Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“What’s the problem? It sounds like they can.”
“They can’t,” Ronin sliced off, staring into my eyes. “Why in hell would I make a woman my queen, if that woman isn’t you.”
I stilled, smile freezing on my face. The question went into my ear, passed through my mind, was immediately deleted, and was gone before it made it out the other side. No part of me could deal with what he just said, so I wasn’t even going to acknowledge it was said. The end.
“Well, I’d reconsider if I were you, Belphe,” I breezed. “Those ladies need to get out from under the thumbs of their misogynistic fathers, and you need to do what’s best for your House. Win-win.”
Ronin studied me, his head tipping to the side. “Oh, I see why you want these marriages to happen. Did you think if it does, I’d leave you be out of respect for my wives, or for the mere fact that I’d be too busy with all five of them to bother with you?”
I returned one of his devilish smirks with one of my own. “The thought did cross my mind.”
“Then you might want to pull it back, because what will actually happen if your plan comes to be is that one or all of my wives will have you put to death, so that you can’t assassinate them and take the throne—and me—for yourself.”
My eyes bugged. “P-put to death?! Buggering hell, why!? You just said I’m their favorite person now.”
“Why?” Ronin laughed. “Because that’s literally what all of them are planning to do to each other the minute this grand plan is carried out, and power is consolidated into one kingdom of sin. Only two sins will rule on this throne—not six.” He shrugged. “Honestly, that’s why they all both hate and admire you now. You just devised the most brilliant coup in the history of hell.”
“It’s not a coup! It’s a plan for unity and diplomacy.”
Ronin blank-stared at me. “And those words mean...?”
“My gods! What is wrong with this place?! It’s—”
“Hell?” he finished, grinning away.
“Stop looking so perpetually pleased with yourself. It makes people want to punch you.”
“No one wants to punch this face.”
“Your face isn’t as disarming as you think. Matter of fact, this morning you were looking positively ugly.”
He rolled his eyes. “If you’re speaking of your childish antics with your little marker, then I hope you enjoyed that little victory for the ten seconds it lasted. Glamour or no, the embodiment of sloth cannot and never will be ugly.”
My satisfaction went nowhere. “Oh, I know your little glamour magic vanishes the slightest imperfection from that punchable face. I figured it out the first time it happened. That’s why I took pictures of the rest.”
Ronin stilled. “Pictures?”
“Oh, yeah.” I winked. “And don’t think you’re going to break my phone this time, because I carefully hid it away. Now, I may not know much about how things work around here, but I do know that you skate by on a lot of crap because you’re a pretty face.
“So what happens if all of hell sees Ronin Belphe with flies and stink lines on one cheek, and a cock and balls on the other?” I couldn’t contain my giggles. “Not a single person will take you seriously, emperor of sloth.”
“Hmm.” Ronin moved away from the fireplace. I tracked him as he slowly started circling me. “And you’re saying you’ve hidden the phone in a secret location?”
“That’s right.” Confidence crept into my voice. Was this really working? Were a few embarrassing pictures really enough to ruin his reputation? “And don’t even think about threatening Dora for them. If her name even comes out of your mouth, all the pictures are going up on DeadDrop along with the announcement that the empire of sin is going ahead, but you’re planning to only marry Sauda, Kama, and Eris.
“Raven and Ursula won’t get to join in the grand new future of hell, and when gluttony–who must have everything for herself—and wrath—who very much does not do well with rejection—hears that, you really will be too preoccupied with their retaliation to worry about me.”
“Retaliation?” Ronin repeated, his voice the symphony of mild. “Why would there be retaliation? You’re just a random mortal woman with no House, no power, and no ties? Why would anyone pay attention to the rumors and lies you spew out?”
I smiled wider. “Of course they’re going to pay attention. You just said that I came up with the most brilliant coup in all of hell history. News of the empire of sin will spread all over DeadDrop, and the very idea that two princesses will be kept out of it will be humiliating for them.
“Raven and Ursula will demand that you address the rumors. They’ll demand that you denounce them as lies, and officially name all five of them as your fiancées for all of hell to witness—and if you don’t? If you keep stalling and fence-sitting...” I whistled. “Well, that won’t work out too well for you, will it?”