I nodded. She was right.
Especially when the texts got worse. He was annoyed I wasn’t responding and like chop, chop. He wanted to invite his friends over, and he wasn’t allowed to without my permission when it was his house too.
I thought about what Myriam said before sending screenshots to Treena asking her advice. Her response was almost immediate.
Treena: Myriam and I spoke and I agree with her. You won’t like what I have to say, but I would let this explode. It’s embarrassing now, but you cannot let him spin it later that this was your grief or anything he can blame you for.
Treena: He’s good at playing the victim. This is the son of your closest ally. How will others treat you after seeing this from him?
Treena: I’m sorry, my friend. You don’t deserve this. He never deserved you. Push his buttons and we’ll handle the mess after. Harshly and decisively so none of these other idiots try to abuse you this way again.
I swallowed loudly and thought about what she said when another text popped up.
Unknown: I will handle the Kole situation if you want me to.
Sagan: Handle HOW?
Unknown: Smack him into line. Break him into a pretzel to amuse you. Put him into the ground. Whatever you want, Sagan. He doesn’t deserve you and I’m having trouble holding back.
Sagan: Who is this?
Unknown: …
Unknown: Sorry, I assumed your aide would have told you that she gave me your number. It’s Onyx.
Sagan: No, not yet, sorry. I was messaging with Treena and your message popped up.
Unknown: I witnessed Kole being an asshole and Myriam did as well. She said to leave it alone and you had to handle it, but I asked for your number so I could confirm with you that’s what you wanted.
Unknown: Please stop letting him abuse you. You’re suffering through enough. Let me help and handle him. Please, Sagan.
I didn’t even realize I was hitting the button to make a call until it was ringing. Flinching, I hurried to put it to my ear.
“Hey, hi,” he breathed in my ear.
“What did he do?” I whispered.
He was quiet a moment. “I can’t make you more upset when you sound this sad. Please let me just—let me get rid of him.”
I cleared my throat. “That won’t help in the long run even if I appreciate your…” Not effort. I wasn’t sure the right word.
He chuffed a few times but then calmed down. “No, I suppose not. I’m sorry. I’m sorry he’s doing this to you.”
“What did he do?” I asked again.
“He was throwing a fit that he wanted to speak to Benson immediately to be allowed in the residence wing or he would be fired the moment he became your mate and took over security,” Onyx admitted. He apologized again when I sucked in a harsh breath.
I let out a shaky breath. “No, I’m sorry.”
He was quiet again. “Why? What could you possibly be—no, please don’t let Kole ruin any chance we could have, Sagan. I’m not like him.”
“No, that’s not what I meant at all, though I really can’t think—you can’t think I can be with his uncle after we’ve been…”
“I don’t fucking care who you’ve been intimate with,” he chuffed in my ear, making me shiver. “Your past doesn’t matter to me. I only care about your present and future, but you’re not ready for that conversation. Please, just don’t let Kole ruin our chances or I really might kill him. It would be different if I thought he cared about anything other than being a prince but—”
I chuckled darkly when he cut off so fast he probably bit his tongue. “Wow, I really am a horrible judge of men. Awesome I’m going to have so many circling me in my home constantly like sharks. Wow, I should just jump into an ice chasm.”
“Don’t joke about that,” he rasped. “Don’teverjoke about that. I’ll protect you. I won’t let them—please let me kick him back to my brother and end this.”
