A couple of months ago, his words would have struck deep as I’d struggled to overcome my grief and sense of failure after Leo’s death, but things had changed since then. Now, I gave him a tight-lipped smile.
“I’m having a fantastic time keeping the whores happy. It’s a job I enjoy,” I told him.
He couldn’t know that this was far from true, but he had to believe it. If he had some of his followers ask around, he’d learn that I wasn’t sleeping with any of the women in the bordellos, but there wasonewho would tell him I was.
I’d started paying her well to tell anyone who asked that we were fucking, and I tried to visit her bordello at least once a week to keep up appearances. If he learned of her, my father might think I’d become focused on Dahlia, and want to her hurt her because of it, but she wasn’t afraid of him.
We’d fought on the same battlefields during the Ghoul War; she was strong, capable, and had little left to lose. She took mymoney, and I trusted her to tell anyone who asked, that I was often in her bed. It worked well for both of us and helped keep Ellery safe.
“Leo should have known you’d say no,” I said. “If you’d agreed to the union, I would have more power than you, and there’s no way you’d allow that.”
“I think he believed he could give me enough carisle to agree.”
“There’s not enough money in all of Tempest for that.”
My father smiled at me. “You know me so well, son.”
Too well. “So, why is the woman here?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ryker
Before my father could respond,I held up a hand to stop him. “Never mind. I already know the answer.”
“And what is that?”
“You intend to marry her yourself.”
My father’s head tipped to the side as he smiled. “You’re a useless fucker, but you’re not stupid. Are you going to fight me for her?”
“I have no interest in ruling Tempest; I never have. Leo should have known that, but then, I’m sure he did, and that’s part of why he never came to me with his ridiculous proposition. He was probably hoping, if he could get your help, the two of you could convince me to marry her.”
“I never gave it much thought, but perhaps.”
I stared at the wall as I tried to process everything my father had revealed. Leo had wanted me to rule the realm with his daughter; he’d believed I was capable of it, even if he’d known I didn’t aspire to it.
And I still didn’t want it. I didn’t plan to take control from Ivan and the nobles to seize it for myself, but I would destroy Tempest’s enemies… the men and women who ruled it.
If I had to rule to keep order afterward, I would, but only until the amsirah elected the leaders they wanted to reside over this realm. If they chose me, I would do it, but after centuries of fighting, beatings, and abuse, I’d prefer to retire to my mother’s property with Ellery, raise a family, and live in peace.
We had to win against them all first, because there wasnoway this man would let me find peace.
“Ivan won’t give up the throne,” I said. “Many aristocrats won’t care you’re the duke or that she’s Leo’s daughter, especially since sheisa half-breed. They’ll stick with their king.”
“Maybe so, but many aren’t happy with Ivan, and an alternative might appeal to them.”
“You’re not an appealing alternative to anyone. The commoners hate you. They hateallaristocrats.”
“Including you?”
“I’m sure they distrust me because of my blood, but I went to war for them, and I survived Doomed Valley while trying to save their king. I’m not one of them, I never will be, but they don’t loathe me either. They loathe you.”
“So true, and as you can see, my heart breaks because of it.” My father placed his hands over his heart and feigned an expression of indignation. “I give zero fucks for those filthy creatures. They can hate me, but they’ll bow to me.”
“They already do.”
“Then they’llkneel.”
