God of Pain (Legacy of Gods #2) by Rina Kent

It’s not anything groundbreaking, but it’s the tip of the iceberg—a little clue that will allow me to dig deeper.

This time, I won’t stop until I unveil the whole truth.

“The arson didn’t do much damage. I’m a little disappointed.”

I slide my hand from my face to stare up at my cousin—second cousin—who’s perched over my bed.

Landon is three years older than me and has the looks of a refined prince and the character of the devil himself.

Or more like Lucifer—the one who controls demons and every obscure creature.

His brown hair falls in a chaotic mess over his forehead, highlighting angular features that are no different from the stones he’s obsessed with sculpting. He’s even doing an art master’s degree to be able to produce more stones that people weirdly call masterpieces while labeling him a genius.

Anarchist would fit him better.

Since I’m trying to sleep, I turn on my side and close my eyes again.

A creak comes from the chair beside the bed, indicating that Landon chose to stay, not caring about my clear ‘Fuck off.’

“It could’ve been much better. What a loss of potential.”

“And you could’ve left so I can sleep.”

Landon pffts, a light chuckle spilling from him before he kicks my back. “Wake up. There are better things to do than sleep.”

“Doubt it.”

“What if I say I have the second piece of the puzzle for you?”

My eyes open and I slowly turn around.

Landon grins, knowing full well he’s got me exactly where he wants me. “Happy to have your attention, baby cousin. Now, let’s go.”

Staring at him harshly, I don’t move, and he rolls his eyes dramatically. “Your habit of trying to communicate with your eyes is annoying as fuck. Not all people are good with that language and they could—and will—misunderstand you. Lucky for you, I’m proficient in all languages. To answer your less-than-subtle demand, no. There will be no piece of the puzzle for you unless I get something in return. That was the deal, remember?”

So this is the downside behind my master plan of collecting information about my past. Somehow, Landon got wind of that and he’s using it to make me do his bidding.

He tried to ask nicely at the beginning, I’ll give him that, but those of us with the King last name just don’t do things nicely.

We need to be kicked, provoked, and even threatened so that we’re forced to do anything.

And that’s exactly what Landon has done to have me on his chessboard.

I sit up, throwing my weight against the metal bedpost. “What do you want? Another fire?”

“Nah, that was fun on the first try, but their security has gotten better now. Let’s give them some time to come to terms with the change, and just when their guard is down… Boom. We strike again.”

“Then why are you bothering me now?”

“Don’t be a little shit.” He opens my wardrobe, flings out a hoodie from all the similar ones and throws it in my direction. “We’re out to have fun.”

“No.”

“Or you can model for me? I’ll make a masterpiece out of your features.”

“Definitely not.”

“We’re going out then. Only when we’re done will I tell you what the next step is.”

I grab the piece of clothing and step past him. “You must be so lonely if you want to spend time with me.”

He laughs, the sound genuinely amused. “Maybe. Your peaceful silence is hard to find in this loud world.”

I lift a shoulder and pull on the hoodie. Landon and his twin brother, Brandon, are probably the only two who seek me out because of my silence. Everyone else just wants me to talk—not them.

They’re tolerable, but only separately. They become annoying dicks in each other’s company.

After I’m dressed, we leave my room and start down the hall. Elegant wallpaper extends for as far as the eye can see, giving the place a classical vibe.

We live in an off-campus mansion that Landon also uses as the compound for his club, the Elites.

A club that he has wanted me to be part of since I enrolled in REU, but I’ve refused his invitation every time.

I pledge loyalty to no one. Not even to myself.

We drive away from the mansion, or more like Landon does in his show-off one-of-a-kind McLaren. I spend the whole ride sleeping.

The opening of the door hauls me out of a light sleep. A man dressed in formal wear inclines his head in my direction. “Welcome back, sir.”

I step out and cast a look at my cousin, who’s already stepping onto the cobbled street. An easy expression is written all over his face, but it’s just a camouflage for his twisted insides.

Only a few lights adorn the hidden alley that’s situated in the least populated part of the island.

This is where Landon started to bug the fuck out of me. He somehow ran into me through our mutual fucked-up cravings and hasn’t left me alone since.

Knowing him, he probably hunted me down like the creep he is.

The bouncer of the club lets us in with a smile and a curtsy. We’re probably their youngest members but the most ruthless.

The most in-demand, too.

“What do you have for us?” Landon asks, pure sadism dripping from his voice.