Page 25 of Reign (Kings of Chaos & Mayhem #8)

Jade

Blood Of My Blood

One month later…

It’s springtime, and Jaxon is almost out of school for the summer. On top of that, I have four weeks left until my scheduled C-section. I never want to be pregnant again. This pregnancy took the life out of me. Should’ve known with it being Jamie’s kid.

Laying here on my brand new lounge chairs, I watch the guys be domestic while cleaning the pool I had installed a few weeks ago.

How are we going to have a pool house with no pool?

Dario didn’t want to put one in without my input, which I appreciate.

I take a deep breath and let the sun soak into my skin.

Closing my eyes, I listen to Jamie grunt and fight with the others while the kids giggle while playing in their enclosed mini playground.

Life is good right now, and today I’m taking advantage of it because, come tomorrow, all hell is going to break loose and this little bubble we’ve been in is about to burst.

It’s going to be a hot weekend, and before I leave for Ireland tomorrow morning, I wanted to have a BBQ.

Dario and Jamie are staying here with the kids while me and Spade meet up with Kane.

I’ve got a meeting with the council that I’m looking forward to, along with my coronation.

Flynn’s health is rapidly deteriorating, and he wants me to take over the throne sooner rather than later.

So, I have a ceremony to attend. A ball if you will.

Just what I want. To be this fat in a gown around a bunch of people I don’t know or trust. I just keep those thoughts to myself because my husbands would have my head.

It’s bad enough me and Dario got into a huge fight last night over his dead father being the one who stole Jocelyn when we were kids.

I didn’t mean to get so angry; it’s just that I lost time with a sibling I’ll never get back, and since I killed the prick, I’ll never get the answers I need, so it just fucking sucks.

I hate fighting or even arguing with any of my men, especially right before I need to leave.

I swear they do this shit on purpose so they can dick me down.

“Oh shit,” Ryder yells, and I open my eyes to see Dario pushing Jamie into the pool while Spade points and laughs. I cover my amusement as Ryder comes up behind Spade, tossing him in as well. Jamie and Ryder eye one another before Jamie gives chase, making Ryder run right towards me.

“Oh, hell no, you guys.” I giggle.

“Come on, Jade, you know you want to play,” Ryder mocks as Jamie growls.

“You do a really bad Jamie impersonation. You should really work on that,” I tell him and he rolls his eyes.

“You’re lucky you’re preggers otherwise I’d toss your ass right in the pool with the others,” he threatens.

“That’s if you could catch me. Right now, you definitely could, but otherwise I’d give you a run for your money.”

“Ryder, step away from prego puff,” Jamie orders and I laugh at the nickname.

“Yeah, Puff is right!” I mock, rubbing my belly.

“Shut up, Princess. You’re a perfect Puf–” he doesn’t get to finish the sentence before Dario charges him, tackling him into the pool.

The water splashes against me, and I huff, getting up from my seat.

Might as well get in before they give me no choice in the matter.

Looking over at Ryder, I call him over to me.

“Can you give me a hand?” I ask innocently, and the fool falls for it. Because the minute he puts his hand out to help me. I plant my feet on the concrete bottom and pull his big ass in here with everything I got. His eyes widen as he falls into the shallow end.We all laugh as he comes up for air.

“That was not fair, Jade!” he yells, making me laugh. These are the moments I live for. All the love and laughter. Where we can be at peace for the time being and just enjoy being together.

The next morning, I wrap myself in a blanket and get comfortable on the jet as Spade rubs my feet. “Hey, Babygirl. Wanna cum?” he asks with a sly grin, but I shake my head.

“As enticing as that is, I need rest and ?focus. Tonight is going to change everything, and too many orgasms is going to leave me tired as fuck,” I say, and he nods.

“Fine. On the way back?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Promise, Babyboy. Shit, I’m going to need it after tonight,” I tell him, and he grins. Laying back in my seat, I mentally prepare myself for what I’m going to do later. I haven’t told anyone else but my guys what the plan is. Flynn is going to flip shit, but I don’t care. It has to be done.

Sitting around the table, I wait for the council to enter.

We arrived a few hours ago, and Flynn gave me the rundown on tonight’s ceremony.

I was pleased to hear that I didn’t have to get dressed up for the coronation, just the ball.

He had my gown handmade for me. A long emerald green dress made of heavy intricate beadwork.

A deep neckline with thin straps and lace to cover my arms. It’s absolutely breathtaking.

I’m hoping Spade was able to get everyone on board prior to entering this room; otherwise, it’s about to get a little crazy in here.

The door opens and in enters my girl, Vasilisa.

