Page 81 of Rejected By the Shifter King
My gaze snaps back to his.
And to his credit, he doesn’t prolong my torment.
“Oui.”
He’s theLeopard King?
I’ve never been the type to keep up with who’s who in preter royalty or whatever it is they call their A-listers. For most people,That Daychanged everything. But I have my own version ofThat Day,and it took place six years ago, when this man’s rejection had me kicked out of the family home, my name taken off the will, and everyone I knew and loved...showed their true colors by turning their back on me one by one.
“Perhaps you’ll now allow me a moment to speak with you?”
I have this childish urge to say no, and...
“No.”
Because ultimately, him being preter or whatever doesn’t change a thing.
“So please just go.”
I dodge around a decorative pillar, trying to lose him in the crowd, but he follows without rushing, those long legs eating up distance effortlessly. It’s like being stalked by a very patient, very elegant, veryhot handsomeheartless predator.
“It will only take a moment.”
“I’m not interested.”
“It’s really him, it’s really him! Hexius Mercier!”
A stampede erupts from nowhere, preter groupies going after him, armed with selfie sticks instead of pitchforks, and they all want to kill him...with love.
Everything after that happened too fast.
Even for the Leopard King.
He stiffens as if sensing danger, but by then it’s too late.
A horde of women divides us in a blink, and in the commotion, I’m pushed and shoved this way and that, all in a matter of seconds, until—bam!
My head slams straight into something concrete, pain explodes in my temples, and I think...I think the world is spinning a little too fast?
A part of me is just waiting for myself to fall and hit the ground, but strong arms catch me instead, and of course, of course, it has to be him.
Hexius.
Leopard King.
My own version of...That Day.
The words are still on my mind when I regain consciousness, and I’m hoping and praying, oh, please, please, please...
“I’m afraid I’m still here.”
My eyes fly wide open, and I barely register the fact that we’re in some kind of clinic. All I can think about is...no, no, no.
“C-Can you—”
Oh gosh, I can’t even make myself it.
I just know it’s going to be so, so bad if he can actually read my mind.
