Page 34 of Sweet Dominion

“Like I said. . .I fucked up yesterday and I forgot to tell you something. It was so much happening.”

“What did you forget?”

“I told your father about. . .the feast up on Mount Utopia. . .”

“When my sister showed up?”

“Y-yes.”

“You didn’t fuck up.”

“He didn’t know what she said at the table. He was completely surprised.”

“Then, that tells me that Hu, Duck, and Chen are definitely not going back to my father about anything. They’re not his spies. That’s helpful.”

“Okay but I shouldn’t have told Leo what Yan said—”

“It wasn’t a secret. Everyone knows that Yan wanted to take over the East. It would make sense for her to come after me, once my father died.” But there was a notable different in Lei’s expression. Before concern had covered his face, now I noticed etches of fear. “Moni. . .what happened?”

Dear God. I don’t want to break his heart.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I had to say and then I looked up to gather more strength.

Do it. Just fucking do it.

The cherry blossoms above us swayed gently.

On the branches, two black crows perched and watched us and for a few seconds I wished I was them, just chilling in the sun with not a care in the world.

Sighing, I lowered my view and looked into his eyes. The love and concern in his gaze gave me the strength that I needed. “Lei, There's something you need to know and it’s. . .so sad. Heartbreaking. I don’t want you to. . .hurt or. . .”

“Whatever it is, Moni. It’ll be fine as long as. . .” Lei's expression softened as he took my hand and his grip was firm yet gentle. “As long as you’re with me, I’ll be fine.”

Fuck Leo’s cruel test. Lei’s heart is more important. I have to tell him. It’s his sister.

More tears—hot and unwelcome—pooled in my eyes and then spilled over.

I lowered my gaze, opened my mouth to answer but all that escaped was a choked. “I'm sorry.”

Those two words were inadequate—a weak apology for his loss.

Lei raised his hands, cupped my face, gently lifted my chin to make eye contact and used his thumbs to gently wipe away the tears on my cheeks. “Tell me.”

My vision blurred as more tears fell. “Your father brought me a present today. It was a box and. . .”

“A box?”

“Y-yes.”

“And. . .what was in the box, Moni?”

“Yan’s head. . .was in the box.”

Chapter seven

Shattered

Lei

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