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Despite my reservations about marrying Luca and becoming their queen, I needed answers about Aiden. If I wanted my brother back, I had to infiltrate the ranks of one of the world’s most corrupt and powerful secret societies. I would gladly sacrifice my life for the cause.
Long live the queen.
“What exactly does being the queen entail?” I asked, even though I was afraid of the answer. “You say I’m bound to the Knights, but do you mean like… sexually?”
A smirk pulled at his delicious mouth. “Whatever you need,my queen.”
“And Luca would be okay with it?”
“Of course,” he said with a shrug. “He has to share our Queen.”
“That’s why he’s always been so cold with me,” I guessed.
He nodded to confirm my suspicions.
“Years of torture…” I shook my head, disgusted. “And for what? Because he didn’t want to share me with his friends.” I looked up at Drake and bit my lip. “No offense, but I don’t want…thatfrom the Knights.”
Drake tilted his head back and laughed. “None taken.”
“Being with one man is hard enough,” I admitted, embarrassment coloring my cheeks.
He smiled. “Don’t worry. None of us expects that from you.”
I blew out a deep breath. “I assume you will eventually get married and have your own families.”
“Eventually. But we’re not allowed to marry yet.”
“Why not?”
“We’re waiting for you to choose…”
Before he could finish, the monitors screeched from the opposite end of the room. We drifted toward the entrance doors. Watching my grandfather operate, the Devil’s Knights gathered about ten feet from the plastic curtain.
“We should head over,” Drake suggested.
I gulped down my fear, knowing this could be it. Every second was precious at this point.
I couldn’t lose him.
I needed Marcello.
Drake led me by the hand toward the curtain. My head pounded right at the base of my skull, blurring my vision. The room spun into a mess of colors and sounds. That constant beeping reminded me of what little time Marcello had left.
My grandfather shouted at someone, his words muffled.
Why couldn’t I hear him?
His voice sounded so far away.
Five, four, three, two, one…
Just breathe, Alex.
We stopped beside Luca, who looked at me from the corner of his eye. I clutched my chest to make the pain stop, sobs ripped from my throat, stinging my lips.
“He’s dying,” I muttered. “It’s all my fault…” I lowered my head and focused on breathing, attempting to control the swirl of emotions tearing through my insides. “It should have been me.”
“Breathe.” Luca ran his fingers up my arm in a soothing motion. “Just breathe, baby.Wegot you.”