Page 83 of Tyrant

“Didn’t that bitch stab someone in the face with a pen once?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Shut the fuck up, Naya,” I growl. “You’re the only one besides Demo I trust in the hospital room with Serafina. Anything she wants and needs, you’re going to take care of while I handle this.”

“Anything?” Naya asks with that whore grin of hers.

Always looking for someone to fuck, man or woman.

“Fucking whore,” I say.

“Naya! Hey!”

The voice pierces my ears and I turn my head to see Lia walking down the hallway.

“Oh, shit,” Naya says. “Ty, please. Don’t. There’s no way she…”

I’m already charging toward Lia. I make it a handful of steps before Lia realizes I’m coming after her. She turns and drops her bag and her drink. The lid pops off and some kind of orangeliquid splatters all over the floor. I jump over the liquid so I don’t slip and fall.

Lia turns a corner in the hallway and disappears for a second. I catch right up.

“Tyrant, what are you doing?” Lia screams. “Help! Someone help!”

“You fucking stupid bitch,” I growl.

Now I have no choice. I’m close enough that I can grab for her head. When I do, I throw her to the left. Though not too hard that I knock her out. That wouldn’t be helpful to me. Her head hits the wall and she falls to the floor with a thud and rolls to her back.

I step right over her as she touches the left side of her face. There’s blood. Ask me if I give a single fuck.

“What did you do to her?” I growl.

“You think I did this? Why? Why would I attack my own roommate?”

“You’ve never been claimed before. And it’s too late for you. But here comes this new arrival. She’s treated like a fucking princess, right? Doesn’t it bother you?”

“No!”

I lift my foot. I’ll stomp her face so fucking hard she’ll have to date guys solely online because nobody will come within ten feet of her.

“Fuck! Tyrant! Of course I’m jealous! I’ll never experience a thing. Okay? Ever. I’ll finish up atSinners Academygetting used and tossed around and then what? Someone is going to marry me? Who? Huh?”

“The truth comes out,” I say.

“But I would never hurt someone over it. Not Sera. I swear on my life.”

I crouch down. Lia bursts into tears. Someone this pathetic…? No chance she hurt myclaimed one.

“I already spoke with Naya,” I whisper in a deep voice. “She swears her innocence too. I gave her a job to keep an eye on Serafina. Now I’m giving you a job. You hear anything, you tell me. Got that? And I mean anything. Rumors, gossip, I don’t give a fuck.”

“Okay, Tyrant. Yes. Of course. Anything to help Sera. I’ve been good to her. I’ve been her only friend around here. You know how Naya is. Naya wants to fuck her. I just want to—”

I make a fist and Lia squirms and cries once more. I stand back up and start to walk away. This time to the elevators.

The doors open and I step in, alone. I remain alone, which is good. Anyone that comes within a three foot radius of me is putting their life at risk. I can flip the switch in my head to murder in a breath.

This feels different. I tell myself Serafina Lockart is just aclaimed one. Nothing more. She can’t be anything more. She’s to be married to someone else.

So why the fuck am I going on a murderous rampage right now?

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