Page 128 of Crowned In Venom

"He didn't love you," I whisper.

Her laughter stops.

A cold, heavy silence settles between us.

And then?—

She slaps me.

Hard.

My head snaps to the side, pain blooming across my face.

But it is nothing compared to the horrible, sinking revelation curling in my gut.

"You were never his," I breathe.

"Were you?"

The Matriarch stares at me.

And for the first time in my life, I see it.

A crack.

A sliver of something unhinged, desperate.

And then, just as quickly, she smooths it away.

She exhales, composing herself, brushing her fingers over the place where she struck me, as if it had been nothing.

"I will forgive this, my son."

Her tone is sweet.

"I will forgive all of it."

Her fingers drift lower, brushing over the chains that bind me.

"Because I am generous."

A slow, mocking smile.

"Because I love you."

I grit my teeth, rage boiling beneath my skin.

"Go to hell."

She chuckles.

"I am offering you everything."

Her voice turns silk-soft, like poison wrapped in honey.

"My empire."

"My clan."

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