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Yesterday, I got the package from King’s lawyer with all of the deeds, access codes, and bank account information from the estate. The lawyer had no clue that King had briefly returned since the will had been invoked, but I doubted it would change anything. King was dead again. The kingdom was officially mine. Blood money and all.
I could reject it, or I could use the funds to start over.
Part of me believe that when a person did you wrong, they had to pay compensation. So why did this feel different? King had definitely done me and my father wrong. My mother had been a Ten Club victim.
I walked into the kitchen to make some coffee. Dad was on a haul up north. He’d been working a lot of extra hours lately, and I suspected it was because he needed time. Draco was gone, and I’d been behind it.
I reached in the cupboard for a mug.
“Hello, Jeni,” said a deep familiar voice.
The mug slid from my hand, bouncing off the counter before crashing to the floor. I turned slowly, and there he was. Alive. Dressed in a black T-shirt and leather pants. Looking more menacing than ever. “Ansin?”
“You’re probably wondering what I’m doing standing in your kitchen.”
I nodded slowly, the shock gluing my feet to the floor. I felt relieved to see him. Also, confused. Also, happy and angry. What the hell is going on?
“You left the hotel room,” he said, “and the moment you did, I started healing.”
“Then why didn’t you call? Or see me? Or do anything to let me know you were alive?”
“Because that night, I commanded you to move on once morning arrived. I told you to go home and never look back, though you don’t remember.”
Motherfu… “You mindfucked me?”
“Yes,” he replied.
I felt like my head was going to explode with anger. “Why?”
He looked down at his boots.
“Why!” I demanded.
“When I told you I loved you, Jeni, that was true. It was also true that I want to marry you and have children. But other than those two things, the rest was a lie.”
“What do you mean?” My heart pumped loudly, rage now flowing through my system like hot lava. Eruption imminent.
“I used Sage’s dream potion on you. I happen to have a large supply. I use it often on the crew of my boat, who all believe they are fishing every day, when really they’re guarding my own arsenal.”
“Why would you use her drug on me?” And when had it happened?
“Do you remember being in excruciating pain when the baby was coming?”
Of course I remembered. My labor had started early, and it had hurt like hell, not to mention it had scared me.
I nodded.
“Do you remember me being in the backseat with you on the way to the hospital while you screamed and cried?” Ansin asked.
“Yes.” King had been driving.
“That was when I told you not to feel fear or the pain. I told you to relax.”
It had been the first time Ansin used his voice on me. “And it worked.”
“So did the part afterward, when I told you to forget about the baby girl who died during birth.”
Huh? “I didn’t have a girl. I had a boy.”
He shook his head. “He came out first.”
“I don’t understand.” My heart slammed against my rib cage. Why did I get the feeling my world was about to come undone on a whole other level?
“You were right all along about the baby being a girl. Well, partially right. You had twins.”
No. That couldn’t be right. “But I went to the doctor. I had an ultrasound and…” My voice faded. I’d only gone to the ob-gyn one time. I never went back because the baby instantly made the doctor sick—dizzy, sweating, headache. “The doctor almost passed out. We never even finished my exam,” I muttered.
“If they had, you would have seen two hearts beating.” He shook his head remorsefully. “She came after I killed King in the delivery room. I was down the hall leaving when I heard the nurse screaming for assistance. There was another baby, but she was already dead, and you don’t remember because I made you forget.”
My mind spun in a sickening circle. “Why would you do that?”
“He killed her, Jeni. Draco sucked the life out of her and took her power.”
What? No. Draco was innocent and sweet. “Why would you say that?”
“Because you told me. You told me that you saw the truth. You can pull strength from others, and so can Draco.”
“You’ve lost your mind.” This had to be made up.
“Do you recall how I had to live in an RV outside while you were pregnant because the baby was fucking with my head?” He drew a breath. “It was because he had no way to regulate himself or understand he was hurting others. Unlike you. You go out of your way to keep your distance. You’ve been doing it your entire life.”
