Page 12 of Sweet Dominion

Sorrow filled his gaze as he looked away from me.

Damn.

I glanced back at my ladies-in-waiting. Each wore some expression of pure terror. I was sure one of them would be handing in their resignation by the evening.

Jesus Christ! I just wanted to make some tea this morning. That’s it. I did not want to see a dead head.

Leo grabbed my attention by taking the top from my hands.

I almost screamed.

Thank God I didn’t.

He continued to smile like he’d just given me a cute little puppy. “What do you think, Monique? Do you like it?”

I sure wasn’t going to say I didn’t.

I had a cookout to go to this evening and would not have my head in a box too. It wouldn’t be right for my sisters to have to bury yet another relative this year.

Slowly, I lowered my hands. “I. . .well. . .this is. . .a. . .huge sacrifice.”

“It is.”

“I mean. . .I’m speechless. . .”

“But in a good way?”

“Well. . .” I swallowed. “So. . .Leo, I’m not really good with death and people killing humans over me.”

Song gazed my way and I couldn’t tell if he was worried for me or just intrigued by where I was going with this.

My voice was barely a whisper, choked with horror and disbelief. “I. . .didn’t want you to kill Yan.”

“I know you didn’t.” Leo pointed to my chest. “Your heart is big and beautiful. It is why I knew you would be perfect for Lei.”

“Still. . .this. . . gift. . .” I made sure to not glance back inside the box. “It. . .well. . .it makes me sad. . .”

Leo leaned his head to the side. “Why does it make you sad, Monique?”

My eyes watered. “I think. . .Lei will be. . .horrified—”

“He will be.”

“It’s going to break his heart.”

“A little.” Leo nodded. “Lei would not have wanted Yan to die, even with all the hate she had for him.”

“This might make him feel alone, especially with the fact that he will have to kill you tomorrow.”

Leo raised one finger. “But will Lei be alone?”

“No.”

“Who will be at his side, helping him grieve?”

“Me.”

“And your sisters.”

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