Page 76 of Tarnished Queen

“Because you have him wrapped around your finger?” Makar snarls. “He probably doesn’t make a decision without checking with you first.”

What he’s saying is so ridiculous that I laugh, but that only cements my villainy even more in his mind.

Makar’s top lip curls in disgust. “I can’t wait until Nikolai figures out you’re a spy, and I get to watch you die a traitor's death. Gutted like a fucking pig.”

I’m so stunned by the hatred in his voice that I can’t even formulate a response. I gawk dumbly as he turns around and stomps around the corner of the house, his friend following him.

Yuri shakes his head before he leaves, too. “Maybe you should keep your head down, Belle,” he says on his way out. “Keep quiet.”

My cheeks are burning with shame. “Maybe Nikolai is right. Maybe I should flee the country.” I sigh and head back into the house.

I’ve almost forgotten about the letter for Elise still clenched in my hand until I step into the kitchen and see her standing in front of the fridge, a distant, dreamy smile on her face.

How can she be smiling right now? I’m her big sister. I’m supposed to want my sister to be happy. But not now. Not right after we just had the biggest fight we ever had. She’s supposed to be as miserable as I am.

God, I’m a selfish bitch.

“Hey. I’ve been looking for you.”

She jumps and spins around. Her smile dries up when she sees me. “Why?”

“Because I wanted to give you this.” I hold up the letter. “There’s a lot I still wanted to say.”

“You already said enough, don’t you think?” she snaps.

And just like that, my hopes of her cooling off since we last talked wither and die.

“Well, I guess you can read this and decide for yourself.” I extend it to her, but she doesn’t make any move to take it from me. “Come on, Elise. It’s just a letter. You don’t have to read it now if you don’t want to, but I’d like you to—”

“I talked to Howard,” she blurts.

“Who?” I ask on instinct even though I obviously know exactly who he is. It just seems so impossible I can’t compute.

Elise chews on her lip. “My dad. We talked.”

“How?” I grit out.

“On the phone. It’s how you reach people these days when you want to talk.”

I shake my head. “He shouldn’t have reached out to you. It was—that’s so inappropriate. I told him I would decide if—”

“It’s not your decision,” Elise interrupts. “It was mine. I should have had this choice from the time I was a little kid. None of this should have ever been your choice.”

I swallow down my words. “I know. You’re right. But… you don’t actually know him, Elise. We don’t know what his motivations are.”

“The only reason I don’t know him is because ofyou.” The acid in her voice is undeniable.

I groan. “I know, okay? God, I know! I fucked up. You’ve made that clear.”

“Apparently not, since I have to keep reminding you!” Her hair is twisted back in a large bun on the top of her head and it bobs around as she talks.

“I know you’re mad at me, but that doesn’t change the fact that Howard is essentially a stranger to us. You can’t talk to him without me knowing about it.”

“I’ll talk to my dad if I want to. I don’t need your permission.”

I snort. “You’ve known this man for half an hour and now, you trust him more than me?”

“I trusted you before and you lied to me, so I won’t make that mistake again.”

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