Page 53 of Dark Reign

He was spot on about that. The beloved Empress of the East was nearly as dramatic as myownmother, so it went without saying she wouldn’t be fond of this decision. After all, owning a Doll would immediately dampen Julian’s status. Thus, greatly diminishing the pool of potential brides from which it was his birthright to choose. And with there only being a year until we’d inherit our fathers’ kingdoms, we were ever mindful of how quickly that clock was winding down, starting today.

“Your choices are to either disappoint your parents or disappoint the entire Dynasty. You choose,” Silas added flatly, doing little to conceal his frustration.

“You all can’t be serious.” Roman’s voice rose up again, and we each turned to him. “She weaseled her way into the gala,humiliateda prince of the Dynasty, and God only knows what secrets she’s keeping and who she’s guarding themfor,” he seethed. “If you ask me, having her around is bad news, and you’d be best just cutting your losses. Marred reputation and all, the fallout is worth not having to wonder if you’re inadvertently harboring a fugitive. I mean, for all we know, she could be working with Blackbird.”

A hush fell over the room and, speaking for myself, there was no longer a clear-cut solution. It all came down to what it had before—Julian’s decision.

He seemed to realize this at the same time we all did. No one could make this choice but him, because no one would be affected by it like he would. Even Silas’ defense of him in Lord Wilford’s garden would be excused if Julian assumed full responsibility. As would the lies we told when returning to the gala.

“So, what’s it gonna be?” I asked, when no one else would.

After a few seconds of silence, and what I guessed to be some heavy deliberation, we got our answer.

“I’ll have Ellenore arrange for the paperwork to be drafted and it will all be taken care of before tomorrow’s meeting,” he declared, sealing his fate and his new role.

Julian Westower, future ruler of the Eastern Dynasty, would soon answer to anewtitle.

…Master.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Corina

I couldn’t say I slept well, but … I slept, breaking up a half hour or so of rest with frequent pacing. My entertainment for the evening consisted of staring down at the eight guards who patrolled beneath the window, and listening to those stationed just beyond the door in the hallway.

Between the stinging pain in my wrist, and my decision to forego the soft, king-sized bed offered to me, I mostly tossed and turned on the rug, using my arm as a pillow. For some reason, as I glanced around the lavish bedroom that certainly lived up to its name—the Blue Suite—I couldn’t bring myself to settle in. Something felt fundamentally wrong about sleeping in a warm bed, eating Julian’s food, when I knew my team and our refugees made do with scraps. My stay here was temporary, so it was best not to get too comfortable.

Even if the only way I’d get to leave was by way of a brutal execution.

Or worse, delivered into the hands of the Butcher.

I forced the thought from my head and breathed deeply, taking a walk to the attached bathroom. One look at myself in the mirror—still cloaked in the dress from the gala, filthy from the roll in the garden with Bryson and Embry—and I decided there was one luxury I wouldn’t deny myself.

A bath—because it was a must.

The closest I’d gotten to having one before this was a soak in the plastic container we repurposed last summer after Banks’ unfortunate run in with a skunk. Once it served its original purpose forhim, we kept it around for the rest of us.

But this … it was quite the different experience.

For starters, the bathtub was big enough to comfortably fit at least three more people, and it was outfitted with jets that felt like a million tiny fingers tasked to work out every kink and knot. The space as a whole was extravagant—gold faucets, heated tile, marble countertops.

I soaked for nearly twenty minutes, and emerged with my hair smelling like something other than sweat and Riot’s drool for a change. And my skin was so soft now, thanks to the oils that had been left on the ledge to condition the water. As I took in my surroundings, I again pondered the lifestyle of the Dolls and the understanding continued to deepen.

However, having a better understanding of what drove them to make their choice did not equate to condoning it.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, a basket of supplies had been placed just inside the bedroom door—beauty products, fresh bandages for my wound, a change of clothes. I guessed this had all come from Elle. With her keen eye and precise calculations, I wasn’t surprised that the outfit she picked suited me perfectly—a slim fitting pair of jeans to be paired with a white blouse, navy cardigan, and suede heels the same shade. I would have preferred sneakers, but I suppose she was going for a specific look—the typical outerwear of a proper Ianite woman.

Something I definitely was not.

At the thought, a wave of sadness struck and I suddenly missed my team—myfamily—more than I already did. It had taken so much willpower to turn off my com instead of reaching out to Liv and Felix once I was brought to the suite. Getting caught mid-conversation was a real concern.

There was also the fact that the battery had to be preserved. In short, this made for a long, frightening night spent here in the palace with nothing to pass the time but my own thoughts.

And, considering my circumstances, those thoughts were dark and of little comfort.

I grabbed the silicone earpiece from where I’d left it beside my other belongings—the tattered dress, undergarments, and the fancy earrings I was guarding with my life to one day return to Liv. Sitting at the vanity across the room, I eyed a hairbrush perched on a gold, mirrored tray. One deep breath later, I tapped the side of the earpiece, and shoved it inside my ear. The sound of static instantly made me wince. I didn’t even breathe as I tried to hear past the interference.

Whispering, I risked being heard by the guards. “Liv? Fe? Is anyone there?” I asked.

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