Page 142 of Lethal King

“You’re coming with me,” I say, turning to my Black Cat.

Grabbing Roz’s arm, I pull her away from Flavian. She only resists for a split second, before giving in entirely.

That’s equally strange. She usually puts up more of a fight.

“What?” she snaps.

“What do you mean what?” I ask, stopping us both before we can get too close to the office door. I’m sure that ogre in the multi-colored suit is standing watch outside, but I doubt he can hear much of what’s happening inside. Not with that pounding bass shaking the walls.

“I’m fine,” Rozalia insists. Pulling her arm away, she starts to turn around, but something stops her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hey, can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?” Flavian shouts from his chair.

We’ve barely even moved fifteen feet away, but the music outside is so loud I can barely hear him.

“Shut up!” Rozalia and I both shout.

That’s the second time that’s happened.

“Jinx,” I hear myself say.

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind. Back to the–“

“You just said jinx…” she says, holding back a wide smirk. “What are you? Twelve?”

“You know damn well what I am,” I growl.

Yanking her towards me, I push a hand up beneath her heavy collar.

“I thought I did,” Rozalia whispers, not fighting back. “But the man I thought I knew would never have done what you just did…”

She looks down at my lips, and I immediately know what she means.

“You have a problem with that?” I ask, hating that I actually kissed a predator like Flavian—even if I didn’t quite know the full extent of his depravity before I did it.

“Not if it was anyone else,” Rozalia responds.

Shit. I can’t believe I did something like that in front of her. Very few people know about that side of me. It’s a quiet part. Hell, I’d even consider it a small part. But it’s still part of who I am. I don’t hide it on purpose, but I’ve never felt the need to go announcing it to the world either.

So, why the hell did I let it show in front of her?

“If someone else can do it, why can’t?” I ask, almost ready to be judged.

“Because you belong to me.”

My stupid stone heart cracks against her words.

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I say, doing my best Rozalia impression. “Plus, you kissed him too.”

“Only to make you jealous,” Rozalia whispers.

“And why do you think I did it?”

“Because you’re a horny bastard.”