Page 73 of Lethal King

“That’s one of the things I wanted to ask your husband about.”

“I never got to see it,” Gabriel reminds me.

“No one has,” I return. “That’s what’s suspicious.”

“You think something’s wrong with their army?”

“I don’t know. But I overheard a conversation between Tytus and Rozalia recently. And when Tytus brought up their supposed army, Rozalia hushed him awfully quickly.”

“Something must be wrong,” Gabriel mumbles, unable to keep the concern from his voice. “I know it’s not my place to ask. But… how are they?”

“They’re fine,” I respond. Patting my nephew’s back, I hold back a sneer. “In fact, just last night, they treated themselves to a nice expensive dinner.”

“Does it sound like they have any regrets?” Bianca joins. “Maybe they’ll turn a new leaf and actually take us up on the original offer to join us…”

“No. There’s no going back now,” I say, careful not to pass on my anger to Jakub. “Or did you forget about how Rozalia threatened your newborn son?”

“It was unforgivable,” Gabriel admits, a fierceness piercing his sadness.

Placing Jakub back down into his stroller, I run a hand through my hair.

“It would just be nicer to use their talents instead of destroying them,” Bianca speaks for her husband.

Oh, I’ll use her plenty.

“They’ve made their bed. Now, I’m going to make them sleep in it.”

Gabriel and Bianca share a troubled look before accepting my declaration.

“It’s the only way,” Gabriel nods, before forcing a subtle grin. “I mean, unless you end up falling in love with your new bride.”

His smile makes me roll my eyes again. Still, my fists clench at my sides.

“I thought an announcement like that might draw her out into the open,” I explain.

“Maybe,” Gabriel sighs. “But it could also backfire spectacularly. Rozalia has a troubled relationship with marriage…”

“She’s been married before?” I asks, shocked. My fists tighten. An unwelcomed shot of jealousy rips through my chest.

“Hell no,” Gabriel eases my concerns. “But that doesn’t mean brutal men haven’t been trying to trap her like that for the entirety of her life. “

“I’ll be the one who succeeds,” I grumble.

To my surprise, it actually sounds like I mean it.

But I can’t possibly, right? The whole forced marriage idea is just to ease my father’s concerns.

I don’t actually want to marry the Black Cat.

I want to end her.

“Then you might not have to kill her,” Gabriel says. “Because forcing a ring onto her finger and submitting her to a life of captivity and servitude could break her spirit beyond repair.”

I swear I hear the ruthless killer’s voice crack ever so slightly.

“That seems dramatic,” I huff.

Gabriel shrugs. But it’s a heavy shrug. A sad shrug. “Like I said, Rozalia has a troubled relationship with marriage.”