Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49388 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Thane tilts his head to the side.
“What about Ares?” he questions.
Thane’s right. Ares is the younger of the two Lancaster brothers. Only Philipe should have been a Crown. As the younger brother of Theodore Calvert, Tarian’s uncle was not permitted to be one.
“That’s a different scenario, and you know it,” Dad tells him. “In any event, I’m not in a position to help you with your request. I’m no longer on the Sovereign board. If a crown is what you want, you need to go to Ares, Etienne, and Tarian.”
Thane suddenly tugs me backward, and I stumble into his body.
“Fair enough. I’ll keep Grecia and you here until Tarian confirms my place in the society. I want it more than my brother ever did and far more than my nephew does now.”
“I’m not staying here,” I insist. “You can’t keep us hostage when you’re demanding something my father and I can’t give you.” My voice sounds more confident than I feel, my father’s presence gifting me the strength I need to stand up to Tarian’s uncle.
Thane’s smirk widens into a predatory grin. His eyes are alight with a sinister gleam.
“Such fire, little sweetheart,” he purrs, his voice a velvet whisper that sends a chill through me. “Your daddy’s going to get me what I want because I have you as collateral.”
He looks over at my father and smiles.
“I’ve already had a conversation with the Crowns,” my dad responds. “I’ve given them their options.” My father’s gaze flicks to Yasmine for a moment, and the anger that creases his expression sends a ripple of fear through me.
But Thane who draws my father’s attention once more. “There’s no need for options.” Thane shakes his head. “Tarian will convince the rest. He’ll play the hero for his pretty little girlfriend here because he knows he fucked up.”
Thane’s talking about the other morning when he goaded Tarian into telling me to leave. He doesn’t know that Tarian came to apologize to me, and I chased him away with a gun.
I voice my response with conviction. “He doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Are you sure about that?” Thane challenges.
“Sadly, Miss Birchwood, I’m sure you’re mistaken.” Mrs. Calvert’s voice startles me. She’s been quiet all this time. “I don’t know my son as well as I should, but I can tell he cares about you,” she says with a knowing smile, but there’s ice in her words. “And as much as I hate the idea because of who your father is, I am certain my son is a good judge of character.”
“Your son has been on his own for years. He’s more than capable of making his own decisions,” Dad throws at Yasmine with rage dripping from every word. “You have no control over him, or what happens in Tynewood any longer. You should have stayed away.”
I tug myself out of Thane’s hold and step away before he can grab me again. Just then, the living room door caves in, splintered into shards of wood by three gunshots.
My father pulls me to the floor and holds me down, protecting me, as a small group of men storm inside, their shouts echoing around me.
The next second, my father is gone and I’m being lifted off the floor by a strong pair of hands. Turning my head, I look up into the eyes of my savior and see the blue there that’s held me hostage all these years.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Thane says as Tarian pulls me to my feet. “I’ll have to get that mended.”
“What the fuck do you want?” Tarian asks his uncle.
“Make me a Crown.”
Thane’s demand is clear. Ares, Etienne, and Tarian stare at him. The three men who run the society have angry scowls on their faces.
“Why would we do that?” Tarian questions as he steps in front of me.
“Because if you give it to me, I’ll leave Tynewood and only return when I need to meet with the rest of you. My reasons for wanting to be a part of the Gilded Sovereign are my own, and I don’t intend to explain them to you.”
“I beg to differ, Thane,” Tarian throws back as he steps up to Thane. “You must tell us why you want to become a Crown. If you refuse to do that, there’s no way you’ll get what you want.” There is a darkness to the words coming from Tarian, an underlying threat.
“As I said, I have my reasons. If you don’t guarantee me a place in the society now, then the next time I return, you won’t have any choice in the matter.”
“This isn’t a negotiation,” Philipe says as he stalks into the room, looking like a crime boss in his dark suit and crisp white shirt. His dark blue tie pops against the light material. “You cannot hold an Elder and his daughter hostage and then demand a crown.”