Page 52 of Dark Reign

Roman paused a moment, shot us a questioning glance, but then entered the study where Julian waited.

My gaze landed on Silas once we were alone.

“Say whatever it is you need to say,” I spoke quietly. “Get it off your chest now, before we head in there.”

“Therein lies the problem!” he whispered. However, even without raising his voice, he made it clear he was peeved. “What I have to say doesn’t need to be discussed off to the side, Levi. We need to tell him what we’ve done,” he stated. “We need to tell him this is on us.”

My brow tensed. “While I’ll agree we’re not innocent, Iwon’ttake the blame for Julian’s decisions tonight. We simply opened him up to his heart’s true desires, which just so happen to have led him to this … girl. But everything that took place afterward is on him.”

It was clear Silas was fuming, but I wasn’t going to let this go.

“We did nothing but help Julian do what felt right for one night,” I assured. “We never could have foreseen that he’d make these rash decisions. Right now, we need to stay focused. The best thing we can do for him at this point is run damage control where we’re able, do our best to minimize the fallout. Stay focused, Si,” I added, staring into his eyes.

He didn’t say a word as he walked off, slamming his shoulder against mine on his way into the study. I straightened the jacket of my tux, and then followed him inside.

The moment we crossed the threshold, it was clear Julian’s mood hadn’t lifted in the least since departing from Lord Wilford’s.

In fact, he seemed even more distraught than before.

He peered up from his seat behind the desk, motioning for the three of us to join him. I rested in the armchair opposite his, while Silas and Roman opted for spots on the leather sofa. The room wreaked of old books, furniture polish, and … despair.

“So, what’s the verdict,” I sighed, propping my feet atop his sprawling desk.

“I’m just waiting to hear that we’re disposing of a body tonight,” Roman sighed.

When he flashed a dark smile, I guessed he was onlyhalfjoking. However, if Julian had agreed, I imagined Roman wouldn’t have objected.

A long, frustrated breath left Julian’s mouth, and I think we all held ours, awaiting his response.

“Everything’s a mess,” he admitted, plucking the thought right from my head. “Father’s called a meeting at first light, which I expected. So, I suppose a decision will be made then.”

I frowned, hearing thatthiswas his plan.

“Absolutely not.” He and the others peered up when I objected. “That’s the last thing you need, for your father to take the stance therestof the world will take come morning—that you’ve made a huge mistake and are unfit to rule this kingdom.”

Julian was silent as he pondered it. He had to know I was right. The only thing worse than a ruler who made rash decisions was one who couldn’t make decisions at all. So, despite being partially at fault for what happened tonight, it was my job to make sure my friend, my brother, avoided a second disaster.

I owed him at least that.

I leaned forward with a sigh. “Okay, let’s consider our options and then rule them out one by one. We have Roman’s suggestion, which was to … well … kill her,” I stated, clearing my throat. “Or, another option could be to out her for what she is—an imposter.” I thought about that for a moment. “In which case, I suppose she’d be killedanyway, so …”

Each suggestion so far seemed to lead to the same conclusion. Perhaps it was fate.

Julian shook his head. “If I turn her in, I may as well hand myself over, too. I protected her,” he reiterated. “Wealldid. What excuse could we possibly give for why we’d do such a thing?”

A noise across the room garnered my attention. It was Silas, and now that my gaze settled on him, there was a sense of uneasiness I was certain no one felt but me. Especially when it became clear he intended to speak.

“We should eliminate all ideas that result in her death,” he suggested. “I, for one, think our best bet is for you to keep your word, Julian.” All eyes were on him when he sat forward to explain. “You told the sentinels she was yours, a Doll, right? So, the easiest workaround that won’t get youbothkilled, is to stick as close to your original lie as possible.”

Julian reached for a glass of what I assumed to be Scotch, as he listened.

“Think about it,” Silas continued. “If you out her, have her killed, what message does that send?” Silas asked. “You’ll either be named a traitor, once photos of you leaving with her surface, or you’ll be viewed as the future monarch who couldn’t tell a human from an Ianite.”

Complete silence.

Those words were harsh, reminding me of somethingIwould have said, but they were undeniably true. Roman sighed heavily, seeming to hate that his original offering had been canceled out, but Silas was right.

Julian reared back, exhaling sharply. “The social ramifications alone will send my mother into a fit,” he sighed.

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