Page 15 of Iron Crown

Kill the bitch.

I had never considered myself a bloodthirsty woman. A small—verysmall—part of me worried that it was all the power at my fingertips going to my head. I was ready to breathe fire and burn the world if it meant that I could keep my son safe.

“Do not doubt me now, sweet Muse,” he commanded, before he closed the gap between us, stopping one step below me so we were eye to eye.

He put his lips on mine. The kiss was deep, hungry. It was meant to mark me in front of his world—the soldiers, the servants. To everyone in Green Fields Enterprises. As I moaned into his mouth. His teeth grazed my lower lip as he sucked the air from me, making it his own.

He broke the kiss as violently as he started it, pulling my head away from him by the hair, then letting me go so quickly, I almost stumbled. He stood straight, controlled, and every bit the man in charge of the Irish Underground.

He had made his point.

“This is… super cute and shit… but what do you want us to do now?” Shiny said, her eyes averted, as her husband put his lips to her hair, hiding a small chuckle.

“You know the consequences for betrayal.” Eoghan took my hand, brushing his lips against my knuckles. “But I need confirmation.”

He dropped my hand, and marched down the stairs to Malinda.

What were the consequences of betrayal? Banishment? Imprisonment? Interrogation…?

I went to follow Eoghan, only for Shiny to put out her hand to stop me.

“Nuh-uh, hon.” She shook her head. “You don’t want to be anywhere near this, I promise.”

“Why?” I narrowed my eyes, the burn of jealousy overwhelming my heart as he stepped closer and closer to the woman who I was sure was at the heart of this.

When Eoghan took a knee in front of her, my eyes went red with rage.

“Nope.” Shiny popped the p. “Stay and watch.”

She looked at her husband, Ajax, casually leaning on the banister, his muscular body almost ripping through his black shirt.

“Do we have popcorn?” Ajax snorted, giving Shiny a sly wink.

Eoghan gently placed his hands on Malinda’s knee.

“It’s weird seeing him act like this,” Ajax said quietly.

“You’ve never seen him question someone before?” Shiny said, her brows lowered in disbelief. “He could beat the answers out of her, but he’s going the soft route. It’s more disturbing innit?”

Ajax chuckled as his eyes lazily drifted to me.

“No, I meant, act likethat,” Ajax said, making a very obvious nod to indicate to me, and the recent public display of affection. “I’ve been hearing about you for as long as I’ve known that mad Irish. He went from rabid dog to puppy cuddles in the blink of an eye.”

“He is pretty moody. He always has been. He was insufferable through puberty.” Shiny said with a snide laugh. “I hope he chills out now that he can get laid.”

“I am standing right here,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

“We know,” the two of them said in unison.

Assholes. I was going to say something back, but then the drama before us began to unfold, and I was enthralled.

“Are you okay?” Eoghan’s voice was low, soothing, as he stared gently at Malinda.

I didn’t catch the rest of what he said. I was so focused on his fucking hand on her god damn knee! I wasn’t sure if I wanted to burn his hand on a stove, or to tattoo my name on it so that everyone knew it belonged tome. Maybe I should amputate Malinda’s thigh, so I could burn the parts of her he touched. Then I remembered that he’d slept with her, and I wanted to incinerate her whole. Cremate the bitch alive.

I could kill her right now, and they’d be able to clean up her blood with the rest of what had spilled along the floor.

“I’m sorry Eoghan. I didn’t know what to do. I just hid!” Malinda looked at the body bags, and the men who carried them. “I didn’t know how to help. I heard them scream… I heard the shots…”

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