Kole #2
“Not this time. Not anymore. I’m ending this or him,” Onyx purred and then waved for Father to tell him.
I was seething mad as I heard how Sagan broke her royal training and got caught getting distracted in a meeting because of a video from my uncle. She wouldn’t even read texts of mine or take calls in between classes.
But she was unfocused and turned on in a meeting because of him?
“Fucking whore,” I bit out.
“Shut up, idiot,” Father hissed, but it was too late and Onyx broke both my knees with two easy stomps. “Onyx, come on. You’re not really going to kill him.”
He moved in front of Father, squatting down and fisting his shirt. “If you believe nothing I ever say again, believe this—I will kill you both if you ever pull this shit and hurt her again.” He sighed when Father simply blinked at him. “What would you do if someone treated your mate like this?”
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. That was finally the right button for Onyx to press because Father would burn the world down for Mother.
He’d end me if I ever hurt her. His priorities were always that clear.
“She’s not your mate,” Vex muttered.
Onyx snorted and let Father go. “Tell that to my dragon. He’s thought she was from the moment we met.
” He nodded when neither of us could hide our shock.
“The connection was that strong immediately and I know she felt it too. She just was drowning and I was a professor. I always planned on chasing her. She is my future.”
He walked over to his bag and pulled out two folders, tossing one to each of us.
“And you both are trash I will get rid of if you don’t handle this for real this time and never hurt her again. Do. Not. Test. Me.”
I refused to play his stupid games and ignored the folder but did a double take when Father pushed to sit up and immediately opened it… And went pale and paler as he flipped through the pages.
“You wouldn’t, Onyx,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “This would ruin us.”
“Like you’ve tried to ruin her to protect your golden boy?” Onyx purred.
“This would ruin our family,” Father blasted and managed to roll to his feet. “Which you are still a part of no matter your attitude and—”
I winced as Onyx slugged him and Father barely managed to keep his feet. Onyx really was stronger than Father and I’d never have guessed that.
“Then let our family fucking burn,” Onyx chuckled darkly, nodding when we couldn’t hide our shock. He pointed to me. “You bring nothing to this world, and I feel horrible for Applerest that you’re their future. You’re a compulsive liar and delusional egomaniac.”
He didn’t give me a chance to reply, focusing back on Father.
“And you’re not better, Brother,” he spat. “You cover it all up and enable him. I thought you were what was best for Applerest once, but now I think you’re just as bad.”
“You don’t believe that,” Father argued.
“Yeah, I do, and I have since I learned Rhys was trying to end the relationship. Quietly. Respectfully. Peacefully, but your pride that you thought he assumed your golden boy wasn’t good enough for Sagan—who shouldn’t be so full of herself too, right? Who the fuck does that sound like?”
Father ground his jaw. “I had no way of knowing that Kole was cheating or—”
“The king had proof! Piles and piles of fucking proof, but you brushed him off, accused him of making up problems for the lovebirds because he looked down on you. You were laying the groundwork for that in the media and—you’re disgusting.
You’re just as disgusting as Kole. Worse because you didn’t care what he did to Sagan as long as your son was the parent of the next ruler. ”
I blinked at Father like I’d never seen him before. He’d always acted like it wasn’t a big deal and to not embarrass the family.
“There’s no way you got any of this legally,” Father tried next.
“So?” Onyx burst out laughing when Father’s jaw dropped open.
“Oh, you break laws and bribe people to spread lies and you think I give a shit that I bribed people to get the proof?” He shoved Father into the wall.
“You’re guilty as fuck, Vex. You both are.
I don’t feel bad at all. You both deserve for everyone to find out the truth and lose everything. ”
“Does the queen know?” Vex bit out.
I felt cold when I realized why he was asking.
But Onyx only smiled and looked at me. “Get the reality check you need, kid. This is your real father here. He pushed me out because I was stronger but also made it clear I could be dealt with if I was a threat to his position and power. You could be too if you don’t get your shit together and—”
“That’s enough,” Father snapped. “You act like I threatened your life or hired assassins.”
Maybe not the latter, but I fully believed Father threatened Onyx’s life.
“Well, now I’m returning the favor, Brother,” Onyx purred, tapping the folder. “And no, Sagan doesn’t know yet, but Myriam Metcalf does. What do you think she’ll do with it if I have an accident?”
Father cursed in every combination and tried to shove Onyx… Who easily tossed Father across the room.
“Oh, and one other little interesting fact I checked into, idiots, because I plan on bringing this up.” Onyx waited until Father focused on him again.
“I don’t plan on taking the title of prince.
I just want her. I’ve said that. Someone else can be prince.
” He smiled evilly as he glanced between us.
“Which means I can still be the Alpha of Applerest.”
“What?” I gasped.
“Yeah, you fucking moron,” he chuckled darkly. “You could have had your cake and eaten it too. There’s no law that says the queen’s consort can’t be Alpha. Only the one globally recognized as the first mate is who gets the main title or whatever. It’s even written that way.”
“You don’t want to be Alpha,” I whispered.
“I don’t. But to protect her and even save Applerest? Fuck it. I’ll do it.” He snorted and gave us both a look of disgust. “I can’t be any worse than either of you.”
“This is blackmail,” Father tried again.
“It’s the truth, Vex,” he drawled. “Do whatever Sagan wants to make this situation better or I will convince her any way I need to that it’s time for my plan.
” He focused on me. “You should have just fucking hid with your tail between your legs, you fucking bully. You should have apologized instead of doubling down and hurting her.”
“She doesn’t get hurt,” I drawled as I finally healed enough to stand. “She’s ice and—”
I wasn’t sure why I bothered when he just knocked me back down. “Do not speak of her like you know her. She’s warmer and has a better heart than you do.”
“She does, which is why the queen won’t ever allow this,” Father muttered. “Never. She won’t let this risk the peace of—”
“He risked it,” Onyx seethed. “You did with your fucking focus groups and bullshit instead of making him apologize. This isn’t a discussion.
It’s terms of fucking surrender. You’re both done.
To what level is your choice, but I hope you’re stupid.
I think it’s the only way to end this so she can come out ahead. ”
He gave us each one more disgusted look and stormed out of there as fast as he had arrived.
“You ever lie to me again and I will unname you Alpha Heir,” Father said quietly, coldly, in a way he never talked to me.
“You cannot be serious,” I whispered.
His gaze was dead when he met mine. “You knew you were being recorded and spewed all of those lies. You lied to me. I went to the mat for you and risked everything and you were lying—you spoiled little shit.” He threw the folder onto the table.
“Onyx is right about one thing. I won’t lose my position as Alpha for you. ”
“It won’t come to that,” I argued. “He’s bluffing and—”
“He’s not,” Father snapped. “Onyx doesn’t bluff.
He’s been collecting evidence to bury us both this whole time!
Wake up, idiot!” He chuffed and advanced on me.
“You so much as step a toe out of line or hint at something about Sagan and I’m done.
I’m done cleaning up your bullshit. Your mother and I have worked too hard for what we have! ”
That was the end of my chance to argue with him. Onyx had brought up Mother, and Father loved her more than anything. He would never risk Mother losing her spot as Alpha Mate—the shame of being mated to a disgraced and overtaken Alpha.
He wouldn’t. He’d rather die or kill me first.
“What’s in here that’s so bad?” I asked and went to open the folder.
Father snatched it out of my hands. “What he said, and you don’t need to read the specifics.”