Page 25 of Lethal King

But Rian isn’t fooled. He recognizes a keyword when he hears one.

“What the fuck was that?” Rian growls. “What did you just do?”

“Nothing.”

My hologram discs are silent, but I can practically feel the vibrations as it turns on just behind me.

Then, as if by design, a holographic image flickers around me.

I hold my breath.

This is the moment of truth. Rian needs to buy that I’m not actually here. Otherwise, I’m fucked.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Rian barks, those delicious red lips of his twisting into the meanest snarl I’ve ever seen. “You sent in a hologram?”

My heart jumps for fucking joy.

He’s buying it. He’s actually about to fucking fall for my bluff.

“Nice to see you finally catching on, big boy,” I taunt. “And to think, I once thought you were almost as smart as me.”

In response, the fearsome lion tightens his grip around his gun. “Want to see how fast I really am?”

“I’d rather you take it slow,” I smile. “Otherwise, you’ll just be shooting blanks at a ghost.”

Now that I’m back in the driver’s seat, I can actually stop to appreciate that gorgeous fucking face. The impossibly deep ocean blue eyes. The thick, wavy dirty-blonde hair. The sharp lines of his flexed jaw. The massive size of his clenched fists. The darkness and the power in the black tattoos that crawl up his neckline and under the cufflinks of his navy suit.

This is the closest I’ve ever physically been to him.

He smells like fresh earth and burning wood.

My shoulders furl as all types of dirty thoughts wash through my hormone-addled brain.

“Where the hell are you?” Rian demands to know. But I’m not one of his subjects. He doesn’t rule me.

“Outside,” I casually lie. “Right by those pretty little brides of yours. I’m about to turn their white dresses red. Then you won’t have any more distractions left. You’ll finally be able to come chasing after mama again.”

“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

“Watch me.”

As if on cue, the kitten I dragged inside decides to throw a fit.

With an air-popping hiss, it jumps onto the mantle where Rian’s crown is proudly displayed, knocking the glorified hat off its stand.

It’s just enough of a distraction. Those sharp ocean blue eyes are momentarily torn away from me, and I take the opportunity to reach up and press down on my earpiece.

“Lights!” I shout.

In the blink of an eye, the throne room goes completely dark.

“Fuck!”

The lion’s roar is so loud it pricks at my skin—and makes my toes involuntarily curl. But, otherwise, I remain completely still.

He fell for it.

Rian’s cursing follows him as he turns his back on me and storms away.