Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Her hand stopped moving over Medusa’s fur. “I don’t think that’s true, Constantine.”
It was late afternoon when I woke up.
I got out of bed, checked my phone on my nightstand, and saw at least fifty missed calls and a hundred text notifications. President Barsetti’s name popped up multiple times. I set the phone on the nightstand as I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the closed curtains over the window. The walls had been redone and repainted, and the hardwood floors had been replaced. Artwork was returned to the walls, and new furniture had been added. It was ready for me even when no one knew I was coming.
It was the first time in my life when I’d felt lost. When I’d lacked a purpose.
When I’d run from a fight.
The phone started to ring on the nightstand—President Barsetti.
I took a slow breath before I dragged my hand down my face. I grabbed the phone as I cleared my throat, then took the call. I answered without saying a word, letting him have the floor to eviscerate me with the fancy vocabulary he learned at college.
But he was quiet too.
I continued to hold my silence.
“Con, you know what will happen if you don’t take the city back.”
I gave a painful nod even though he couldn’t see me. “Yeah . . . I do.”
“Then we need to figure out a plan together.”
My wrists were chained to my feet. I was restrained by my love for a woman. She was the single most important thing to me now. She didn’t have my last name, but she was family to me. “You know I can’t do that, Crow.”
“The corruption Darius will sow into our fields will grow into weeds.”
“And why is that entire responsibility on my shoulders?”
“Because you’re the emperor, Con.”
“I was. But not anymore.”
“You would turn your back on us—”
“I had no other choice. He would have done unspeakable things to my woman. I betrayed my country for a single woman, and I’m not sorry about it. I’m not fucking sorry. The only thing I’m sorry about is letting him outsmart me, for not seeing the double play unfold right before my very eyes.”
He said nothing.
“I told you years ago that he needed to be stopped. But you and everyone else were too scared to do anything. You enabled him to become this shadow over our country, and now his storm clouds will cover it from head to boot. This is not entirely on me.”
He remained quiet.
“I’m a man of my word. Darius let Aurelia live in exchange for my exile—and I will honor that. I gave my all for my people every day, and now it’s time for someone else to take up the torch. I’ve made my decision, and it’s final. Good luck.”
Chapter 18
Aurelia
I couldn’t carry Medusa the way Constantine could, but I helped her off the couch so she could go outside and do her business. In the adrenaline of the moment, I hadn’t taken in the beauty of Constantine’s home at all. It was much smaller than the palace in Rome, but it was still a luxury property on the edge of the cliff, stunning views of the sea below, a large pool and a private garden with colorful flowers and trees. I wasn’t sure if Medusa was allowed to do her business in the garden, but I wasn’t sure where else she was supposed to go. Under the circumstances, I doubted Constantine would care.
We made it back inside, the seating area with three oversize couches and armchairs in front of a grand fireplace with an enormous TV on the wall. Paintings, art, and mirrors were already placed everywhere, like someone else had decorated his home.
Instead of making Medusa bend down to drink from her bowl, I lifted the bowl to her so she could drink without putting more weight on her front paw. She slurped down half the bowl, and then I lifted the other bowl that held food and helped her eat that.
I felt Constantine’s presence before I heard his footsteps on the hardwood floor. There was an electricity to the air, a power in the walls of the house. I set down the bowl, then stood up to turn to him.
He was in just a pair of sweatpants, his face far less tired after adequate sleep, but his eyes were still hollow with sorrow. “How are my girls?” Despite the obvious heartache, he smiled. And it seemed like he meant it. He hooked his arm around the small of my back, and he kissed my hairline.
“Medusa is doing okay,” I said. “She’ll be out of commission awhile.”
He knelt down and grabbed her face with his big hands and gave her a deep rubdown before he kissed her on the head. “I know you’ve got this, baby girl.” He scooped her up and carried her to her dog bed on the floor so she could get comfortable. It seemed to be exactly what she wanted, like she was too tired to desire anything else. She lay there and closed her eyes. Constantine grabbed her bag of essentials and pulled out a stuffed Lamb Chop before he placed it beside her paw. The eyes were ripped out, and there was a hole where the stuffing had been yanked out of its chest, so clearly, it was her favorite.