Page 29 of Knot Heirs: Serenity's Reign

"It's comical," Serenity thought, "to think his demise triggered my reign like it’s truly important to this world of cunning bloodshed and endless cruelty." She didn't owe this world a damn thing. She owed Marcus even less. She'd forged herself without him, without Eliana, without anyone. Sure, Lucian, Darius, Ronan, and the others were after the Vale empire, but she'd make them play the game her way. Let them think they had a chance. Let them think she cared.

"She was hidden because she was carrying you. A Vale-Ryker child would shift the balance of power across every territory from Detroit to the Canadian border." Elena crossed her arms. "Your father was building an empire, yes, but he was also protecting his mate and child from both families."

The pieces were falling into place with sickening clarity.

"So I'm what—some kind of genetic jackpot?" Serenity laughed bitterly. "That explains the parade of Alphas downstairs."

"Four of them want to claim you for power. One of them..." Elena hesitated.

"Spit it out," Serenity snapped.

"One of them was your father's choice. His contingency plan."

Serenity's eyes narrowed.

"Let me guess. Darius?"

Elena's silence was confirmation enough.

"Well, he can get in line with the rest of them," Serenity snarled, rising to her feet. "I'm not a prize to be claimed or a bloodline to be exploited. I don't care what my father wanted."

"You should care about surviving the next forty-eight hours," Elena countered. "Those Alphas have resources, connections. Without protection?—"

"Protection?" Serenity's laugh cut through the tension, hard and defiant. As if anything in life—let alone her life—could be so easy as to win with the luxury of some protection. Every experience taught her that you either win or you lose. There is no in-between, and no one is going to stick their neck out for free. Not if they want to keep it attached.

"You think I'm worried about surviving this?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, layers of disbelief and anger boiling to the surface. "In case you missed the memo, I grew up without protection. From Marcus. From Eliana. From anyone. And I made it just fine." She paced, fueled by unresolved defiance.

"This isn't some pack war. I don't need bodyguards when these Alphas aren't even allowed to touch me until the competition starts. I've already been running from this life for twenty-six goddamn years, in case you forgot. I've managed as long as I have because I was smart. Because I was invisible. I didn’t survive because I was protected.”

She threw a look at Elena, challenging her to refute any of it.

"Even now, I’m not interested in playing the victim for the entertainment of power-hungry criminals who think sticking a collar around my neck is the trophy of a lifetime."

Elena said nothing, her silence only adding fuel to Serenity’s fire. She almost felt bad for the Beta, as if any of this was personal. Elena was a pawn just like she was, a bit player in this pathetic saga. A fucking speck in the grand schemes of the real power players.

“Let them all try to claim it. Let them try to break and capture me," Serenity continued, her determination steely and unyielding. "The only thing they're going to catch is disappointment."

Talking about the competition felt almost therapeutic, like she wasn't just working through this crazed new revelation, but articulating her own strategy. She felt a surge of adrenaline atthe challenge she'd thrown down, to Elena, to the Alphas, and even to herself.

"Protection is the last thing I need, especially when likelier than not, it’s a ploy to backstab me at the last minute. When I’m?—"

She cut herself off, not wanting to admit to any vulnerability. Not to anyone, not even to herself.

She shifted tactics, her tone shifting from sharp to cynical. "Just watch," she said, punctuating her words with a hard glare.

"I'm going to turn the next forty-eight hours into a spectator sport."

Elena regarded her with a look that verged on pity as if she found Serenity's bravado impressive but ultimately naive.

"Don't underestimate their reach," Elena warned. "You think you know the game you're playing, but the rules are stacked against you. The moment you leave this house, they'll have you."

All Serenity can do is smirk at the challenge.

“Then we’ll play a grand game of cat and mouse.”

7

JINGLE FUCKING BELLS

---