Page 20 of The Broken Queen

Her shoulders shook. The tears were coming now. “But I don’t like him Mommy! He’s not Daddy! Don’t marry him,please.You belong with Daddy!” Her quiet whisper turned into a sob.

I gathered her in my arms, and silent tears ran down my face. “I know sweetheart, I know.”

A hiccup left her small lips. “I want Daddy! I want him to come back! Why doesn’t he love me anymore?” She shoved her face in the fabric of my flannel shirt. “Please come back, Daddy.Please!”

So I sat there...holding my daughter while she cried, pleading with a man that couldn’t hear her to come back to us. I didn’t think it was possible, but my love for him shattered a little more that day.

Chapter Nine

Slade

My jaw ticked. If I kept grinding my teeth like this, I wouldn’t have any left. I was having a hard time not revealing myself. Listening to my daughter cry for me...well, it fucking stung. Her fresh tears were soaking Raven’s red, flannel shirt. I didn’t know what to think. I was surprised to hear the words come from her cherry red lips. I’d hoped Lars was smarter than that, but in reality, he was another arrogant mother fucker that would do anything to get what he wanted. Even if that meant sacrificing his daughter’s and granddaughter’s happiness.

Lewis told me they’d be coming here today, and I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t figure out why he was helping me out, but I would make sure he was still around when I finally overthrew Lars.

My throat clogged when I focused back on Raven and Julianna. Raven leaned back and wiped the flowing tears from Julianna’s face. “Why don’t you go play some more before we go get some ice cream?”

Julianna swallowed and nodded. She wiped her face and sniffled, before she ran off and played with the other children. Raven sighed and hunched over. Lewis came back and took a seat beside her. “How’d it go?”

She shrugged. “Awful. Just plain awful.”

“We knew it would. How are you holding up?”

Raven chuckled darkly. “That’s a damn good question. I’m not.” She kicked her boots in the snow. “My father is the biggest asshole on the planet.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“Isn’t it though? Once again, it doesn’t matter about my happiness or what I want. I would wait forever if I had to, but I’m being forced to marry Zeke because of what? My father’s inability to trust his own daughter? Yeah, he’s a real fucking winner.”

Lewis sighed. “Raven, you can’t think like that...”

“Of course I can. Why else would he do this? I’m being sold off to the highest fucking bidder. There is no choice anymore. My chances at survival are growing weaker every damn second.”

Lewis looked away and watched Julianna play. “Are you ready to leave?”

“Yep. I’ll go get her and meet you at the car.”

She walked away without another glance.

“Are you happy now?” he asked through gritted teeth.

I stepped out from the shadows, hands clenched at my sides. “No.”

“Good.” He kept his gaze on Raven and Julianna. “I will never understand your reasoning for leaving them behind. But whatever your issue is, you better figure it out before they are no longer yours.”Who did he think he was? He didn’t know what happened and how she betrayed me.

I frowned, my anger spiked, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

His gaze met mine for the first time. “When she walks down the aisle and says I do to that monstrosity, it’s all over. Your claim will be over. Not only that, but Julianna will grow to hate you for doing this to them, and sure enough, Raven’s love for you will stem into darkness. That woman is falling apart at the seams, and if you’re not careful, she will be no more.”

I didn’t care. I hated her and what she did. She deserved everything that happened to her, didn’t she?

He was talking in fucking riddles. Baring my teeth, “What are you talking about, old man?”

He nodded over to Raven. “Look at her. And I meanreallylook at her.”

My gaze traveled to the playground and roamed over her face. Her violet eyes were wide and staring into space, her body drooped and her arms were wrapped around her middle. There was a void in there that wasn’t there before. It was like she was an empty vessel just going through the motions, completely done with bullshit.

The death of The Queen changed her, for good. She was weak and frail, to the point that she would break if bent in the right direction. I didn’t want a frail Raven. When I came to take my place on the throne, I needed her at her highest point so I could do the bending and breaking of her in any form I chose.

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