Page 29 of Reign By Wrath

Glancing up, I landed on a familiar insignia and froze. “No.”

“Give your name to the guard.” Ronin unlocked the doors. “He’s expecting you.”

“No, he’s not.”

“Get out.”

“The fuck I will!” I slammed the lock down. “What kind of game are you playing? Did they pay you off? Take me to Alistair now.”

Ronin’s impassive face didn’t crack. “That’s what I’ve done. He’s inside waiting for you. He said the surprise would be... funny.”

My lips peeled back from my teeth. Why did that sound like exactly what my jerk of a bio dad would say? I was starting to understand him too well.

Glaring through the window, I gazed up at the gold insignia woven through the gates—Burkhardts.

Alistair Burkhardt has returned home.

“I’m calling him,” I warned. “If you’re messing me around, now’s the time to drive off.”

Ronin didn’t move. That was a bad sign.

Dread filling my bones, I called Alistair—tensing as the call rang out.

A buzz sounded in my ear.

Alistair: Come inside already. I’m starved and Laura made truffle risotto with lemon butter scallops to celebrate your homecoming. She can’t wait to meet my daughter.

Me: No.

He couldn’t be an asshole in person, so he shot me half a dozen laugh emojis.

Alistair: There’s no safer place for a Burkhardt than within these gates. Come inside. It’s past time you met the other half of your family.

Me: No.

Alistair: If you try to run, Ronin will chase you down and haul you inside.

I shot narrowed eyes at that dragon tattoo.

Alistair: Might as well take the easy way.

Me: Why do you do these things to me? As far as I know, I’ve done nothing to piss you off.

Naturally, that reply received more laugh emojis. Why was it parents could legally give up their children for adoption, but I couldn’t unload this guy on another eighteen-year-old?

Me: I thought you hated these people. They rejected the woman you loved, ignored your children, let everyone think you were dead, and unleashed Saylor Burkhardt on the world! Was everything you told me a lie?

Alistair: Discuss over scallops?

It was so very obvious he wasn’t taking my anger seriously, which meant if I wanted to yell at him...

I threw another glare at the gate.

...I had to go inside.

“Be honest. Alistair has to make up for a lot every year on Employee Appreciation Day.”

No reaction from my silent companion. I wasn’t even sure he was listening to me.

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