn’t belong in this world either; I shouldn’t have been an heir, but it’s different. I’ve earned my place now, fought for it tooth and nail, and I sure as hell didn’t abandon it when things got tough.

I take a swig from the bottle in my hand, the burn of the whiskey doing little to ease the knot of frustration tightening in my chest. Why the fuck does it bother me so much?

Seeing her with him, seeing her gravitate toward the one person who’s chosen to step away from everything we stand for, makes my blood boil.

Leo’s acting like he doesn’t know the danger he’s in, like he’s forgotten that his family name doesn’t protect him anymore. But maybe he does know. Maybe he’s just fucking with me because he knows I can’t do shit about it; not here, not now.

Not within the walls that keep us safe.

I grit my teeth, trying to keep my anger in check, but it’s not easy. Every time she laughs at something he says, it feels like a knife twisting deeper. What the hell does she see in him? He’s weak. He doesn’t belong here. He gave up his right to be one of us, to be a Crown, and now he thinks he can waltz back in and take what he wants?

Over my dead body.

I’m about two seconds away from marching over there and ripping him away from her, when Connor’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade.

“Save your sulkin’ for later, G,” Connor says, his voice dripping with amusement. “We’ve got more important shite to deal with than whatever’s goin’ on in that fucked-up head o’ yours.”

I snarl at the insinuation, but I force myself to keep it together.

“I’m not sulking,” I snap, trying to shake off the red haze of fury. “Just watching the entertainment.”

Connor raises an eyebrow, glancing over at Chiara and Leo before his gaze flicks back to me. “Right. Entertainment.”

He doesn’t press further, but I can see the curiosity in his eyes. He’s always been good at reading people, which is fucking annoying sometimes.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I grumble and put down the bottle of whiskey while taking my mask from him and sliding it on.

Connor claps me on the back, clearly satisfiedthat he’s managed to distract me. “That’s the spirit,” he says with a grin and puts on his Jester mask. “It’s time for the Night Hunt, anyway.”

I’ve got to keep my head in the game, especially with Legacy Week in full swing. There’s no room for distractions, not even for her.

Connor steps in front of the bonfire, his voice booming out with the confidence of someone who lives for this shit. Mihai and Nikolai hang back, their masks in place.

“Alright, listen up, you fuckin’ heathens! It’s time for the Night Hunt.” There’s a murmur in the crowd as he continues.

“Those who took the Blood Oath, head to the SUVs in front of the Suite and you’ll be taken to the Willow Bridge forest,” Connor says, and I can practically hear the grin in his voice. The fucker’s always loved this part. “You all know the rules — or if you don’t remember, well, I ain’t gonna explain ‘em again.”

The group disperses, heading toward the door to take them to where the real challenge awaits. I watch as Chiara hesitates for a moment, her eyes flicking to Leo before she turns and follows the others.

“G,” Connor says, coming up beside me as we watch the participants disappear. He slides his mask up so it rests on the top of his head. “You’re too fuckin’ tense, man. It’s not like you to get this worked up.”

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