Page 134 of Wanted

“This is Kamila Ruby Wraith. I’m your new queen.”

The receptionist fainted, and the other end of the line went quiet. “How?”

“Aram Wraith is dead, and I will take over to reform Katantia.”

♥♠♥

Adonis had shaved his hair off.

He sat next to me on the sectional sofa of my home. This was where I held audiences now. Jordan sat at the table on the other end of the room, possessed by his laptop. Fylox stared Adonis down, scanning him with his judging eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out.

“You don’t have to be sorry for me,” Adonis responded, a weak smile coating his tired face. “I was just his—”

“He loved you,” I told Adonis. He tended to think of himself as Travis’s secret, but he wasn’t. The ones who loved him knew of Adonis. “He valued the time you spent together. I’ll never regret introducing the two of you.”

“It was an honor for Travis to serve you. I’m sure Felicita told you already… If he had the chance, I’m sure he’d do it again,” Adonis said, lowering his gaze. He sniffled. “He’d protect you the way he couldn’t protect your mother.”

“Are you okay?” I asked him, scooting closer to him. Immediately alert, Fylox straightened his posture. My protector cleared his throat.

“I’m fine,” Adonis said.

“You don’t look fine. Where do you live these days?” I didn’t want to make a comment on it, but he didn’t seem healthy. I recognized an addict when I saw one. Plus, he reeked. When was the last time he had taken a shower? I tolerated this because I knew Adonis, but I wouldn’t have permitted him entrance into my home if it were any other man.

“I’m staying with friends.”

“Elaborate,” I demanded.

“I’ve been disowned by my family after your dad had me raped as part of his weekly sex fests. Punishment boys don’t deserve my family’s name. I’ve been sucking dick for money, is that what you want to hear? Jesus, Kamila,” Adonis blurted out.

“That’s your queen. Address her with respect, or I’m going to kill you like her daddy killed your lover,” Fylox threatened Adonis. His nonchalant voice didn’t affect me, but his words were cruel. Adonis started sobbing, and I glared at Fylox. Jordan would’ve lectured him if he weren’t enraptured into whatever went on in front of him on the screen.

“I know you’ve been involved with social issues before,” I told Adonis. Travis had always gushed about Adonis’ skills. He hadn’t gone to a fancy school because his father had only started making money with condoms once he arrived in Katantia. Adonis’s family was new money, and Adonis had a drive that enthused Travis. “Do you want to work in the new government? You can earn good money and get your own place.”

“I don’t need or want your charity,” he stated, sobering up. He held back his tears. “I’ve got friends.”

“I know you do. You’re my friend, Adonis. Travis wouldn’t want you out there—”

“He’s dead. I don’t…. I don’t fucking care what he wanted anymore!”

Adonis stormed out of my home, and he didn’t look back.

♥♠♥

To my surprise, chaos seized when I was announced as the new Queen of Katantia. I was the first woman to hold the title. Sure, manic phone callers were asking for Weston to murder me and take over the crown. Death threats found their way to the gates in envelopes and boxes.

But they never entered the palace.

Once I took over, the reorganization of the palace began. The staff and the guards were fired if they didn’t adhere to the new rules. The guards were fired anyway; Jordan Winters became the new security advisor, taking over from Travis Cross. Aram hadn’t even been dead for more than a day, and Jordan came up to me with elaborate plans for new security measures for the palace.

They would cost us. Anything I planned from now on would cost my country.

And I had no fucking idea how I would find it.

Then there was Spencer Rawlins.

While Fylox mutilated my father in front of me, Jordan sought out Spencer. He was hidden somewhere in the palace, safe from the riots that Jordan had induced. But you couldn’t fool Jordan. In the few weeks that he’d spent on Katantia, he already knew the palace better than some of my family did.