17
Sagan
That guilt was short-lived since Kole barely tried to apologize or put in any effort into making amends. He switched to basically blaming me for not making time for him when that didn’t work and playing the victim.
“He’s losing his grip on you and that doesn’t bring out the best in selfish men,” Myriam said too bluntly when I couldn’t hide my confusion. She sighed when I glanced at her. “Look, you’re going to get rid of him. We both know it at this point, so—we’re friends now and I can’t keep seeing you struggle with this, okay?”
“Sure?” Maybe it was time for her tough love approach versus whatever Treena was dancing around. Or I thought she was.
“You gave Kole what he wanted. The bragging rights of banging the future queen but also his freedom to sow his wild oats and be free. You expected nothing of him. He never had to step up. You accepted the bare minimum, and that was all he thought he had to give to get the prize of being prince.
“The way he sees it, now you’re being all demanding and changing things on him. His pride and narcissism can’t handle that and he’s spiraling. He’s incapable of putting in the work to win you, and now there will be competition for you whenhe thought it was a done deal. He’s going to unravel faster and faster. Toxic assholes always do. It’s inevitable.”
“Wow, don’t hold back,” I grumbled. “Thanks.”
She sighed and rubbed my arm. “First, I don’t want you distracted, and you have to fight in five minutes. Second, I’m not judgingyou. You needed easy. You did nothing wrong. They’re called masks for a reason, Sagan. And they take years for people to see through them.
“You saw the one he was wearing. I saw him at times when he wasn’t. Now you’re seeing glimpses of the mask slipping or cracking. I’m just saying believe that. Pay attention and—you know how to see snakes. Trust yourself and handle it. It won’t get better. It never does.”
She was right, but I almost felt bad for the guy I fought because I took a lot of my upset at Kole out on him. Though it was nice for the outlet.
It was my third fight and the money wasn’t as good, but it was still good money. Really good money especially with how smart Myriam was and how she knew how to work betting and this underground world.
“You got an offer for twenty million to be in a porno where five guys smack you around and fuck you,” she told me after the fight.
“Don’t tell me that shit when I can’t punch men out,” I snarled at her.
She held her hands up in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. Thought it would help you remember men are shit and fuck them.”
I shot her an annoyed look. “I never forget that. Ever.”
But seriously, some of them were fucking pigs. The rematch with the first fighter I’d beaten would never let me—it would be etched into my mind forever. People—even the womenthere—had been disgusting with assuming it had been a fluke or the guy had had an off day.
Still, they were too sexist and stunned to accept a woman could fight better than a man.
Fine, let them because we were wiping out bookies betting on me.
Avior had also come through with the right contact for the binding NDAs we needed so I could start paying off debts. Myriam had already handled three of the biggest worries from Aunt Maple’s list, making it clear that the royal family was sorry for the oversight and delay in returning the money… And to keep their mouths shut.
Likeshut. There was extra money as interest for the mix-up and the elders tying up funds, but I would go scorched earth if anyone tried to discuss this about my parents after their death. She said the responses were clear that the secret died with my parents, and while the people seemed curious, she was certain they hadn’t told anyone else.
So at least those three were handled and we had funds for at least three months for the castle.
Once I was queen and the government reopened—at least the financial sector for me to receive funds—I could seize assets from elders and more. I agreed with Myriam that she go with NDAs to handle several other names on the list and make it clear that once my accounts were turned over, they would be paid back.
That I found the IOUs in piles of papers and no one was forgotten. That I would pay back with interest, but obviously I had things going on, blah, blah, blah. It seemed the best plan to get ahead of it all.
But it all tooktimeand could be a problem. People wanted favors repaid. One of the three made it clear theyexpected an invitation to the coronation after giving such a substantial,neglectedloan.
Yeah, fine, they could have a seat at the temple. Whatever.
What would others ask for though?
Seriously, it was hard not to curse my parents daily.
My phone was full of messages from Kole when I returned to my room and I frowned. He was annoyed that he wasn’t allowed in the residence wing of the castle or direct access to my room whenever he wanted when helived here. Why didn’t he have a room there or wasn’t moved into my room yet?
“Stop stalling and break up with him already,”Iris said in my mind, annoyed.“Before you become queen. Do not let that be the first gossip people publish after you are crowned ruler.”
