Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
How long had Hanin been planning this? The idea chilled Day to the bone. “You advised the queen to arrange the marriage.”
“Yes, but then she wouldn’t listen to me when it came to selecting a bride. She’d found those letters you sent and decided it had to be you. She couldn’t see you for the whore you are. Even after she knew about your sexual perversions, she couldn’t understand that you were wrong.”
Because the queen mother understood that a person was complex and that sexual differences didn’t mean anything as long as a man and woman were in love.
She loved Kash. They could work it out. They just had to believe they could. They could get through anything as long as they held on to each other and promised to never let go. That was how a couple in love got through life. They simply held on.
“I’m going to leave now, Hanin. You should probably run.” Would Malone hear her if she shouted out? The door was thick and the walls well insulated. How many steps before she could put a hand on the door and throw it open? Her guard would be there.
She backed up, slowly, unwilling to take her eyes off the snake in the room.
That snake slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun. It was a shiny revolver. “Run? Why would I run? This is my home. It has been for as long as I can remember. Don’t move another inch, Your Majesty, or I’ll be forced to put a bullet in you. I don’t want to. It could make for a much more salacious story for the tabloids.”
She froze because there was nowhere to duck, nothing to hide behind unless she could get to the entryway. There were two columns on either side of the door that might offer her some protection. “I’m not going to drink your poison, Hanin. You’re crazy if you think I’m going to do your work for you.”
“So you’re willing to let me kill Elissa when she returns? When that door opens, I intend to shoot whoever is standing there. I’ll know my game is up. I’ll shoot her and then you. I’m willing to die for my cause. I’ve served this crown with everything I have. I’ll give my life to protect it. I will not allow a whore queen to take it all away from me.”
He also wasn’t as strong as he thought he was. Already she could see his hand shaking. Elissa would be back any moment, but she couldn’t let that fact push her into obedience. She didn’t want Elissa to get shot, but she wasn’t about to help her would-be murderer.
Of course, he couldn’t know that. He was crazy. He could likely be led to believe any number of things.
“You’ll have to bring it to me. Bring me the cup you made for yourself.”
He stared at her, his eyes narrowed. “Drink the one I made for you. They’ll both work. It’s right there. Hurry. Elissa isn’t slow. She’s good at her job. She’ll hurry because she wants to please her queen. She’s young and can’t see you for what you truly are.”
Which apparently was a whore. Very original of him. “I’m too scared. What if you shoot me? I can’t. I can’t think.”
Better to let him believe she was far more scared than she was. It was odd, but the fear seemed to be in the background, as though she’d moved into survival mode and nothing else mattered.
Unless Kash was the one who walked through that door. If Kash took the bullet, she would want her own. She would want to curl up and go wherever he was. He would need her.
Hanin stood there, his hands starting to shake, and she wondered how much of Hanin was really there. “You ruined everything. Everything.”
The cup in his left hand started to rattle and she saw her chance. She sprinted for the door. He might shoot her, but it was better to have the chance. The minute that shot rang out, Malone would come in.
Day screamed as she dove for the pillar.
The door blasted open and she caught sight of the one thing she hadn’t wanted to see. Kash rushed in, his big body a massive target. He caught her in his arms and shoved her behind him. Rai was there along with Malone, all three men running into the room.
“Stand down!” Malone ordered.
“Hanin, you’re caught,” Rai explained. “Put the gun down.”
The gun clattered to the floor. “It wasn’t loaded. I couldn’t risk hurting the king.”
Kash still stood in front of her. “But you would kill my queen?”
The cup and saucer rattled, the sound jarring. Day had to peek around her husband to get a look at Hanin.
Hanin’s eyes were wild as he spoke. “She’s unfit to be queen. She isn’t royal.”