Page 36 of Hopeless Kingdom
It’s a disgustingly low thing to do.
If I were Ryder, would I have done it?
I chew on all the pros and cons. His brother took his title. His brother took the crown that was meant for him. His brother lived a life of royalty, while Ryder was thrown into a foreign realm alone and forgotten by his family. His brother—
“He killed my father.” Ryder’s bright eyes lower until he’s studying the chunks of dry dirt on the edges of his dark boots.
Oh.
It takes less than a second for me to decide; I would have done the same thing. I would have taken what was closest to Tristan’s heart just to hurt him.
Then I realize how similar Ryder and I really are. Tristan killed Ryder’s father and Tristan’s mother killed my father. He and I are these pathetically broken beings because one family thought they were more powerful than anyone else.
I think I started this conversation because I wanted to torment Ryder for his condescending attitude but now I can’t find it in me to continue with the topic.
I should apologize.
“I’m gonna go,” Ryder says, shoving off from his spot against the wall. Before anyone can even say good-bye, he’s already left.
The door clicks closed behind him and I just stare at it for several seconds.
Darrio stands and I find myself doing the same thing. I cross the room to him and he peeks over my head to where his brother lies.
Warmth brushes over my palm as he tangles his fingers with mine.
We walk quietly to the door, hand in hand. There’s all these important thoughts circling my mind but they get pushed aside for one in particular.
No sex tonight?
“What are you thinking?” he asks as he stares down at me. His thumb brushes back and forth against my knuckles.
It’s an odd feeling that’s alive between us and it’s accompanied by an odd look in his sparkling eyes. I lean into him and he kisses my jaw in a sweet and tender way. A shiver shakes through me from the soft feel of his lips followed by the rough feel of his beard.
It’s something so unlike him it makes me think surprising and astounding thoughts.
We’ve spent every night together. He’s held me every night. He laughs and smiles and talks as if …
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he asks again.
“I think you’re in love with me.”
He pulls back from me with quiet laughter humming through him.
“Hardly.” His finger skims across the tip of my nose, a small, sparking jolt tingles through me. It makes him smile. He does that a lot lately; smiles at me as if he actually enjoys my presence.
“It’ll be a lot easier on you if you just admit it now, rather than later.” I lean into him in a daunting way, my chest brushing his.
He tilts his head down at me. A serious look fills his face, as if it’s the first time he’s ever really seen me. The scruff of his beard skims my cheek, sending a shiver all through my body. A breath fans across my neck and in the quietest of confessional whispers, he says, “I’m not in love with you, Zakara Storm.”
That smile of his taunts me again.
“Keep telling yourself that.” I hold his stare even after I pull back out of his reach.
His teeth sink into his lower lip before he opens the door.
“I have to go talk to Ryder. Good night, my human.”
“Night, Rio.”
