Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Boy, it had been a really bad idea to conk out during the briefing last night, that much was certain.
But this wasn’t really a surprise, considering I thought the same weapon had killed my beast.
I told him that last night, but once I learned she was with me, it didn’t occur to me to discuss how that same weapon actually would have been able not only to kill my beast, but to kill his.
Which made me wonder, did they not have that same laserpower when they attacked me? Or did they not intend to kill my beast?
“He was there to kill Laura, and/or me, but I killed him first,” Aleksei clipped. “So do not equate what befell my mate and I last night with dipping your wick into yet another female who you conned into bed with bullshit promises and total lies, did so wrong by her, you didn’t protect her from pregnancy, and then you drugged her without her knowledge. All your shit descends to worse shit every time we have a family meeting, and I’m not covering for you anymore, Tim. Find a gods-damned moral compass, for all of our sakes, but mostly the beings whose lives you tear through, so you’ll stop tearing through them. If you don’t, there will be nothing Germaine can do for you. The beings of the Fall will call for your head. And these days, that means being stripped of your titles, your accommodation, and your allowance. Dad might throw you a few marks, but the life you know will be gone. Take this as the final wakeup call. And grow. The fuck. Up.”
Back to Germaine, and with just an intake of breath, he carried on.
“You are very good at what you do. Release a statement. Get them to back off. Explain that the prince and his mate need time to recover from their ordeal. We thank everyone for their well-wishes, and to assuage their concerns about us, we’ll appear what?” He looked down at me. “Tomorrow? The next day?”
“Whichever you feel comfortable with, drahko,” I said gently.
“Tomorrow,” he decided, aiming that Germaine’s way. “No questions. Photo op only. West garden at the Palace. Fifteen minutes. And find someone you trust to do an interview for next week. Just me. Not Laura. I’ll speak very briefly on what happened at the gallery last night. Book it. Then book another photo op for the unveiling of the engagement ring the week after, and one interview, the both of us. If they don’t back off from my door today, none of that is happening, and the media freezeout that will ensue will be very fucking cold for a very fucking long time.”
“Seems he’s covering your ass anyway, bro,” Errol noted toward Timothee.
“This isn’t for Tim,” Aleksei bit. “This is because you threw Laura right under the bus this morning, and now I have to pull her out. Last night, she faced a threat, and I took a male’s life because of it. Right now, you sit in the shelter I provide for her, and you guided an onslaught right to our door. This is about my mate. Get used to this, all of you. From here on, it’s going to be all about my mate. Unless you find yours, you won’t understand, but that’s the only way it can be. But even if it wasn’t, I’m done with this bloody fucking circus.”
And with that, he disengaged from me and stormed out of the room.
There was complete silence after his exit.
No one said anything for a long time.
So I did.
I looked to Germaine and suggested, “I’m so sorry. But I think it would be best to carry through with his requests. I don’t think he’s going to change his mind.”
“Would you—?” she started.
“I would very much consider,” Mr. Truelock cut in coldly, “what you’re about to ask next.”
Germaine rubbed her lips together.
She then said, “I’ll just head back to the office.”
She hit the elevator and was gone.
Timothee stood. “Well, now that my high and mighty brother humiliated me in front of my new sister and all her gang just because I got my rocks off with a bitch who isn’t smart enough to cover her shit, I’ll go self-flagellate or whatever.”
“Timothee!” the queen snapped.
Timothee looked at me. “Don’t fool yourself he hasn’t dipped his wick in a fair few honeypots himself. His saint act is pure bullshit. Ask Anna. She’ll tell you all about it.”
Queen Calisa stood. “You have my sincere apologies, Laura. And I haven’t apologized for a damned thing since a crown was put on my head.”
“Ah, Mom, the glamorous screen star who landed herself a throne. Always so humble,” Timothee sniped so viciously, it took my breath away, before he turned, sauntered to the door to the landing pad, ordered it opened, and I watched him jog up the steps before the door closed behind him.