Page 3 of The Reign of Blood

My nostrils flare, anger getting the better of me, and my hands clutch the handles of two daggers strapped to my chest.

“This is exactly why you’re a dangerous troublemaker,” he states, waving a hand at me. “Always quick to be vicious with those little blades of yours.” He strides toward the sofa and sits with purpose, holding his hands out wide in a show of surrender. “How about you sit the fuck down, chill the fuck out, and we’ll go from there?”

“Wait, do you think I’m going to discuss what just happened back there… with you?” I scoff, my pulse ringing through my ears in disbelief as my jaw sits agape.

“I don’t think. I know.” His voice turns harder, the promise etched into his words.

I really don’t need this shit on top of everything else. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I take a few deep breaths before peering around the room in search of the best possible exit plan I can muster.

As if sensing my thoughts, Raiden clears his throat. “There’s no escaping, Troublemaker. We’re going to talk.Then, you can leave.”

I scoff again. “Do you really expect me to believe that you’re going to just let me leave once we’re done talking?” I know he thinks I’m a dumb fae, along with the rest of my origin, but he can’t truly think we’rethatdumb, can he?

Another pointed look, and this time, it’s paired with his hands clenched together. “I swear it. If I wanted you dead, I would have done it already, regardless of who or what you are.” I gulp at the truth in his words, but I’m quickly overwhelmed by the resilience that forever burns through my veins. “Before you start another rant about how strong and brave you are, I’m sure you would put up a good fight, but let’s cut the bullshit and discuss what the fuck just happened back there.”

Do I need to go over everything that happened? Yes.

Do I need to get my ass back there and kill that fucker? Definitely, yes.

Does this asshole need to be involved in any of that? Absolutely not.

As I begin shaking my head, I can tell he already senses my refusal, and he cocks a brow at me. “What was that about your sister?” I instinctively take a step toward him, my shoulderstensing and hands balling into fists, and he grins. “Touchy subject, as I guessed. What’s that about?”

I purse my lips, my breaths coming in short, sharp swells as I rack my brain over his approach. He’s asking about my sister first. Not my heritage. That doesn’t make any sense at all.

Clearing my throat, I force my body to relax. “I’m not discussing my sister with you.”

“Why is that?” he pushes, my body desperate to eliminate the distance between us so I can fucking hurt him. “Adrianna?”

He’s trying to kill me. He’s trying to fucking kill me with words alone, and it’s going to work.

“Don’t call me that,” I rasp, my chest so tight that I’m almost certain I’m going to implode.

“Why? It’s your name, your birthright.”

So he did hear it. I know he did, but hearing the confirmation from his lips makes my body ache with tension. My secret is out there. It was always going to be, eventually, but I was hopeful it would be on my terms. Once my strength and willpower had proven my worth. When the crown was back in my possession. But alas, I’m powerless to the strength of the darkness that wreaks havoc on our kingdom.

I need to get out of here. I need to get as far away from these four walls as possible so I can think and process by myself. I take one step toward the door, and he’s crowding my space in the next breath. His fingers wrap around my upper arms, pinning me in place.

If he knows my secret, there’s no need to hide myself or the powers anymore.

Sinking deep into my core, connecting with the air around me, I take a deep breath and thrust my hands toward him. The air whips around us, blasting him into the wall beside the door with a grunt. A sigh of relief passes my lips as I feel the tingles of my magic I haven’t touched since I arrived here.

Raiden’s effortlessly back on his feet within a blink of an eye, hands clenched at his sides as he glares at me. “I’m trying to help you, Adrianna. Use your royal magic on me one more time, and I’ll consider that a declaration of war.”

“Help me? Why the hell would you want to help me?” He’s lying; he has to be.

“What was Kenner referring to when he was talking about your sister?” He repeats the same question from earlier, making my teeth grind together in agitation.

“I’m not discussing her with you,” I snap, eager to get the hell out of here, but his threat of war feels far too real for me to act without caution.

“Tell me about your ears then.”

“No.”

“I’ve got all night, Adrianna. Do you want this discussion with just me, or would you prefer we wait until the others finally figure out where we are, and then we can have a group chat?”

Fucker.

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