Page 16 of Lethal King

My heart clenches with rage at the mere mention of the vile woman. To my disgust, something else stirs as well. Something below my waist. Something big and wild.

My pants tighten, and I bite down hard on my tongue.

Fuck. Maybe this was a mistake.

“The Black Cat,” Maksim nods.

“So, they went out and found a literal black cat to butcher in front of me?” I grunt, shaking the blood from my cock.

Forget about her. Today isn’t about what she’s done. And it definitely isn’t about how you’ll make her pay. Focus.

Maksim just shrugs. “I guess so.”

“And they thought that would impress me?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

The rageful spite filling my heart turns outwards. Those pigs are on my property right now. Drinking my wine and eating my food.

They’re too scared of Rozalia Dorn to help me find her, but they’ll slaughter an innocent creature and pretend it’s the same thing.

Disgusting cowards.

“I had to rescue her from their greasy little fingers,” Mel says. “I knew you wouldn’t want to see that.”

“You were right.”

With more care than I’m used to showing, I gently place the cat on my oakwood desk.

But inside, I’m a chaotic mess.

“What else do the Italians have planned for today?” I ask. “And how the hell was I not told about this in advance?”

“It definitely isn’t a good sign that no one notified you about it,” Maksim agrees. “That means the men in charge of planning today either didn’t know, or they obeyed the Italian’s order to keep it a secret from you. I’m honestly not sure which is worse.”

“After I’m crowned, there’s going to be a reckoning,” I rumble. “This organization needs to be shaken up, from top to fucking bottom—but all of that will have to wait until after the ceremony.”

“So, you will go through with it, after all?”

“Of course he is,” Mel announces. “My brother isn’t afraid of anything or anyone.”

The kitten on my desk wobbles on unsure feet as I brush the back of my fingers along its side. The rage in my chest has leaked into my gut, but I don’t let it extend to my limbs.

Control yourself, Rian.

“I’m going to get this stupid coronation over with,” I say, looking over at Maksim. “Then, I’ll have one less thing to worry about. And the less there is on my plate, the better. Right?”

“Is it worth the risk?” Maksim questions, always the devil’s advocate.

“That depends on what’s at stake.”. Sliding my hand under the kitten’s belly, I scoop it up and present it back to my uncle. He takes it. “Bring Mel home. Take the cat with you. If something happens here today, I’ll be able to take care of myself. But I’d rather not have two innocent creatures to look after.”

“Hey, I’m not that innocent,” Mel protests, her voice conveniently cracking halfway through the claim.

“Please. You’re by far the most innocent twenty-three-year-old I’ve ever met,” I counter. “And believe me, I mean to keep it that way.”

“We all do,” Maksim confirms.

“I think that says more about the company you keep,” Mel huffs.