Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63046 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“I didn’t think you had real balls, Maddy,” I grit.
All is silent, aside from the click of my heels. Cradling her hand to her chest, Madeline uses the other to help garner space between us. A red handprint smears across the marble as she attempts to scoot away.
“Did you,” I inquire, biting out each syllable while stalking after her, “act alone, Maddy? Did you create your own side deal with the sheikh, or did—”
“A sheikh? Wh-what sheikh?” Mary gasps. “Tell that madwoman what she needs to know, Madeline.”
“Yes, tell us,” the Queen insists, still no emotion riding her pinched face as she sips champagne. “Who initiated a liaison with another nation?”
My gaze rounds on Her Majesty in combative scrutiny. This ain’t about you.
Then I glare at Mary, who flinches beneath Victor’s vicious hold. His mother shouts, “That bitch is delusional, Victor! Victor, unhand me. These baseless accusations about some sheikhs? What sort of narcotic have you given my—”
“I assure you,” Burt cuts in, “Luxury is the noble between the two of you.”
“Noble, honorable, kindhearted.” Victor pulls his mother to her feet, her skin deeply embedded where his arm holds her captive. “Have you incurred my wrath, Mum? Have you gone too bloody far?”
She’s thrust to the ground next to Madeline. “Get me away from this desperate cunt.” Princess Mary quickly arises to her feet.
“Everyone takes turns removing you from the ground, Mummy.” A depraved laugh melts from Victor’s snarled lips. “I see now how capable you truly are!”
“My lady’s not feeling to . . .” Graham stumbles at the sight of his mother pawing red stains from her hands. “Vic-Vic . . . how dare you harm our mum, you tosser!”
“Oh, bollocks, is little Grahammy wammy growing a pair because his precious mummy’s in turmoil. Like, can you be any dafter!” Madeline rolls her eyes from the floor.
“I’m-I’m in shock,” he gasps.
“Alright, wanka, this is your brother’s whore’s shoddy attempt at an interrogation, and the Queen has allowed this?” Madeline asks.
“I have.” The monarch lifts her chin higher. “Never question me.”
“So, now you’re siding with his colored cunt!”
As the Queen argues for Madeline to stop speaking at once, the brunette’s voice crescendos. “Victor’s colored cunt was raped, dehumanized—or is she even really a human?” The woman pauses to let out a sinister chuckle. “Raped and taken at the hands of a Sheikh of Saudi Arabia. If anyone has screwed over Great Britain, it is Victor! He screws everyone. Your Majesty, he almost started a war to save his whore.”
The last of her wrath sends the color draining from the Queen’s face. And that’s why you’re here. My eyes say it all as the monarch’s tortured gaze meets mine. For the first time, the Queen’s callous exterior crumples, and a mere woman stares at me. Not for the sake of starting a war, as Madeline had snarled.
But because of what happened to me.
“Your Majesty, he did all of this for her. Rebuke them both!” Madeline stifles a sob, clutching her hand close. “Also, you’ll want to know that Luxury was—she was supposed to be pregnant.” Madeline turns to face me. “You lied.”
Appearing impassive, Victor draws closer to her as a roiling, quiet anger brims in his soul. I place a hand on his arm. “Remember?”
Furious indigo eyes scrape over me. A few cracks tarnish the formidable couple we’ve quickly become. Although he detests my way of doing things, Victor doesn’t destroy our visceral connection. He understands that the bitch is still talking. And that’s why Madeline’s still alive. To friggen talk.
“Look at this vain whore’s face.” Madeline juts her chin to Mary. “She can’t stomach the thought of real controversy, only royals looming down their noses. The bitch has no idea. I almost thought of having that brown tosser take the two of you. Mummy and daughter-in-law. Then we would’ve seen which Victor loved more.”
“Oh dear . . .” the Queen mutters.
Madeline’s vile gaze cuts straight through my flesh. “Luxury, were you honestly pregnant when I came for you that night?”
Throat tight, I nod. “Yes. I was. Did Mary know?”
Mary anxiously exhales. “No, no, no, I didn’t know. Luxury, I’d never harm my own fami―”
“No! You asinine cunt!” Madeline’s entire body rattles like a wraith. “As you can see, the ninny is now traded her alleg—”
I fist a knife into Madeline’s mouth, then straighten up.
A shocked silence stills the room. Graham breaks the silence, uttering words of consolation. Sarah too. The Queen looks away, then glances at me. “For what it’s worth, young lady, I never hated you.”
I straighten up to my full height and feel taller than I’ve ever been. “It’s not worth anything to me . . . but Victor’s duchy.”
“Lux.” At my side, my man growls beneath his breath.
“No,” I reply. “We will have his duchy, or the world will learn how you have ingrained bigotry in all your royal subjects.”