Page 62 of Reign By Wrath

“No, we don’t. You’re not my cousin. I don’t care what anyone says. So what, your whoring maid of a mother slept with my uncle a million years ago. I bet she was sleeping with every ass that sat on the toilets she scrubbed. She didn’t know which one was Daddy, so she chose the richest one.

“Now you’re following her gameplay. Fucking every dick you get your hands on, but when you get knocked up, you’ll swear on your life that the kid is Victor’s. The whore doesn’t fall far from the brothel.”

I expected this level of viciousness. Saylor’s been saving up to let me have it since our fathers got in the way of her revenge.

“Are you finished?” I asked. “I couldn’t give a shit if you believe I’m your cousin. The only thing you need to believe is that I wouldn’t call you if I had any other option. This is life or death, Saylor, and you need to listen to me.”

“I don’t have to do shit, especially if it’s your life or death. Drop dead, bitch.” Her voice got lower as it did when you pulled the phone away from your ear. She was about to hang up. “The sooner, the better. You’ll get to join your pathetic sister in hell.”

I thought fast. “That’s rich coming from you. You call my sister pathetic, but she didn’t run and hide when you guys turned on her. You had one bad day, Saylor, and the first thing you did was hide under the covers until they were slick from your greasy, unwashed hair.”

“One bad day? One bad day!” Seemed she forgot about hanging up. “You think you gave me one bad day? You ruined my life, Sinclair! I’ve been getting hate from everyone. Half the servants quit. Mom and Grandpa won’t talk to me. And Daddy is talking about transferring me to a school overseas. My own father wants to send me away! He says it’s to give me a fresh start, but I know he just wants to save his political career before this scandal ruins his chances. That’s what you did to me!”

I rolled my eyes. “All I did was share the texts. You wrote them. You said and did those awful things. You refuse to take responsibility? Fine. Sit in your room and cry like a little bitch while all your haters grow bolder, laughing about how a few hate texts and the silent treatment pushed Saylor Burkhardt off the throne.”

A deep, cutting silence echoed from the other end.

“I was ready for those texts to end the bowing and scraping and make people see you for who you really are. But I had no idea I’d be the one to end your reign and run you out of the university— No, out of Regalia.” I let my smirk color my tone. “And with you gone, the Royals will need a new queen. Good thing there’s another Burkhardt to take your place.”

Her voice was a low, dangerous hiss. “What the fuck did you say?”

“Have fun watching your fifth binge ofThe Office. Maybe I’ll visit you in your new French school, cuz.”

I hung up, breathing hard. Wilder’s expression spoke volumes.

“Didn’t quite get to the ‘life or death’ part, Sinclair.”

“No, I took a gamble,” I replied, giving the phone back with a hand that shook. “I hope it pays off.”

Chapter Six

Isat on the fountainrim, sipping a vanilla mocha latte and watching Saylor’s butler open the town car’s door. Saylor climbed out, her nose so high in the air birds were in danger of flying up there.

She was night and day from the greasy, stain-covered mess that chased me through the hall with a knife. Gone were the sweats and tank. Saylor wore a satin, forest-green dress covered in cherry blossom branches and buds. Matching green pumps with pink flowers graced her feet, lifting her an inch higher. Her makeup was impeccable. Her hair was washed and combed till it showed.

The queen had come to protect her throne.

---