Page 39 of Ruthless Kings of Havoc

“V.” I shiver at the soft-spoken voice from my right side, my head moving toward the sound until my eyes meet Warren’s. I’m surprised to see him right there—proving I must have zoned out again—but I’m not expecting him to caress my left cheek and lay a lingering kiss on my lips.

It’s far too short for my liking, but he barely moves away as his lips brush mine with every word that’s spoken.

“Not as your bodyguard,” he whispers in correction.

I frown and try to understand what he’d be, but his hand abandons my cheek so he can gently stroke my head.

“If not a bodyguard, what?” I ask and watch as he rises and turns away. I know he isn’t going to answer, which is why I’m fine with watching him leave as my question continues to fill the silent void in the room.

When the door closes, Ares sighs.

“He’s still beating himself up.”

“For what happened?” I haven’t wrapped my head around everything on that day, seeing as I’ve only heard pieces from Zander. “He couldn’t get to me on time because I had sent him to do something for me.”

I do remember what I’d asked of him, though I never got the results of that inquiry.

Zander must know. He knows my real name…

“Not an excuse,” Ares admits. He doesn’t say it in a condescending way, more like he understands his brother’s viewpoint and current feelings. “Let’s not ignore the truth, Sweet Canary.” His eyes bore into mine. “You could have died that day.”

“Could have.” I emphasize those two words. “But I didn’t.”

“Due to a magnitude of factors that worked in our favor,” he says, though there’s a hint of sympathy there.He knows I barely remember what went down.“We may never get that opportunity to be so lucky again.”

“Then?” What are we supposed to do about it? How are we supposed to fix us possibly getting into a situation like that again?“What… now?”

Ares silence isn’t what worries me. It’s his expression that’s morphing between boiling anger and emotionless that leaves me concerned about how far he’s willing to go to get payback.

“You know…” I shouldn’t try to deter this situation, but I got myself into this mess.I had pity for the wrong Ruthless King.“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have?—”

“Gotten sick?” he questions and gives me that haunting gaze that’s flickering with various emotions, including regret.“Ruthless Kings are supposed to take care of their Maidens, despite your role and the abuse we may instill. Your becoming unwell may not have been predictable, but your own Ruthless King took advantage of that.” His voice is quivering with anger.

My Ares is so upset.

It worries me more than I’d like to admit because I’ve yet to see how far Ares would go to exact revenge.

I can predict Zander’s madness. I grasp Warren’s motives for payback in the form of research and hidden motives. Ares, however, has never shown me how far he’d go to ruin those who play with what he shows compassion to.

He can be the most dangerous of them all.

“We were warned once, Verena.” His voice is barely a whisper. “That warning should have emphasized how important you are. That your existence is a grand piece in this game that has yet to really begin.”

He takes three steps forward, standing before me. I watch as he crouches down, and I can only soften my gaze because of the true reflection of pain written all over his face.

Warren isn’t the only one beating himself up about this.

“When we became Ruthless Kings, we were warned of the off-chance that our own could betray us, but look at us? Fools so proud and confident in our prevail and unified purpose to vengeance, we didn’t realize the King of our nest had already sold us to the dogs.”

When his hand touches my cheek, it feels far colder, and I can still see how it trembles.

It’s taking him everything not to lose himself right now.

“That’s why change has to be made. Not just flaunted by words with no actions to back it up.”

“You are trying to make a change.” I don’t want him to think I don’t see them trying to figure shit out. The whispers that bounced in my mind when I was in and out of consciousness.

This predicament that happened to us isn’t being taken lightly.

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