m

o

o

s I try to process what is happening. For the second time in

clearly surprised by what my father just said, too

ng a moment of disbelief, sharing a moment of surprise. And in my mind, I am also wondering if

g he must have. But then, he is an intelligent leader who has been the king of Crimson Peak for decades. Hi

but for a moment, I am wondering if my father knows

r and see that her

motherless child, the one who was born to him from a scullery maid who allegedly died in chi

go. I can see on the king's face that he is unimpressed with my father's o

legs and goes to my father, the Alp

he begins to cry loudly. I step forward, wanting to go to her, but Coit reaches out and lashes

a hard worker. You'll see. Really. And... if at some

tute my underage sister to him, and I am at least thankful that the blo

u in exchange for the money you owe me?" Appa

ove his arm from Lola, but she clings to him. While I can only imagin

e two other children, don't you? Why di

son. And he will be Alpha one day, so I couldn't possibly offer him. And my olde

uble processing. My father's words continue to shock me. My brother will

ll. It's not quite as broad as our mother's, but he is happy to hear

fills my head via the mind-link 'I

im. All I can do

lace in the pack, to who started the war, to why we have been fightin

My father frees himself from Lola's gr

t cries turn into shrieks as she throws herself back at my father. "Daddy, no!" she begs, latching

in. "Lola! I command you as your father and your Alpha to stop this

is a

brother and step forward against my father's orders. He had told us before w

hat out the door when he offe

o me, throwing her arms around me. "Pl

his happen. I will never let anyone hurt you." I mean every word I say. I have no idea how I can be successful ag

is looking at me, his eyes turned from the king. I

d here and listen to you barter for what I could've only assumed was my own hand in all of this, but now, to hear you say you will leave

ice booming comes from my left-my brother. "Show som

d beat his ass without ever even letting go of Lola. He knows it, too. That's why he does

my venomous gaze to my mother. "I

mily. If Darius were truly to be my mate one day, wouldn't he stand up for me? But he's

ds leaving King Kane's m

keep my chin held high as I speak. "I'm sorry to cause a disturbance in your throne room, King Kane,

I don't believe I ever said I

e capabilities when it comes to all of their senses. He can likely see the fine hairs on my skin, not to mention smel

lear up this debt? Your father says that you are intelligent and an asset to the pa

ally I have in the room, and right now, that's him. "I must say a great deal

on't find what I said funny in the least becau

rm that we cannot possibly pay you such a steep debt, not any time soon. I

ck has that sort of money. We have no allied packs anymore. You'd never

iefly. He is not quite as tall as the king but his build is much broader, with muscular shoulders and po

ith spectacles which must be left over from his human life because vampires do no

I can't tell if I'm meant to say so

casual steps in my direction, descending to the second step of

s asking me. Am I worth the money-am I willing to say that I b

epts Lola, I will fight. I will lose. Either the vampires will kill me, or my own family will

d I will be forced to help my cocky, untrained, ill-prepared brother rule the pack.

ot to the home I knew a few hours ago

me to mind, their lips dry and cracked, their eyes sunken. I've h

nswer I give will cause her to begin to cry a

, there wo

can interpret it however he wants. Am I truly worth five million drakes. No. But

ike honey to the king or w

for another beat before his lips ar