Page 2 of Ruling Destiny

“Hide it where?” I ask, but then I see it. King Dagobert’s tomb. It was left open from when the Timekeeper snatched the Sun from its centuries-old hiding spot. And though it still contains a pile of old royal bones, it can easily fit another body.

But can it fit three?

“I’ll lift the shoulders—you get the feet,” Killian says.

On a quick count of three, we haul the corpse to the crypt and chuck it inside. When the Timekeeper’s head crashes onto King Dagobert’s skull, resulting in a dull, crushing sound, my throat burns from a retch of bile I’m forced to swallow down.

That man deserved better, and if I have any hope of atoning for the part that I played, I’ll need to move now, before it’s too late.

I watch as Killian tosses the burning cigarette butt into the tomb like the insolent ass I know him to be. Then, retrieving the golden sphere from his pocket, he steals a moment to admire our work. “Arthur’s gonna be so happy when he sees this Get!”

I stare at the back of Killian’s head. “Why would he be happy?” I say, my tone gone as dark as my mood. “The Sun is a fake.”

Killian whirls on me. “What the hell are you talking about?” He shoves the golden ball close to my face, but I’m quick to wave it away.

“The Timekeeper was right. The Sun is a decoy,” I insist, committed to putting my new plan into place.

It’s one of the worst acts a Tripper can commit against a partner, but it’s the least I can do for the girl, considering all I’ve taken from her.

Besides, didn’t Killian just brag about how he’s a much better fit for this century? Well, now’s his chance to find out.

Killian’s eyes are ablaze. “And how the bloody fuck would you know—” he starts.

But before he can finish, I throw a punch that lands square on his jaw.

In an instant, his head snaps hard to the side as his knees fold out from under him, and his body slumps to the ground. A quick and easy knockout. But since there’s no telling how long he’ll stay down, I drop to my knees, yank the leather cord with the plain silver cross from his neck, then leap to my feet and race for the portal.

With my knuckles still throbbing from the impact, and my blood- and vomit-soaked boots pounding hard against the ancient dirt floor, my mind fills with thoughts of the girl.

Is she really a Timekeeper? The first female in a centuries-long lineage of males?

A ghost of a smile forms on my lips, and I hope that someday I’ll have the chance to meet her. Because that would be something to see.

She would be someone worth knowing.

Either way, at least I’ve managed to save her from the likes of Killian fucking du Luce.

I’ve just reached the glowing doorway when I glance over my shoulder to see Killian back on his feet and barreling toward me.

“You better not leave without me!” he shouts, eyes wild, face enraged. “I’ll fuckin’ kill you! I’ll—”

I hold up the cross that doubles as a clicker, and with a single tap on its center, I soar two and a half centuries forward in time…leaving Killian far behind.

1

Natasha

Gray Wolf Academy

Present Day

A slim beam of light slips between the drapes and hits me square in the face.

But that’s not why I’m awake.

It’s Braxton. Caught in yet another one of his nightmares, his body thrashes against some unseen enemy as he mumbles a string of mostly indecipherable words.

I didn’t… I should’ve…Merde…

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