Page 141 of Lovely Venom

Yet, I lost her first.

A father’s hug is new. And I like it.

When he releases me, I swallow the knot rising in my throat. “You should’ve told me right away who you were.”

He leans back, eyes shining. “Zemër,I should’ve told you everything. But the silence was another way of protecting you.”

Realizing we’re alone, he says, “I have serious doubts about these plans. I won’t tell you what to do. But I know Tahiri. I know the knights. The empire is taking a huge risk.”

I nod and say, “What choice do I have? Noel will hunt me down. Doesn’t matter if he thinks I’m Levin’s daughter or yours. I’m the true heir who can threaten his reign unless I’m his wife. Heneedsme to keep his crown.He has to go.”

Valdrin smiles. “Youaremine.”

“And that means I don’t break easily.”

“No, you don’t.” His smile is sad but proud. “That scares the hell out of me.”

After a silent beat, he levels me with a stare. “Is yourfriend, Ruby? Was she assaulted by my knights?”

“Yes,” I admit with a whoosh of breath.

A visceral disgust changes the shape of his handsome face, and his jaw clenches tight enough to crack teeth. A muscle twitches beneath his eye, and his nostrils flare with rage. There is no mistaking it: Valdrin is furious.

“Whatever you and the empire have planned to eliminate them, if it doesn’t put them in the ground, I will see to their demise.” His promise has ripples skating down my spine.

Rhys makes his way over to Valdrin and me, walking side by side with Connor. The Albanian Brotherhood is ruthless and deadly, but Quinlan Empire is smart, sharp, and patient. They know better than to leave me with Valdrin for very long.

My father retreats, giving his wrists over to Rhys, who swings handcuffs from his sculpted, tattooed fingers.

“You do not hurt him, Rhys. Iwillkill your plants,” I bait him.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Rhys deadpans.

I smirk. “I’ll go one step further and blame you. Let Fallon believeyoudid it. Then sit back and watch your world turn into chaos.”

Rhys raises an eyebrow, but there’s a flicker of unease. Like he’s considering if he should start locking his windows.

“You don’t want to mess with that girl,” Rhys says low and amused.

I shrug. “Which is why she’s perfect for you. And—”

“No one will hurt me,zemër,” Valdrin breaks into ourbanter but lays one last serious glare on me. “Take care ofher,” he whispers, referring to Ruby.

“I will,” I say, feeling Connor wind one arm around my waist.

I choke up, watching Valdrin being taken away.

I said goodbye to my mother after months of preparing for her death. I don’t know how I’ll survive if something happens to Valdrin, too.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

Raina

Ihave mixed feelings seeing Ruby a couple of days later. There is no going back to living in this apartment for me, and I worry about what will happen to her. But I belong in Connor’s world.

When I called earlier to tell her I needed to see her, she sounded like she hadn’t been sleeping. Finding her curled into a ball on my sofa in an oversized hoodie and jean shorts, I see the bags under her eyes have nearly taken over her face. Her ebony hair is a messy nest of frizz.

“Ru,” I whisper, standing over her.