Chapter 53
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Wilton’s got this expression he makes whenever he sees me. It’s half terror, half disbelief, with a dose of rage.
He reaches for a drawer on his desk, and Mikail hisses and bares his teeth. It makes Wilton freeze.
“Why are you here?”
Mikail slams his hand on the man’s desk. The sound is like a gunshot. Shocking and ear spliting. “To talk about this soil project you’re so determined to see happen.”
“I… The King is the one who wants this to happen.”
“Why?” I ask as I cross my arms.
“For money, of course.”
Mikail says, “The Kingdom has plenty. We’re not poor. Selling our soil is only going to harm the citizens.”
The man’s nervous eyes skitter between us. “Money is always important for gaining power.”
“Power over what?” I ask.
This makes him fumble for an answer. “Anything that arises in the future.”
Mikail stalks across the room. “Like some threat we don’t know about?”
Wilton shifts. “Money’s always the most important tool in an arsenal against any threat.”
Circling the desk, I hook my foot in Wilton’s chair and jerk him back from the desk.
Wilton sputters and recoils into his chair. “Don’t hit me, please.”
“What’re your intents with the soil?”
As I distract Wilton, Mikail comes in behind him. With deadly stealth, he unsheaths a knife and presses it to Wilton’s throat. I’ve never seen someone faint so fast.
“Well, that wasn’t any fun.” Mikail says as he lets Wilton slide down to the floor. Once the man’s flat, I stand over him and give him a smack that’s barely hard enough to leave a mark.
He sputters awake. “Oh my god. Don’t kill me. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
I grin. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”