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“Won’t be happening again.”
“We won’t know until I try.”
“Stop being delusional.”
“Stop fighting the inevitable.”
Nikolai steps between us, accompanied by his dull sidekick Jeremy, and puts a sudden halt to our harmless banter. “Leave before I fuck up your face.”
“Last I checked, that’s not a good starting point for a truce, no?”
“Let’s just go.” Bran pulls on my arm, but I don’t move.
“I won’t be taking a step outside unless, one, you give me your word about the truce.” I meet Jeremy’s gaze. “You know this is for everyone’s benefit. Cecily and Glyn included.”
“Not happening,” Nikolai grinds out.
“It can be for your benefit, too,” I say casually. “In return, I will refrain from breaking your face for the damage you inflicted on my brother.”
“Forget it, Lan.” Bran pulls harder, his fingers digging into my arm. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.” I tilt my head in Nikolai’s direction. “I don’t like it when others harm my family.”
“Funny coming from you.” He tries to free himself from Kill’s grip. “Once I’m done with you, nothing will be left for anyone to recognize.”
“Please stop,” Glyn pleads with him and I realize that she’s also on my side now, her hands slightly shaking. She looks at her joke of a boyfriend. “Lan isn’t the type who offers truces, so can you take it?”
My baby sister knows me, after all. Because she’s right. Truces don’t exist in my vocabulary of fucked-up anarchy.
But then again, drastic measures need to be made to trigger a considerable change.
“Even if we agree to the truce,” Killian says, “Mia is off the table.”
“That’s not for you to decide, is it?” I smile and meet her gaze.
“She already told you no,” Jeremy says.
“I can work with a no.” I step toward her, followed by Glyn and Bran, who install themselves as my amateur bodyguards.
Mia keeps watching me with that tense expression as I slip a small box into her palm, then say so only she can hear me, “Happy Birthday, little muse. Remember, a future where you don’t belong to me doesn’t exist.”
Nikolai shoves me back so hard, I half fall on Bran and Glyn, who wince at the brute’s animalistic force.
The fucker is pushing it, and I will make him pay. Just not today.
“I’ll take that as you said yes to my offer. As for the Mia issue, I’ll leave that to her. Just know that I won’t take lightly to any censorship or attempts to keep me away from her. You can torture me if you fancy. I’ll also leave my door open in case you want to kidnap me and exact revenge for past travesties, so let me know your plan. Or don’t. I’m open to surprises.” I stare at Killian. “You and I are even, considering the whole Glyn situation.”
He steps forward, but Glyn and Bran are already pulling me back.
“I’ll be out of your hair,” I call. “For some reason, it feels like I’m not welcome here. I wonder why.”
“You motherfucking—” Nikolai comes for me, but Killian, Jeremy, and Cecily drag him back.
Mia stands there, one hand balled into a fist around my gift and her eyes blazing with inextinguishable fire.
I physically have to stop myself from running back there and kidnapping the fuck out of her.
Then it hits me.
