Ruthless Empire (Royal Elite #6) by Rina Kent

That’s Cole to a T. One, he knows everything about everything. He even throws out numbers and statistics. Papa’s friends love him because he agrees with them. Not in a way that seems like a follower’s, but more like someone who did his homework, refused all the others, and settled on them. He makes it seem as if he likes them, not because he has to, but because he wants to.

Liar.

He’s the biggest liar alive. There’s nothing coming out of his mouth that I believe as the truth anymore.

Cole has mastered the art of lies so well, he can even manage to convince you that the truth might also be a lie.

He’s too much into mind games and seeing people trip over themselves. Watching someone flustered because they didn’t see a question or a situation coming their way is his favourite pastime.

He turned eighteen over the summer, but it’s almost like he’s twenty-five. Granted, all of us learnt to become mature since a young age; we couldn’t smile wrong in front of people or speak wrong or even breathe wrong, but he takes it to a whole different level.

Cole is perfect on the outside but rotten on the inside.

Ever since I saw that picture of the bound girl, I’ve realised how deep he actually runs, how far and how fast he can go. That he can be way worse than what I know.

And I hate that my first reaction to that image was intrigue.

Why the hell would I be intrigued about that depravity? Cole and his sick ways can go to hell. I’m Sebastian Queens and Cynthia Davis’s daughter. I’m the most proper teenager you’ll ever find, and my view on Cole is a definite no.

Now, if I stop glaring at him, it’d be good.

He catches me staring across the table and smiles like a damn gentleman. “Silver also believes in relationships with Asian countries, don’t you?”

“I do, but I also disapprove of the government’s policies of dealing with dictators’ regimes just because we can sell them weapons and fill our safe.”

Cole raises a brow. “Are you suggesting we should use our arsenal and hit them, you know, to be superheroes?”

“No. I’m merely saying we should pressure them, not leave them to do as they please to their people.”

“It’s their people. Why should we care?”

God. He’s infuriating.

If it were someone else, I would’ve kept my cool and gone on with the debate, but the way he’s egging me on with that deceptively calm tone gets on my nerves. Or rather, he gets on my nerves.

Everything about him does, from his hair that’s become longer to his eyes that have turned more piercing to his damn jaw that sharpened overnight.

“You know,” I speak in my calmest tone. “That philosophy of ‘It’s not my problem. I don’t care’ is what’s ruining the world.”

“And yet, some do it so well.” He chews on the beef leisurely. “They can even pretend they don’t care about themselves or their old friends.”

The jab is at me for the way I watch Kim from afar but still throw bitchy remarks her way.

I always, without fail, find Cole’s gaze on me after I tell Kim to piss off. It’s more than disappointment in his eyes, though. It’s pure hatred.

He hates me at school. He can’t stand to be near me and he makes it known by secretly pulling on my hair every chance he gets.

“That’s better than pretending you care about everyone when you don’t.” I pause, feigning nonchalance. “General you.”

“You kids are always at each other’s throats.” Helen laughs, serving me more juice.

I’m weird. I drink juice with my dinner and Helen respects that. Isn’t she the best?

It’s Cole who snickers at me from across the table and I scowl at him as I take a sip of the apple juice.

“Their debates are fun.” Papa smiles at us. “Our dinner table is going to be so lively in the future once Helen and I get married.”

I choke on the juice and cough as Helen helps me by patting my back.

“Sebastian!” she scolds. “We agreed to talk about it after dinner. Look what you’ve done to Silver.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.” He offers me a napkin. “I’m probably too excited for the news. Helen and Cole will move in with us. Isn’t that wonderful?”

No.

No, it’s not.

Lately, Helen has been complaining about coming out of her work zone and Papa has been saying he can’t find time to meet with her anymore, so I figured they’d break up sooner rather than later. I thought it was a fling, but a fling can’t go on for three years, right?

How stupid can I be?

Drinking from the cup of water Helen offered me, I stare at Cole across the table. He’s paused mid-cut through his steak, but aside from that, there’s no reaction.

“Are you okay, darling?” Helen asks me. “Is something wrong?”

Yes. Something is wrong.

That premonition about timing hits me again. Something is definitely wrong. I can’t let them do this.

I don’t want this. I’m not even sure why. I love Helen and the way she chased away Papa’s loneliness, but I don’t love this.

I have to do something. Now.

“Papa, I —”

“Congratulations, Mum.” Cole stands up and hugs her, and her face breaks into a radiant smile. He then shakes Papa’s hand. “Congratulations, Sebastian.”