Page 69 of The Reign of Blood

“I made you, son. I can take it all away just as quickly.”

I’m sure that’s what he thinks, but I have connections and power, too. Legitimate ones. There’s only so long this man can creep around in the shadows, causing mayhem, before it catches up with him.

“What’s the point of your visit, Kenner?” I ask with a sigh, ignoring his warning.

“It’s Alpha to you,” he corrects, and I shrug.

“I said what I said.”

His hands ball into fists, slamming down on the desk between us with rage as his wild eyes meet mine. “I want you and your little fae princess to make an appearance at the compound.”

“I can’t imagine why we would do that,” I answer, hating the mention of Addi on his tongue, but I can’t show it. That will only serve to work in his favor.

“Because I fucking said so,” he snaps.

I shake my head. “That’s not enough, especially after the last visit. Wouldn’t you agree?” I give him a pointed look, but it goes right over his head as he smirks, his gaze drifting, clearly remembering the performance he put on last time. I bet he got off on the power trip that gave him for sure.

“You will be there,” he repeats, nostrils flaring, and I’m certain he’s going to slam his fists again, but to my surprise, he manages to keep it under control. For now.

“For what purpose?” I ask, still not seeing how he thinks this is going to go his way.

“I want you to bring that little bitch, and I want her to fight a selection of wolves who I believe would serve you better.”

I’m on the verge of splitting the arms of the chair in half as I try to contain my rage. He’s calling her everything but her name to degrade her and get a reaction out of me.

Fucker. He won’t get it. Especially not when he wants us there so she can take on an army of fucking wolves.

“That will be a no.”

“Why? Because Bozzelli used one of my amethysts to contain the little whore?” he asks, a grin spreading across his face.

Anger bubbles inside me. It takes every fiber of my strength to keep my heart rate even and my claws hidden. Of course he had something to do with that too.

“You’re still not selling it to me,” I mutter, trying to act bored, but it’s too fucking hard.

“If she wins, I’ll leave you be. If she loses, you never go near her again. It’s as simple as that.”

My brows knit in confusion. “Why?”

“Because some half-breed like her doesn’t belong in power,” he snarls, fists hitting the desk once more.

“Half-breed?”

What the fuck does that mean?

“She has no ears, she’s no true fae, she’s no true anything. She’ll never take the place as heir of the kingdom.” It’s not a thought or an opinion. It’s a promise.

He forgets the part where he was the one to mark her like that, which pisses me off even more, but I refrain from offering even a single ounce of acknowledgement that he’s getting to me.

Sighing, I lean forward, bracing my elbows on my knees as I stare at him. “I still don’t see her fighting these people for you to leavemealone. There’s no incentive for her,” I point out, even though I know there’s nothing that would make her fall under his spell like this. She can be foolish, but she’s notthatfoolish.

“Her incentive? She can have the ultimate prize if she defeats the five wolves I’ve selected.”

Five? That’s not as high as I expected, but he doesn’t specify if they’re all women or not, which means they’re definitely men because he loves to play games like that. But it’s the mention of an incentive that he believes she will fight for that has me intrigued.

“Which is what?” I ask, watching as his smile spreads from ear to ear.

His eyes shimmer like he thinks he’s doing me a favor, and his entire demeanor relaxes as though I’m right where he wants me.

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