Page 4 of Triumphant Kings

“Why?” she asks when we’re away from prying eyes. “Why did you marry him? What about Declan?”

“I’m still with him,” I insist.

“And he’s okay with you marrying, Collin? Honey, that’s... that's not right. You're supposed to love them equally. You didn’t have to choose.”

“It’s not like that,” I urge. “Fuck.” I rub my hands up and down my arms, my mind a wreck.You did this to yourself, Sadie. You have no one else to blame.

“Then tell me what's going on. Please,” she asks, her eyes pleading with me. I nearly break when she puts her hands over mine, stopping my nervous movements and giving them a tightsqueeze. “You're my daughter. We’ve always been close, but I feel like this year we’ve been drifting apart, and it’s killing me.”

Her eyes fill with tears, and damn it, so do mine.

“Are you mad at me? Is this about me marrying Mark?"

“No,” I rush out, shaking my head. “Not at all. I love Mark. He's amazing. He loves you and makes you happy. You deserve that.”

Her eyes search mine before letting out a heavy sigh. “Please, tell me you haven’t gotten mixed up in something you shouldn’t have.”

“That depends.” I grimace. “I’m totally not addicted to drugs or alcohol. And I haven’t been stealing anything.”

“Well, that's good news,” she huffs out a laugh. “Now, out with it, Sadie. There’s nothing you can tell me that will make me think less of you.”

Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that one.“It’s about... Bradly.”

Her body goes stiff, eyes wide. “W-what do you mean?”

My eyes dart around, making sure we’re completely alone. “I can’t go into details, it’s not my place to say anything, but he’s been causing trouble with Collin and Preston. He was going to force Collin to marry another woman tomorrow. And well, of course I wasn’t going to let that happen, so...”

“So you married him first?” She raises a brow.

“Yeah, ahh, pretty much.” I rub at the back of my hair before fixing my mask for something to do with my hands.

“Sadie,” she scoffs, but there’s no heat behind it. “That’s a big, life-changing decision. You don’t just get married on a whim.”Ha, she should have told me that a few days ago.

“I know. But I don’t regret it. Collin didn’t want to be married to that woman any more than I wanted him to be. And his father wasn’t going to stop until he did.”

Her face falls again. “Collin has spent years not caring about what his father wants. He’s been refusing to do anything that man asks. So why, all of a sudden, does he need to marry you to get himself out of marrying someone else? Why didn’t he just say no?”

“He couldn’t,” I whisper. I can’t say the words out loud. Not just because I don’t want to risk anyone hearing, but because I don’t think I can admit to my mother how little regard that man has for my life.

“The only reason Collin would do something he doesn’t want to do is to protect the people he loves. Seeing as how Bradly can’t touch Carol...” She shakes her head. “Please tell me he’s not doing this to protect you?”

“Okay, then I won’t?” I answer the question as a question.

“Sadie.” Her eyes widen with concern. “Are you in danger?” I don’t answer. “Oh, Sadie.”

“Everything will be okay.”

She’s the one to look around this time before stepping closer to lean in. “If you need help—with anything—come to Mark. I’m not stupid, Sadie. I know how this world works, better than you do. I might have grown up on the sidelines of it, for the most part, but I was still in their world. Bradly isn’t a good person. He’s as bad as they come. I need you to be careful. Be safe. You’ve got me, Mark, and Carol on your side. Don’t fight this alone.”

And just like that, I’m a fucking mess. Letting out a small sob, I pull my mother into my arms.

“Oh, honey.” She sounds like she’s crying too. She holds me tight, and we just stand there having a moment.

“I've missed this. I've missed you.”

“I haven’t gone anywhere.”

“I know.” I sniff, pulling back. “I have.”

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