Page 9 of Bride By Coronation

"Kirill," he booms.

I spin away from the white blanket, blinking a few times until he comes into view.

"Why did you corner my sister?" he accuses.

"I didn't."

"Bullshit."

"Watch your mouth," I warn.

"Or what?" he challenges, stepping closer and intensifying his scowl.

I remind him, "You may have earned your seat at the table, but I'm the king. Don't push me. Not today."

"A king who takes unnecessary risks with my sister?" he spouts.

Fiona's beautiful face, full of warmth and excitement when she first saw me, bursts into my mind.

She'll never look at me like that again.

Why did she to begin with?

"Why would you do that? You could have put her in danger," he points out.

My pulse increases. He's right. And the last thing I want is to hurt her. So I back down and sigh, admitting, "I was in the coffee shop. I didn't know she was coming to your place and would come inside, or I wouldn't have been there."

He studies me.

"Believe what you want, but that's the truth."

"She isn't marrying you," he declares, then grinds his molars.

My chest tightens. There are plenty of reasons Sean wouldn't want me marrying his sister, and the scar across my face is only one of them. What's worse is if he knew the secrets I live with, he'd try to kill me.

He leers harder at me.

I cross my arms, stating, "I don't want to marry your sister. But why don't you tell me how we're getting out of this, because the last time I checked, you were in this as deeply as I am."

Guilt floods his features. His breath quickens, but he stays quiet.

"That's what I thought. You're up against the wall as much as I am. And you're welcome again for saving your ass," I hurl, pissed that we're in this situation and both powerless to change it.

He clenches his jaw.

I walk to the fridge, open the door, and pull out two beer bottles. I snap the cap off one, take a long drink, then open the second one. I hold it out to him. "Here."

He stays frozen.

"Fine. Suit yourself," I say, putting it on the counter and downing half of mine.

He finally moves, grabs the bottle off the island, and takes a large swig.

"I wouldn't intentionally put Fiona in danger," I insist.

He pulls a barstool out and sits. He puts his forearms on the counter, stating, "We have to find a way to change the Omni's minds."

I grunt. "Good luck."

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