I rise from my chair as she walks over to me, pulling me into a hug.

“You sure about this?” she asks through her mask, and I nod as the others file in.

She pulls away and takes her seat to the right of me as my husband nods and sits at the other end.

Kane comes in and sits to my right, taking Dario’s spot.

Stefan trots in and sits next to Vasilisa.

Harley is next to enter, already shaking his head as Abran is running his mouth behind him.

That man grates on my last nerve. Once everyone is settled, Spade gets up, walks over to the door, and stands in front of it.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It seems we have an issue that needs to be addressed,” I state, and immediately Abran slams his fist down against the wood, and I roll my eyes.

“Enough with the dramatics. What is your issue now?” I spit, and he stands, pointing a finger at me as he yells.

“Ever since you came into power, you take over my territory. The docks are no longer accessible. I can’t move products to Americas, nor can I receive my shipments through there.

I’ve had to resort to airplanes. Do you know how much tariff I need to pay because of you?

” he growls, and I smile underneath my mask, leaning back against my chair, folding my arms.

“I told you, and I’ve warned you. Follow the rules and your business wouldn’t be touched.

But you crossed me too many times, and I won’t stand for it,” I tell him, and he slams his hands against the table once again.

Kane hands me a folder which I slide across the table, hitting Abran in the knuckles.

“What is this?” he asks, and I nod towards it.

“Open it!” I say, and he growls as I stand from my chair, feeling eyes on me as I walk around towards the fucking idiot.

“It seems you’ve been going against us and working with The Brotherhood.

It also seems you gave them my home address, on top of a few other things.

This is something that cannot go unpunished,” I say as he tries to get up from his chair, but I reach for my dagger and hold it to his throat.

“You’re right. I am working with them,” he rasps, and Vasilisa flips the photographs landing on a picture a young blonde girl, tied to a metal table—her wrists, neck, ankles, and knees are all stitched with thick black threads, almost puppet-like—with Kayla’s father, Alastair, standing beside her along with a few other men I’ve never seen before and a young boy sitting on the ground. This photo makes me physically ill.

“Where was this taken?” she asks, and he smirks.

“What’s it to you?” he spits, and she slaps him in the face.

“That’s my fucking daughter, you piece of shit! She’s been missing for a few years, and I want her fucking back!” she yells, and he laughs. I press the metal harder against his beating vein as she spits in his face, cursing in Italian.

“Abran, I advise you to help us and tell our dear friend here where this picture was taken; otherwise, you are giving me no choice,” I tell him as he thrashes in my hold.

The metallic clicks of weapons being cocked and pointed at his head make me grin.

He freezes as I take off his mask, then my own, and hand it to Vasilisa to place down on the table.

I lean right next to his ear and whisper, “One last chance.”

“Fuck you!” he spits, and I smile.

“Blood of my blood,” I say as I drag the knife across his throat.

Blood sprays against the wood and across the table, splattering against Stefan, Kane, and Harley.

Taking the dagger, I smear his blood against his suit jacket before pushing it into my thigh holster.

I smile at Vasilisa and walk towards my husband, who is currently adjusting himself, and glance over my shoulder.

“Coronation time, let's go have some fun.” I smile as Spade opens the door and I walk out of the room with my head held high.

I reach into my pocket, retrieving my phone and dialing Dario's number.

“Hello,” he rasps.

“Hey Big Man, I know it’s late bu–”

“It's never too late for you Kitten, what’s up? Everything okay?” he asks, and I smile.

“Yes, get suited up. Abran is taken care of. Go get your sister and nephew,” I tell him.

“Wait, say that again?” he says, and I giggle.

“Focus, Dario. Go wake up Jamie and Ryder and go get your sister and nephew. Bomb the fucking castle for all I care. But bring your family home.” I tell him.

“Our family, Jade. Ours,” he says.

“Ours, I love you, Big Man. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Kiss our babies for me,” I whisper.

“I love you more, baby. Stay safe. Tell the old man I said hello,” he says, and I can hear the smile that spreads across his face before the line goes dead.

I look over at Spade as we walk down the long hallway back to my room.

“Um, Babygirl. Does Flynn know what you had planned?” he asks, and I shake my head.

“Fuck no! He would’ve talked me out of it. And I’m not telling him until after the ceremony. Once the dagger is in my hand, I take the oath. There is absolutely nothing he can do anymore,” I say, and he laughs.

“Well, good luck with that,” he says, nodding down the hallway, and I raise a brow and gasp as I see a dark figure with his arms folded.

“Fallon Rose O’Patrick, you are in deep shit, young lady,” my father says sternly as Kane comes from behind us and stands next to him.

Mother fucker!