Page 98

I scowl at Cassian. “Your government system is sofreaking messed up.”

Cassian shoves his hand into his hair, looking like he’s reached the end of his fraying rope. “I’m trying to fix that.”

“What happens if you become archduke?” I demand. “Then what?”

“Then I will have the power to take them all down.”

“Fine.” I study him. “Then lock me in a secure, assassin-proof room and do whatever you can to win the vote.”

“Piper, it’s too dangerous. Even if I’m right about the house transfer—and I am—Gerald will kill you anyway. The only thing I can do to keep you safe is back down.”

“Don’t you dare,” I warn, probably as intimidating as Sophia. “I swear if you do, I will kill you myself.”

“And Gerald says I’m feisty,” Sophia whispers to Noah. “She’s a flower farmer?”

“Yeah.”

I turn to look at them. “You’re killing my speech.”

“Sorry,” Sophia winces. “Please continue—rally away.”

Shooting her a look, I turn back. “I mean it, Cassian. Someone needs to fix this mess, and that someone is going to have to be you, because everyone else apparently sucks.”

The vampire swears under his breath and then sits in a chair, dropping his head into his hands. “What if I don’t win?”

“Then I’m dead.”

“I can’t take that risk.”

“You don’t have a choice. Just…do a good job, okay?”

He laughs…and then groans.

Sophia taps her fingers against her neck, thinking. “For what it’s worth, I don’t believe Gerald will kill Piper. He’s not above breaking the law, but he wants to save people—not murder them.”

Cassian lifts his head, eyes narrowed, looking thoroughly unimpressed. “You have a lot in common with your ex-boyfriend, don’t you?”

“Don’t start,” she warns him. “You broke our engagement, not me.”

“What did you even see in that man?”

“You want to know his best feature? He never tried to kill me!”

“I didn’t go through with it!”

“Enough.” Noah holds up his hand like he’s separating squabbling toddlers. “Fight later.”

As wedding nights go, this hasn’t been the best.

I hold my breath and then slowly exhale it. Then I ask Cassian,“You’re supposed to leave for Romania tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, my flight leaves in the morning.”

“So I’m safe tonight?”

“In theory,” Cassian says.

“Great.” I turn to Noah. “Can we go back to the hotel to try to salvage the rest of the evening?”