Page 123 of War and his Queen

“I left.”

“You left.” His catatonic voice parrots my tone. “Downstairs.”

My mouth snaps closed.

“What happened to the dinner party?” River shuffles off the bed. “Why has it been called off?” The air around me tightens. I’d never felt claustrophobic in my own bedroom until now.

Priest ignores her. “Now, Halen. Don’t fuck around.” As soon as he leaves, we all sit in silence for a moment.

“So…” The unmistakable sarcasm in River’s laugh would otherwise work into the tension of my muscles. “You want me to go rub up on Katsia, or?”

“No.” I cross the room to my closet and drop to my knees, sliding open one of the drawers beneath the center compartment. My fingers wrap around the handgun before standing back up and placing it on the top. I need to find something to wear.

“This—whatever that’s happening tonight. You think it has to do with Perdita?” Stella asks the question that I’m sure everyone is wanting the answer for.

My hands pause on a tight gray suede skirt that buttons to the side, and a black leather automotive drag racing jacket that hangs to my waist.

I toss them into a pile in the middle of the island before searching for my knee-high, heeled leather boots. “If I have to sit down there and tolerate that bitch, I’m doing it on my terms.”

River slides in from behind, her energy infectious. “So, what jewelry are you going to wear with this outfit?”

I face them. “Well, the severed limbs of an enemy, of course.”

Stella chews on her laughter as she disappears back into my bedroom, but River draws in close, handing me my phone. “Who could possibly piss off War?”

I take my phone from her, opening a new text message. “Oh, don’t worry. I know someone. I just need you to go and get him from the back entrance and bring him up.”

River lifts her shoulders in a shrug. “I can do that.”

Halen

I takemy things into the bathroom and scrub up in the shower. I can’t let my mind wander too far, because if I do, it’s too hard to bring it back. Whatever is happening between us all, is bad. They haven’t said who attacked Perdita, but do they already know?

I swipe the condensation off the mirror and dry myself off, throwing a bunch of skin products over my face. I keep my towel wrapped around my body as I pad back into the room. Stella’s dancing recklessly to the music that’s playing, and River is still fighting with someone on her phone.

My phone lights up as I place my glass of tequila onto the desk.

I open the text.

Here.

My fingers fly over the screen.

I hope you’re wearing a bulletproof suit.

Ha… ha… Your psycho ass plaything has anger issues.

Actually, he doesn’t. He knows exactly what he’s doing and who he’s doing it to.

Sending River down so no one shoots you on the spot.

I get started on my makeup. “He’s here.”

River’s long legs carry her out my door. By the time it reopens again, I already have my foundation, contour, and shadow done.

My eyes meet his in the vanity mirror. “If it isn’t my favorite villain.”

Bas flashes me a wide smile, sliding between River and the door. Dressed in dark slacks and a button-up shirt with the top left open, you can see the defined lines of his lean chest. His black hair is ruffled on the top of his head in effortless waves.

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