Page 51 of The Ruler
The contrast from the darkness inside the Heinous Whore to the bright sunshine made me squint.
“Are you done threatening men for one day?” Pearl asked.
“Maybe.”
“So what’s the plan now?”
“You’ll see.”
We moved toward the drones, and when Boulder reached for her hand to guide her inside, it annoyed the hell out of me. I didn’t get many chances to physically touch Pearl and he’d stolen my chance.
I made sure I sat next to her and didn’t say much when Boulder and Pearl talked. Finn and Magni were in a different drone and taking the lead, while our security escorts moved in around us.
My head was spinning from the magnificent performance Pearl had just delivered in front of Edward. If not for her he would have been dead now, and I wasn’t sure that would have been a good thing. If he really did have thousands of followers like he claimed, then they could have easily made him a martyr and used his death to spark the flame that would set my Manor on fire.
Pearl had made them believe she was my ally. Why would a hostage do that? What was her motivation?
There was something about her willingness to accept the role as a hostage that made me wonder if I was being played. Looking over, I saw her smiling with Boulder and discussing the work that he should get done on the church.
She looked so relaxed and at peace, sitting in her long-sleeved t-shirt and tight pants in that soft organic material she liked so much. Why wasn’t she more upset after what she had just witnessed? She was supposed to be a soft Momsy, not a warrior with the courage of a man.
Frowning, I remembered how she had taken control in that bar. How the fuck was that even possible for a woman? We had been eleven enraged men in the room and she had calmed us down enough to listen to her. I would have sworn that was impossible. I had been ready to kill that fucker, Edward.
A pinch of envy filled me that she could bend grown men to her will without the use of threats or violence.
Where had she learned to do that when no one apparently fought in the Motherlands? I wondered what it would be like to see her in her own surroundings. Were people in awe of her in the Motherlands or did all council members possess Pearl’s level of calm logic and eloquence?
My entire life I’d joked about the Momsies, but seeing Edward and his friends’ reactions to Pearl’s words had me second-guessing myself. Maybe I needed to study her closer.
“I don’t think he’ll give us any more problems,” Boulder said with a smile. “Those boys are gonna spread the news like wildfire.”
Rubbing my forehead, I groaned.
“What’s wrong?” Boulder asked.
“We gave them false hope and that’s going to bite us in the ass. I just know it.”
“False hope?” Pearl looked at me. “Weareworking on building a cultural bridge – that part is true.”
“Yes, but they want that border gonenow! Not in ten or twenty years,” I clarified.
“Hey, Khan,” Boulder said. “I know you want to stay a few days, but since it all went down so peacefully would you mind if I go back to Christina tonight? I don’t think I’d get much sleep without her.”
“Lovesick fool,” I muttered but he just grinned happily.
“Is that a yes?”
“Do as you please.”
“Where arewestaying tonight?” Pearl asked.
“You and Khan are staying in one of my hunting cabins,” Boulder said. “Don’t worry, it’s safe and secluded.”
Pearl creased her brow and glanced at me. I let her sweat; she would soon enough learn that tonight we would be sharing a small room with nowhere for her to sleep other than next to me in the bed.
CHAPTER 12
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