Page 41 of Lethal King

Rian has probably already found the IP address hidden in my hologram disc. He can’t be allowed to reach my trap first.

Pulling the blade from the tree, I get ready to run. But before I can even take my first step, the phone in my hand starts to violently vibrate.

“What is that?” Tytus asks.

“A warning,” I grumble, looking down at the note flashing on the screen. “One of my tripwires has been activated.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he’s here.”

“Fuck. Want me to come over?”

‘No,” I snip. “Stay away. This is between me and my new fiancé.”

“Fine. But I’m delaying my meeting with our new associate, just in case you need my help. I’ll be on standby.” There’s no point in arguing. Tytus can be just as stubborn as me. “Make that Irish fuck regret the day he dared propose to you.”

Fucking hell. I still can’t believe he’s done that. What an infuriating piece of shit.

My fingers clench into fists as I think of what I want to do to that man.

Then, suddenly, the memory of his scent overrides my senses. Fresh earth and burning wood. It lingers like a ghost, haunting me from afar.

That fucking fragrance caught me so off guard. It was the first time I ever got close enough to smell the man. And for a second, I’d only wanted to close my eyes and breathe in more.

That won’t happen again. This time, I’ll be ready. I know his stench. It needs to be destroyed.

“I’ll show the lion what it’s like to be prey,” I hiss.

“Good luck.”

“See you on the other side.”

The second I hang up on Tytus, I start sprinting. The tripwire Rian just set off is far enough away from my base that I’ll have some much-needed time to prepare, but only if I hurry.

Because I need to prepare. Everything needs to be just right. I’m about to come face to face with the lion again.

This time, though, there won’t be anything between us. No crown. No cat. No hologram. No surprises—not for me, at least.

Just hate… and a raging desire that I might just use him to satisfy—whether he likes it or not.

Let the games fucking begin.

5

Rian

Everything is quiet.

Too quiet.

Even the long dark forest that surrounds this crumbling gothic castle has stopped creaking and rustling. No birds chirp. No squirrels race up trees at the sight of me. I don’t hear the babbling of a brook, or the distant sound of falling branches.

It’s like I’ve entered a dead space.

I can’t help but wonder if the place came like this, or if the Black Cat made it this way. Not that it matters. It’s not going to be quiet for much longer.

Tightening my grip around the handle of my gun, I scan the overgrown lawn ahead. There must be more traps hidden in the weeds. The little tripwires I found set up around the perimeter were so easy to evade that I’m starting to worry this might not actually be the trap I’m hoping for.