Page 43 of Reluctant Rebel

“Ow! The guy was disguised as the youngest prince. You know, the playboy who got roasted alive in that nightclub?” Azim offered, glancing between Jinx and Sabre. “Looked just like him.”

“Motherfucker!” Sabre yelled, jumping to her feet. Jinx quickly shifted, staring at Sabre in shock. Sabre tossed Jinx her clothes, saying, “That sicko has some balls on him.”

Jinx pulled her clothes on, her piercing gaze fixed on Azim as he squirmed uncomfortably on the ground. “Are you positive he looked like Prince Zagan?”

Azim bobbed his head. “Spittin’ image of the guy. I swear. Clever,” he added.

“Yeah, he’s a real fucking genius,” Sabre muttered. The thought of Zagan pretending to be himself while he rallied people to rebel against his own brothers pissed her off. She raised her blade, ready to take out her need for violence on Azim, but Jinx caught her hand.

“No killy-killy yet, Sabre,” Jinx tsked at her.

“But I wanna stab something,” Sabre whined pathetically.

“Later,” Jinx soothed.

“Fine,” Sabre huffed. She looked down at a terrified Azim. He was trembling now, with sweat dripping down his temple. “She ruins all my fun. Now, what exactly did this Zagan look-alike say? And why does he want people to go against the throne?”

Azim gulped before licking his dry lips and replying. “He said that King Abraxis is weak and that we need a new ruler who is stronger and isn’t afraid to get things done. He said the new king doesn’t give a shit about us especially. You know, those of us who ain’t rich and shit.”

Sabre's laugh was sharp and sudden, like the crack of a whip. “And you believed him?”

Azim shrugged sullenly. “I dunno. Maybe.”

She poked him in the chest with the tip of her sword, uncaring if it pierced his flesh or not. The guy was a fucktard. “I’m going to tell you this once, so listen carefully. King Abraxis is one of the most awesome kings in Purgatory’s history. His heart is so big that you could fit a whole damn galaxy inside of it. And anyone who says otherwise can havetheirheart scooped out and shoved up their own arse. Would you like that?” Azim shook his head, his shaggy hair sticking to his sweaty forehead. “Then I suggest you never speak of ill of my mate again.”

“I-I promise. I think the current king is great,” Azim stammered, giving her a double thumbs-up. “S-super.”

Her expression remained hard as she pressed, “What happened after the guy said all this crap?”

“Nothin’,” Azim said, shrinking back under the weight of Sabre's intense gaze. “I just listened, and then he disappeared into the crowd.”

“Disappeared?” Jinx repeated in disbelief. “That’s convenient.”

Sabre agreed wholeheartedly. “Did this guy give you any kind of message or instructions?”

Azim hesitated before answering, clearly torn between telling the truth and protecting himself. But under Sabre's unwavering stare—and black blade—he finally relented. “He said that if I wanna make a change, I should meet him at midnight by the old abandoned well at the edge of the city.”

Jinx scoffed. “How truly cliché. Did you go?”

Azim coughed, avoiding eye contact with either woman. “I-I was curious,” he admitted.

“Of course you were,” Sabre said with a roll of her eyes. “What happened when you got there?”

“Well, there was heaps of people there,” Azim volunteered. “It weren’t just me.”

“How many isheaps?” Sabre pressed, feeling itchy to get back to her man. She wanted to smooch him. And maybe sex him up. Anything to make up for the slight against his character. Plus, Azim’s grammar was making her eyes twitch.

Azim shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe fifty.”

That many?she thought, her face twisting with anger and frustration. “What was said?”

Azim rubbed the palms of his hands on his furred legs. “Everyone agreed that Abraxis?—”

Sabre reached out, snapping Azim’s middle finger like a twig. “KingAbraxis,” she corrected coldly. “Show some motherfucking respect.”

Azim howled, clutching his finger to his chest. “Yes, King Abraxis. King. They all thunk the same thing. That he’s failing in his duties and stuff. Innocent families are being slaughtered while he sits on his arse, pining for his dead brothers.”

“Let me get this straight, a bunch of dick-for-brains just like yourself met with a random stranger spouting crap about the monarchy, and you all smiled and nodded like a bunch of sheep?” Sabre demanded, her tone low and menacing.

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