Page 191 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

The passionate scrutiny of his lips seems to tame the tiny voices that wonder if Zander would leave. If Matteo and Ares fantasize about someone else in my place.

Closing my eyes, I melt in his hold one last time, giving myself this few seconds of calm peace. Interesting how I had helped Matteo for a few weeks to quiet the buzz in the depths of his mind.

And here is Zander… doing the same for me.

I’d never admit it—the voices that have been haunting my consciousness since the last big seizure. I don’t want them tothink I’m insane.I’m not.Deep down, I’m confident they will fade away as things come back to normal.

Back to our odd normalcy.

“Let’s check the next order of the challenge,” Zander encourages, planting a kiss on my forehead. “Let Aries go. If you’re meant to really have four Ruthless Kings, fate will make a way. If not, we’re happy as three.”

“You’re genuinely happy?” I quietly ask when he lets go of me and heads to open the chamber.

Opening it up and reaching for the folded paper, he looks back at me with a grin.

“Yes, Ruthless Queen,” he hums. “I’m happy for the first time in a long while.”

Opening the note, he scans it and shrugs.

“Tells me to move the car to the house up the path.” He pauses to lift his head and surveil the area until his eyes locate the path the note speaks of. “Easy.”

“Then I wait for my note and meet you guys wherever,” I assume.

“Looks that way. This entire town is owned by Leighton, so I’m sure it’s under Leighton Royals University protocols and protection,” he confesses. “But you have your trusty knife, I’m assuming.”

I pull the blade out from the hidden pocket in my tights.

“Knifey is safe and sound.”

I expect him to cringe, but he smirks with a twinkle in his eye.

“See you at the finish line, Sweet Dynamite.”

“See you, my King.”

Watching him close up the doors of the G-wagon and finally get situated to drive off reminds me of how smitten I am with this man. It should be illegal to be so madly in love with someone you’ve only known for a few months.

I remember how books and fairytales talk about soulmates. How you can walk right into an individual and suddenly, you’re not alone in this vast world anymore? The way your lives intertwine so flawlessly as life takes you on this journey to unravel each other’s worlds.

The good, the evil, the crazy, and all things satire.

In the end, you two become a unit and wonder how you lasted so long without one another.

That feels like Zander and me now.

What I admire the most about our dynamic is, despite the reality of this blossoming love, he doesn’t gate-keep me from Matteo or Ares. He taunts and makes them aware of his presence—whether in the shadows or in a dramatic display of publicity—but that doesn’t mean he stops them from growing their own relationships with me.

He allows the privilege but only grants its continuation if it doesn’t hurt me.

Now that I’d shed tears regarding Warren, I doubt he’ll dare let him near me again.

It may have been premature, but my feelings are still the same as they were when I walked out of that classroom with Ares.

I won’t be anyone’s replacement.

I deserve to be loved.

I’m worthy of loyalty, dedication, and determination for this flourishing passion.

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