Rule of a Kingdom (Kingdom Duet #0) by Rina Kent

“I know.”

If she had, she wouldn’t be roaming the fucking halls in the middle of the night. But I also can’t and won’t force her to take them, even if the shrink tells me it’s for her sake. Antidepressants turn her numb and she stops paying attention to Aiden. She stops eating and talking.

She stops existing altogether.

“The pills don’t let me feel,” she whispers.

“I know.”

“I hate it. I hate not feeling.” She’s full out crying now, tears soaking her cheeks and wetting the delicate line of her throat.

“I know.”

“Don’t you hate me, Jonathan? Don’t you wish you got yourself one of those normal women?”

“I never hated you, Alicia. I hate the world who turned you into this.” I take one more step forward, resisting the urge to yank her down from the edge. “Now, come down.”

She stares at my hand, lips trembling. “But I hate me. I hate what I’m doing.”

“What you’re doing?”

Slowly, her eyes meet mine as she reaches her hand. “I saw the devil today, darling. I think he’s coming after me.”

“What devil?”

“I’ll take the pills.” She sniffles, pulling her hand back before her fingers could touch mine. “I think I hate feeling more than not feeling.”

Ignoring my extended palm, she gets off the railing, her bare feet touching the ground. She approaches me but never looks me in the eyes. Instead, she brushes her lips against Aiden’s hair.

He mumbles something in his sleep, and she smiles. It’s a weird one — her smile, that is. Not only is it heartbreaking but it’s also like an extension of her tears.

“Protect him, Jonathan.” She pauses. “Even from me if you have to.”

I’m about to hug her, to tell her that she’d never hurt Aiden, but she brushes past me in the direction of the stairs.

I release a long sigh as my hand falls to my side, lifeless and empty. A foreboding feeling stays lodged in my chest as I watch her retreating back.

Why the fuck does it feel like the beginning of the end?





3





Aurora





Present





Drastic measures.

They aren’t something I want to take, but something I have to.

I’m only playing the cards I’ve been dealt. Well, I’m also paying for not being more careful, but it’s pointless to ponder on the past.

I, of all people, know that so well.

The wedding isn’t what I expected from grandiose families like the Kings and the Steels.

It’s a simple ceremony with a few people present. They’re probably the elite of the elite if they managed to get invited to this event.

I sure wasn’t.

Instead, I spent an entire week trying to forge an invitation. I ended up going out with one of Steel Corporation’s leaders, Agnus Hamilton. He’s not just the CFO. He’s also Ethan Steel’s right-hand man.

In a way, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to learn more about the corporation — not that he talked a lot on that subject. I also got invited to the wedding as his plus-one. I didn’t even have to try as hard as I predicted.

Agnus gave me a direct opening into Ethan Steel’s entourage.

He only escorted me inside the reception area, then disappeared somewhere.

I’ll have to find him so he can introduce me to Ethan, but first… I need to practice my pitch again.

That’s why I’m standing in a secluded area by the buffet table, nibbling on a piece of lobster and taking note of my surroundings.

The wedding reception is set up around the pool of the Steel household. The bride’s home.

The afternoon’s dim sun glints on the surface of the water, illuminating the light blue colour. It’s an elegant picture frame filled with distinguished men in expensive tuxedos and women in designer gowns.

My research paid off in recognising almost all of the big shots present here today. I learnt early on to never be blindsided, and for that very reason, I did as much research as possible.

For instance, the shorter man in a sharp tuxedo is Lewis Knight, secretary of state. He’s smiling at something the two men with aristocratic features have said. They’re actual nobles with titles. Duke Tristan Rhodes and Earl Edric Astor.

It doesn’t end there, though. The Prime Minister, Sebastian Queens himself, and his wife are congratulating the bride and groom.

It shouldn’t be a surprise.

They all belong to the same circle of influential figures. Power oozes from every corner of this ‘familial’ reception.

Corrupted.

Infinite.

Untouchable.

It’s like being in the sun’s immediate orbit. If a normal person wants to approach that type of power, they should be ready to be burn.

I guess I am.

Because I have no choice.

Desperation leads you to radical decisions you would’ve never considered before.

This is my only chance to save the livelihood of hundreds of workers, their families, their futures, and their debts — that they funnel for these rich people. They say you always have a choice, but distinguishing between those choices is never clear cut.

Making decisions is even more difficult. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have stepped a foot here. If it were up to me, I would’ve avoided this circle of people like the plague.