Page 126 of Cruel Devotion

I frowned at him. “Thanks for the confirmation.”

Without looking at her cards, Monique continued, “Another Council was in an elevator during a power outage, and there was even one in a moving car that your sister, Yan called. She disagreed with your new weapons contract with the West that would put the South in debt—”

“Those were different times, under different conditions. They don't set a precedent for now or—”

“But they do set a precedent.” She lifted those cards back up and glanced at one.

For a second, I wanted to snatch those damn cards away from her.

She cleared her throat. “They set the precedent that Council can be calledwheneverandwhereverit's necessary, as long as thekeymembers are present. And right now,allkey members are here.”

Then to further her argument, she began pointing at each one of us and spitting out our titles. “Mountain Master, Deputy Mountain Master, Straw Sandal, and Red Pole.”

Chen gave up on his watch. “She's right, Lei. There have been at least three Councils on this very mountaintop. It's unorthodox, but not unprecedented.”

I glared at Chen.

He smoothed down the front of his jacket. “You remember what we said before all of us started.”

I swallowed.

He held out his hands. “To live with no rules is to live like monsters.”

“Rules can be bent, Chen.” I gestured at Monique. “Especially in situations like this. We can't just entertain everyridiculousrequest that comes our way.”

“Ridiculous?!” Monique rested her hand on her sexy cleavage. “I'm ridiculous now?”

Goddamn it.

Unprepared for all of this, I ran my fingers through my hair. “You're not ridiculous but your calling Council is ridiculous.”

“How?”

“Because right now I don't care about this Council or the Four Aces, I just want to take you somewhere privately, rip that damndress off of you, and lick your pussy until you understand that the only color you wear is blue.”

She opened her mouth in shock.

Do you have a rebuttal for that on those fucking index cards?

Duck and Hu stirred.

She blinked a few times and flipped to the next card. “Okay.”

I leaned my head to the side.

“If you don't want to give me a proper Council, then I will be forced to call an Elder Council—”

“Jesus Christ.” Chen stepped back in horror.

Duck moved his view to the ground.

It was probably him who told her.

But this was a lot of information and he’s only had a few minutes alone with her at a time. This was hours upon hours of detailed information.

Monique raised her voice. “I have every right to call this Elder Council, and currently these members are Leo, Song, and both of your aunts—”

“We know who is on the Council—”

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