Page 21 of Leader

Cia reluctantly left to meet Lupa and Morgana an hour ago. In the meantime, we’ve built a fire, and dug out some old torches. Right now, Gus and I are taking Kai to the infamous maze.

“You’ve never seen it before?” Gus asks, his raised eyebrow conveying how skeptical he is.

Kai shakes his head. “Each family has their own traditions, even the Ruler isn’t privy to everything.”

Gus looks as unhappy as I’m sure he feels about being here. Too bad. Cia wants to get married here and although I can’t claim to know her reasons, it means Kai has to see the place.

“Look, Gus…” Kai halts as he grasps Gus’ arm. “I don’t take it lightly that you’re showing me this, so thank you.”

When Gus rolls his eyes and grumbles something I can’t hear, I punch his shoulder. “Stop being a dick. Look, if we want this to work, we have to at least fucking try. We may never be best friends or have pillow fights after consuming an ungodly amount of cookie dough and braid each other’s hair, but we can still be fucking decent.”

Kai gives me a lopsided smile. “I’ll braid yours if you braid mine.”

“I’d be up for a fight… even if it’s with pillows.” Gus laughs, and for once there isn’t any bitterness to it. “But I’m also okay with the cookie dough.”

Where I know Gus pretty well, he’s been slipping away, so it feels good to have a moment like this. I still want to snap his neck for what he did to Cia, for everything he’s put her through. I can’t do that and preach camaraderie, though.

Swallowing down my need for revenge on my agápi’s behalf, I say, “It’s a date.”

As we walk around the maze, I wonder if it’s only me it looks smaller to. It no longer feels all-consuming, like it’s going to swallow you whole.

“Can we walk through it?” Kai asks, curious. “I’d love to see the inside if it’s okay.” His interest is contagious, and now that he’s mentioned it, I want that too.

“That’s not a good idea,” Gus says. I’m just about to tell him off for being a jerk that needs to learn to share, when he adds, “Not even Cia and I know about all the traps here, and knowing my dad, they aren’t all disabled.”

Kai’s eyes glint with mischief. “So not a leisurely stroll, but a sprint?” He looks between me and Gus. “How do you feel about a friendly competition?”

Beating me to it, Gus stabs the end of his torch into the dirt. “There’s no such thing as friendly here, Kai,” he playfully growls. “In this place, the place of the Drákon, we play for keeps.”

“Guests first.” I smirk at Kai as I say it, wanting to see if he can find his way out.

Ifeeltherightkind of dirty as I join Lupa and Morgana on the beach. The washing facilities in the hovel are barely existent, only freezing cold water runs from the rusty tap. Because of that, I’ve only been able to use feminine wipes to clean myself up, and I honestly didn’t do a thorough job.

What Liam did was… needed—but beyond that, it was scorching and I am not ready to wash the remnants from my skin. So yeah, my juices are drying between my legs, and Liam’s pre-cum is flakey on my ass.

It’s dirty, and I love it.

“Time to spill the beans,” Morgana says, glaring impatiently at me as I hug Lupa.

Sighing, the Russo Heiress affectionately wraps one of her girlfriend’s loose tendrils around her finger. She pulls at the end, bringing their faces closer. “What did you promise me?”

The Hatt woman’s eyes soften, and she smiles. “Sorry, Acacia. I’m just feeling out of sorts here, and I’m sure you can understand why.”

I hum softly before taking a sip of the wine in front of me, remembering to sniff the liquid before letting it run down my throat—not that the method is foolproof. I know not all poisons can be detected by smell, but short of having a taster with me at all times, or stopping drinking all together, it’s the best I can think of doing.

Before I parted with the guys—my guys—we agreed I should be completely honest. It’s a gamble and we all know it, but it won’t do me any good to lie. Besides, they’ll learn the truth tomorrow when they have to sign as witnesses.

Closing my eyes against the breeze, I inhale deeply, keeping the air trapped in my lungs until the need to expel it becomes too much. “You can’t repeat what I’m about to tell you,” I say, swallowing nervously.

Before coming here, it seemed natural to ask these two women, but now that we’re here, I’m having second thoughts. What I’m about to reveal will change their world, I should know.

Lupa immediately says, “You saved my life, Cia. Whatever it is, I’m here for you.” She absentmindedly swipes her bangs from her forehead, revealing the scars she still carries on her forehead.

Morgana eyes me contemplatively. “Lupa trusts you, and I trust her.” I sigh with relief, happy she isn’t doling out fake shit and pretending we’re friends.

We both know we’re circumstantial friends at best, and nothing at worst. It’s not a lot, but I’ve already decided it has to be enough. Without Morgana, we have no one from the Hatt family, and it’s imperative I can marry Kai and get out—get away from Alexander’s control.

I clear my throat, nervously picking at my nails. “Do you know who Kai is?” Both women look at me with weird expressions on their faces.

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