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CHAPTER FOUR
FABIEN
My car, a jet black Charger, growls as I hit the gas. Kyran rides shotgun, and another of my men, Soren, rides in the back. We’re running late, but I’m keeping things under the speed limit.
I hate to say it, but I’m just not in any hurry to see this woman.
“You look down, my lord,” Kyran says, pursing his lips.
“I just…I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like this is how destiny works. I thought something wouldhappen. Like I’d meet someone at a convenience store and we’d strike up a conversation. Or maybe I’d bump into her and knock her groceries on the pavement. And when I pick them up with my tentacles, she’d be impressed and we’d get to chatting.”
Kyran grins. “That sounds like a rom-com. I think destiny is just as inclined to send you someone who also has access to lots of cash and guns. Which would be great.”
“Sure, sure. But what if she doesn’t like tentacles? Or green?”
“What if green is her favorite color?” Kyran counters.
Kyran rubs gently at his neck. The bruises on his neck are less visible through the fur than they were earlier.
That asshole.
My father was playing for keeps. We heal quickly, much faster than humans, and Kyran is strong. To grip his throat so tightly that it bruises would require a lot of force. Too much force, unless my father was serious about killing him.
If I hadn't intervened, Kyran would probably be dead, as an example to me. For him to go so far as to kill a valuable soldier -- now of all times! -- this marriage must be important.
But still…a human?
“It’s just hard for me to believe. And what if she’s not the one? I’ll probably have to marry her anyway. Then the love I’m destined for would come around and be pissed that I’m married. If I’dknown, I’d have at least waited on visiting the witch.”
Arabella Black’s words echo in my mind again.You’ll hold me blameless?She must have said that because she knew she was going to kick a hornet’s nest.
“Octavian is the one I’d worry about,” Kyran says, darkly. “The way he acted like this was some joint decision…if your father thinks he can’t control you, would he ever make Octavian his heir?”
“Who knows? Probably. If he did, I guess I’d kill Octavian.”
Then his eyes widen and I swerve to avoid an oncoming car. I’d drifted too far into their lane. Kyran's hands go to the dashboard to steady himself. Soren, for his part, sits stoically, not even registering that I'm drifting around the road as I talk. He's newer to my crew, and probably wants to prove himself.
The only indicator of his fear is his scent and the peculiar way the scales on his neck flip up, like sequins brushed the wrong way. Other than that, he’s a cool customer. Probably because his features are so snake-like.
Good.
I need people who keep a cool head.
Kyran, I've known since I was a child. He's ninety years older than me, and much wiser. It’s a trait I admire and hope to learn from him. I love him like a brother, and Jarrad loved him, too. To see my father nearly choke the life out of him...damn!
It's time to think, now that my head is clear enough for any thoughts besidesfuck that asshole of a father. And if I'm being honest, I still feel the sting of his words about mother.
I let your mother live too long.
Not long enough, old man. I've run wild my whole life, and I never meant to stop. I never meant to slow down or have anything like a normal existence. That was Jarrad's job, as the eldest.
"Damn it, Kyran. This was supposed to be Jarrad, not me.Hewas the responsible one. He was my father's favorite. He was smart and savvy and everyone liked him. He was made for this. Everyone fears me and despises me because of my power.”
“Not everyone. Carter likes you well enough. Rin almost tolerates you, and she’s afraid of everything.”
“Our servants don’t have much choice, Kyran,” I sigh, slumping in my seat.
“I like you, bosss,” Soren hisses.
