Page 94 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

“The crown has been in my family forever. It would be an honor.”

“If you live forever, why do you have different rulers?”

“You just get tired of doing the same thing.”

“I’ll never get tired of being king,” he said with a smile. “Ruling is what I do best. Well, besides fucking, of course.”

I stared at him beside me, seeing a smile brighter than the moonlight on the ocean’s surface.

His eyes stayed on mine, and slowly, that smile faded. “You never answered my question.”

“Which one?”

“Do youwantto rule? Because what I heard is obligation.”

I gave a shrug. “There is no other option.”

“Your sister.”

“I’m not sure if I’d want her as my queen, to be honest.”

“Why?”

It was difficult to describe her character in just a couple sentences. “She’d be irresponsible with power. It would go to her head, and…I think she’d make decisions based on self-interest.”

“You’re the lesser evil.”

“I guess…”

“So, you are obligated.”

I had no good response to that.

He shrugged. “You know what they say…those who don’t want to rule make the best leaders. Doesn’t apply to me, but…” That smile was back. “You know, Kingsnake founded Grayson because he didn’t agree with our policies. He decided to form his own kingdom. He reminds me of you, someone who wasn’t interested in leading until he had no other choice.”

“Where is he?”

All he did was stare.

“I know he’s not here.”

“I have a solution to your problem.” He deflected the subject just as hard as I’d deflected yesterday. “You could just stay here…and never go back.”

“And do what?”

“Me.” That smirk was in full force.

I rolled my eyes. “What a line…”

“It’s not a line, baby.”

I felt my eyes narrow and my blood boil, but instead of a yell or a slap, I whispered. “Please don’t call me that…”

His smile faded, and his eyes hardened. “He hurt you badly, didn’t he?”

“I said, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“But you can talk to me about anything.”

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