Page 128 of Bride By Coronation

Dante: Please send me your location so I can get you. Your mother and I are worried sick.

A new message pops up.

Sean: I'm sorry you have to deal with this.

Anger flares through me. He caused this and didn't create any solutions to help.

Me: No thanks to you.

Sean: I'm trying.

Me: By doing what?

Kirill asserts, "It's better to play nice with your brother. He's the only one who can help calm your mom's fears."

I grunt. "He's not getting off the hook that easily."

Sean: I'm heading to the airport to meet Mom and Dante. I'm trying the best I can.

Me: Try harder. Otherwise, Dante will try to kidnap me and lock me up to keep me away from Kirill.

Sean: No doubt.

In a stern voice, Kirill threatens, "If anyone tries to kidnap you, including Dante, they won't live to see the following day."

The ache in my core flares, mixing with panic. I blurt out, "You can't harm Dante."

"Then he better not touch you," Kirill warns.

I fight the throb growing between my legs, squeezing my thighs together, and argue, "You have to play nice."

"No one is taking my wife from me."

"Aren't you possessive?" I reprimand, but more chaos torments my lower body.

His gaze darkens as he silently studies me.

I put my hand on his thigh and gently add, "I want my family to get to know you. We're going to have to give them some leeway."

Kirill asserts, "It doesn't include them making decisions for you or kidnapping you."

I nod. "I agree. But we have to go a bit easy on them."

He tugs me onto his lap and pushes a lock of my hair off my face. "Fiona, you aren't just my wife. You're the queen of The Underworld. You rule the Omni beside me with as much authority and power as I have. My responsibility to protect you goes beyond you being my wife."

I stay quiet, taking in his statement, still not fully comprehending what being the queen means.

He strokes my cheek, continuing, "Your father wanted you to rule. It was important to him, and I know why."

Tingles run down my spine. I ask, "Why was it so important to him? I was only a little girl when he died."

Kirill takes a moment, peers closer at me, as if he can see deep into my soul, and finally states, "He saw your light."

Confused, I question, "My light?"

He nods. "Yes. Your radiance. It dances around you, highlighting your grace, strength, and courage."

I take a deep breath, slowly releasing it.

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