Page 24 of Alpha Queen
River didn't look up as saliva pooled in her mouth, and she spat it on the ground.
Don't throw up. Don't throw up. Don't throw up.
"It's not leading that comes naturally, it's the fact that I'm sick of everyone thinking they can do whatever they want to me, and I won't defend myself. Like I am somehow unfit to have an opinion or a say in my own life. I'm sick of it. Sick of being told what to do. Sick of being tossed around. Sick of people coming in and out of the room I'm staying in without knocking or asking or anything."
"I get it," he said. "It's why I'm doing what I am. I'm tired of being told I'm not worthy to be the king because my mother wasn't my father's fated mate. I'm tired of others being shoved out, banished, beaten, and treated like dirt because someone else says they are better. See, we're the same River."
"No, Titan, we aren't. I gave Vanessa a choice: leave me alone or die. You wouldn't have. You would have simply killed her."
He shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not."
She straightened. "If your father were here, right now, would you give him the option to take you back or die? Or would you have just killed him?"
Titan's eye twitched.
"Exactly. There are huge differences between you and me. I value life, everyone's lives. And I value allowing them to make their own choices. You don't. You want to make the choices for people and have them thank you for it later. But you know what that is? Slavery. Not freedom."
Titan swallowed hard. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I think some people don't deserve the opportunity to make a choice. Not after everything they've done."
"Like me? What did I do to you to make you take my right to choose away?"
His eyes hardened and then softened. "I shouldn't have done that to you. I know it doesn't make a difference, but I didn't know what I was doing that night I bit you. My wolf... All I can say is that it wasn't me."
"And that's supposed to make it all better?"
He shook his head. "No. It's just that night..."
"That night, what?"
He licked his lips. "I-"
"Highness," Kane called from the balcony.
How long had he been standing there? How much of what had happened with Vanessa did Kane see?
Titan nodded and got to his feet. "I'm sorry, I have to cut this short. I have a meeting I need to be at."
He held his hand out to River, and without thinking, she took it, and he pulled her to her feet. His body pressed against hers, and her throat dried. They stared at each other for a moment before she slid her hand from his and backed away.
"I suppose I'm headed back to my cell now?"
"It's not a cell, River. Like I said before, I would like to give you free reign of the entire house, but..."
"I thought you said I couldn't escape even if I wanted to. So what does it matter if I'm out here or in the basement?"
"My meeting shouldn't take more than a couple of hours. How about if I take you to the art studio I made for you? You can stay in there while I'm gone."
"I told you I don't paint."
He shrugged. "Why don't you try? You might like it."
River looked up at Kane, who still watched them like a vulture waiting for her to die so he could pick at her carcass.
"Fine," she said. "But I'm going to need some different clothes and my soda and candy."
Titan nodded. "Of course. I'll take you to your room and you can get everything you need."
He held his hand out to her, and River shoved her hands into the pockets.
