“Murder?” Theo turns to me, and I want to vomit because what do they call it? Salvation? Surely they must if they believe it worthcelebrating.
“Yes, murder, you entitled, narcissistic, piece of—” I stop myself, trying my best to control my anger because I cannot speak this way to a royal. Even though I really, really want to, and I have a very hard time not doing what I want.Screw it. “Shit. You narcissistic piece of shit.”
His eyes widen and something that looks an awful lot like realization crosses his face. He lets loose a choked laugh, as if he truly can’t believe what he’s seeing.
“You aren’t from here,” he says, and then he laughs again, which only further serves to ignite my rage. “Oh, Ryjax, tell me you didn’t.” And now my insides feel hot. Everything feels hot, and I don’t have to look to know my hands are on fire. “Well, this just got even more interesting.”
He steps away from me and my flames.
“Theo, I think it best you leave now,” Ryjax grinds out, everything about him still looking tense. “I’ll meet you in thecourtyard,as originally planned.”
“Sorry, Cousin. I didn’t mean to stumble upon this delectable secret of yours. But I must say, I’m very glad that I did. Until next time, Little Flame.” He bows his head before exiting the room.
Jax just stands there looking about as dumbstruck as I feel.
“Am I in danger?” I ask, because Jax has reminded meseveraltimes that no one but Ishla can know that I’m here.
Finally, the muscles in his face seem to relax, and the crease between his brows disappears.
“No. Theo is harmless. Annoying. Arrogant. And, at times, painfully invasive.” He runs his hand through his thick, unruly hair. “But harmless.”
“You’re sure?” Because that man with his intense gaze and cocky smirk seemed anything but harmless.
“Yes. I’m sorry, Serafina. That wasn’t…he wasn’t…” His jaw tightens. “He was out of the country, and I only just learned he was back. I’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Celebration.
Of course, they would celebrate the death of us. Why would I ever expect anything different? But hearing him say that word out loud? Something snapped in me.
My sisters are dead.
All three of them.
Dead,and they celebrated while I mourned.
“Consider it done.”
Then, off he goes.
I sink to the ground, clutching my necklace. A necklace that should have belonged to Drea. She was the eldest after all. And if not her, then maybe Lucia or even Telfi.
But not me.
This necklace should not belong tome.
But it does. Because unlike them,I lived.
Chapter 11
Jax
“Fucking Theo,” I mumble under my breath, clenching my fists as I try to rein in my rage and the ever-present desire to let my shadows consume me and obliterate every fractured piece of my warped soul.
Why the fuck did he have to go to that room?
I meant what I told Serafina. Theo will not harm her. But now I have to explain this to him, explainherto him, when I can’t even explain it to myself.
