Page 53 of Kingmakers, Year Four

I know what I’m angry about.

The question is . . . why is Ares so mad?

No time to ask him. Ares gives me a brief and grudging, “Good night,” before turning and stalking off toward his dorm.

I’m left standing there, with the nagging suspicion that Ares followed Cat and Hedeon into the annex on purpose.

13

Ares

Ifucked up royally with Hedeon, and with Nix, too.

Throw Cat in the mix while you’re at it.

I saw her and Hedeon walking into the annex together and I knew, I just fucking knew, that Cat was going to spill the truth. Call it a sixth sense, or simple intuition that those two wouldn’t be walking around together at 9:00 at night for no reason.

My only solace is that while Cat may have guessed Hedeon’s mother, she doesn’t seem to know his father just yet. But I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time.

Cat is so fucking relentless.

I panicked. I didn’t know how to stop what was happening right in front of my face.

And now I’ve made myself look suspicious, in front of Nix no less.

I was never meant for all this sneaking around.

My mother is pissed when I tell her.

“I should have let Rocco Prince skin her alive in the library,” she grouses, fully annoyed with Cat’s meddling.

I know she doesn’t mean that. Well—not entirely, anyway.

“What do you think I should do about it?” I ask her.

“Stick close to Hedeon. If he talks to Ilsa Markov, try to convince him not to spill what he knows.”

“What about Cat?”

“Stay away from her. She’s got the worst kind of radar—you don’t want to be on it.”

My mom is in a hell of a mood. She’s stalking around the library, flinging books into bins willy-nilly. It’s the middle of the night, no other students around. Still, it’s unlike her to behave so recklessly, tossing off her Miss Robin demeanor like a stifling fur coat, the real Sloane emerging from underneath.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“Everything,” she seethes, raising her hands as if she’d like to strangle someone. “Dom called me today. Abram Balakin has finally seceded his position in Moscow. Danyl Kuznetsov is taking over asPakhan.”

“Why does that matter?” I ask, confused.

Danyl was Abram’s lieutenant. He’s been eagerly anticipating Abram’s retirement, and his promotion was expected by all the Bratva bosses.

I’ve never met Danyl, but I know Dean Yenin owes him two years’ service when he graduates from Kingmakers—payment for Danyl’s sponsorship when Dean applied to the Heirs division.

“Danyl is calling another meeting of the high table,” my mother explains. “He’s insisting thatallthePakhansattend.”

My stomach twists. That means they’ll expect my father to be there. We already sent Dom in his place last year. The bosses are getting suspicious.

“You think Danyl’s doing this on purpose?” I ask.

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