Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
The rest of us… on the other hand…
I drop down onto a chair, watching as groups of Gifted walk through. Same shit, different fucking day. Before Sin starts going off about whatever bullshit he’s got on his mind, all of our phones vibrate, and we reach for them to see who it’s from.
Father: Your mother and I will be in town at witching hour tomorrow. Make sure all of you are present.
I glare at my phone. There it is. Legend had warned us at the party they were coming, but tomorrow? That’s earlier than even he expected, if the look of concern on his face tells me anything. Our parents haven’t made a random drop-by at the school since—well, I can’t remember the last time.
Actually, I can.
“What the fuck are we missin’?” Legend takes a bite of his apple. We all know what he wishes it was .
“Yeah, well, maybe something is happening that we don’t know about yet and they’re coming to tell us.”
“Something they couldn’t share over the phone?” Creed ponders, but his eyes remain on mine.
Since yesterday at the diner, he’s been all over my shit like a fucking Bengal at an airport. Creed is naturally standoffish and moody, so it’s not like it’s uncommon for him to be this way. I just wish he’d finally fucking mate and put us all out of our misery.
“Obviously not.” The fact that our parents are going out of their way to rise from the comfort of hell rings alarm bells. They don’t shift weight for anything.
Creed still hasn’t taken his eyes off mine, and I slide the can of O neg. across the table, dragging my finger over my upper lip. The last time Creed and I went head-to-head, it was a bloodbath. Literally. The fact that Creed is the oldest brother doesn’t mean shit here. If you’re weak, you get weeded. Creed isn’t weak. I’m just hoping he mates first so he can take the fucking throne he’s so thirsty for. Aside from the obvious, it makes sense he takes it. He’s smarter. Levelheaded and makes decisions that are right, but right now, he’s balancing on my last nerve. I can’t decide whether I’m pissed because he’s obviously picking through my emotions like a fucking all-you-can-eat buffet, or because that last fight I just mentioned only happened a couple weeks ago.
I don’t want the crown and I sure as fuck don’t want a mate. I’m too impulsive for that too… obsessive. I’d likely kill her in a fit of jealous rage, and then my soul would eat me from the inside out. And nobody wants a dead royal.
Our family wouldn’t survive that a second time.
“Stop.”
My head pops up to find Creed glaring at me from across the table and I shrug my shoulders, sitting back.
“No one said you had to tune in.” If he did find his mate, or at least a solid toy, he could spend his time obsessing about her instead of what the fuck is going on inside my head.
His eyes only narrow farther, so I flip him off, but then my attention is pulled to the right when Justice fucking “crystal boy” walks in.
He gets one look this way and tries to beeline it in the opposite direction, but I jump from my chair quicker than his steps can carry him, catching him by the collar right as he slips out the double door.
I yank him back, and then Sin is there, throwing his arm over Justice’s shoulder. He tugs him in close, his arm locked more around his neck than anything else, and Justice’s shoulders draw up as he fights to keep the frown from his face.
“How’s it hanging, Jus my man?” Sinner grins, but it’s one that promises foul play. “Your little Giftless shop treating you well?”
Justice frowns but doesn’t fight Sin’s hold. “It’s not a Giftless shop. Plenty of Gifted believe in the way of the crystal, and it’s not mine. I just work there to help my parents.”
“If it’s not a Giftless shop, then why are Giftless working there?”
His eyes dart my way, narrowing. “That was you guys, today at the diner?” His eyes bounce between us, trying to figure out what everyone does when around us, and failing. “I smelled the use of power. The place reeked of lead,” he accuses.
Sin chuckles, patting his chest as he steps away, both of us standing before him.
“Who’s the girl, and why is she working at your store?” I need to fucking chill. Not with this particular piece of shit, more with my brothers. They can taste my bullshit before it even leaves my mouth.
He grows uneasy, his gaze snapping all around before settling on me. He shrugs. “She’s no one. Some chick who goes to Daragan State. She applied, and my moms hired her.”