Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“What was that?” I ask.
“I wanted to kill the man who murdered my mum.”
“And let me guess. This man is Tuttle Lament, lead coach of what was previously known as Buckley’s fight club.” Caz’s voice catches me completely off guard, and I whip my head to find him. He’s walking along the beach in his boots, dressed head to toe in black. He approaches us, and Danica hops to her feet with a frown.
“How do you know that?” she demands.
“I gathered information. You’re Tuttle’s daughter, aren’t you?”
She grimaces, looking away.
“That’s all right. I already know you are. And I take it you lost your eye because you went out of your way to murder the man who slaughtered your mother. Your own father did it, correct? And he did it because you sought him as a teenager, wanting so desperately to know who he was. But that was a mistake, you see, because your father had no clue you existed up until that point, and he wanted to keep it that way. He had a status to uphold. Tell me, am I hot or cold?”
I put my attention on Danica who is vibrating with rage. Her whole face is beet red. “I didn’t ask you to dig up that sort of information on me,” she snaps.
“As monarch and as a man who doesn’t trust you, it’s my job.”
“So, what? You think I’m a horrible person because I killed my own father? Tell me you wouldn’t have done the same!” she challenges, stepping closer to him. “I’ve heard the stories about you, Caspian Harlow. I heard how your father took you to those caves to fight, how he punished you for losing, how he dunked your head in a tub of water and nearly made you drown because you were so weak and pathetic!”
Caz tries not to react, but I notice the ticking of his jaw and the way one of his fists clenches at his side. Despite the visible anger on the outside, I feel the clench in his chest too, the lurch of his heart. He’s equally as hurt by her remarks as she is by his.
“But you grew out of that, didn’t you? You proved to him you weren’t weak or pathetic because you’re still here now while he rots in his grave.”
Danica is in his face now, and I notice three people behind Caz—Rowan, Juniper, and Killian. They’re watching the altercation, keeping a safe distance in case things blow out of proportion.
“You think you know me, but you don’t,” Danica seethes. “And sure, you may not trust me because I infiltrated your precious life and found my way into your castle, but I did it because I felt I had no choice! I had to be sure that you were with Willow. I needed to be certain before I told her a damn thing. I couldn’t get this wrong when it came to Warren because I’ve gotten it wrong once before with someone I love, and it cost her life—my mother’s life! I’ve lived in confusion and denial, riddled with anger because I fucked up! It’s my fault she’s dead! So yes, I took my Katana and sliced my father’s head off with it. Yes, I did that, and I’d do it again if I had to because he was a piece of shit who ruined my life and took everything from me. Don’t you see it? You and I, Monarch Harlow, aren’t so different. We do what must be done to survive, so don’t stand there looking down on me with that disgusting judgement in your eyes when your past is filled with vengeful actions too.”
They stare at one another, Danica breathing rapidly through her nostrils, chest heaving, and Caz staring into her eyes, unflinching. With a huff, Danica backs away and takes a look at everyone before throwing her hands in the air.
“I know you don’t care for my presence, or trust anything I’ll do next, but I guarantee you, if I wanted to hurt you, I’d have done it already. All I want is my mate to wake up, and I’ll be out of your hair. You’ll never hear from me again.”
“Well, if you know this, why don’t you go for now and return when he’s better?” Caz questions.
Danica scoffs. “Never. He’s half of me, just as she’s half of you. She completes you. You know how all of this works. We literally ache when we’re apart.”
Caz shifts on his feet, his eyes swinging to mine briefly. There’s a snap in his chest that transcends to mine, like the snap of a rubber band.
“I’m going to bed. Do I need a babysitter for that too?” she asks, but she’s already moving, trudging through the thick sand and making her way toward the path that leads to the guesthouse.