Well, she wasn’t wrong. I certainly wished I were doing those kinds of things. Unfortunately for me, a normal life—including a normal boyfriend—wasn’t in my cards. Besides that, it was time to get back to my gilded cage.
I’d never considered running away more than I did at this moment. If only it didn’t mean leaving Linc and all my responsibilities behind. I’d lose everything—including any chance of ever replacing Mother as the Magnate.
The only way to take her down was from the inside—a place I had yet to be.
“Heard you had a rough day,” Linc said, as he entered my apartment on the thirty-fourth floor, bag of Chinese takeout in hand. Delicious smells quickly permeated the air, making my mouth water.
A lump lodged in my throat as his words registered.
“I thought we could watch a movie. Brought your favorite.” He held up the bag. “It’s from that place down the street that you love.”
I stepped forward and wrapped him in a giant hug, squeezing him so tight he grunted. “Don’t know what I’d do without you, little bro. You’re like a solid three out of five stars.”
“That’s it. I’m taking this back.” He started to turn for the door.
Laughing, I grabbed onto his shirt. “Ten. Ten stars!”
“Too late.” He pulled away from me.
“No, wait! I’ll let you pick the movie.”
He froze, pointing a finger at me and narrowing his eyes. “Fine. But it will have cars and action and no kissing.”
I nodded once.
He sat the bag on the counter and pulled out two to-go containers, weighing them both in his hands.
“What are you doing?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.
“Making sure I get more schezwan chicken.”
My eyes rolled of their own volition.
Oh, brother.
Chapter Five
A few days after Mother’s heinous display of power, I found myself once again in the last place I wanted to be—her presence. We waited in the grand room on the main level for our guests to arrive. My hands balled into fists as I counted several of the same awful people present today, lounging about.
Sunlight bathed the area in rich natural light, glittering through massive floor-to-ceiling windows that arched at the top. Granite pillars lined the walls, and extravagant jewel-toned furnishings filled the space.
If I didn’t have so many horrible memories here, I would call the space stunning. Honestly, ostentatious was probably a better word. The building resembled a luxury hotel and consisted of everything Mother needed to run her empire. All it lacked was a moat filled with sharks, although I supposed the Pride fulfilled that role.
Grinding my teeth, I watched Priscilla saunter into the room and take up a position near Mother with confidence.
She might as well be the Heir.
With an air of haughty disdain, the Magnate herself sat perched on a purple velvet couch in the center of the room, dressed in a fitted suit, and an elaborately coiffed hairstyle pinned low on her head. With her legs crossed at the knee, she slowly rapped her fingertips on the armrest. Her face held a blank expression but with a hint of annoyance lurking beneath.
Father kept his place at her side, and many of the court milled about—some sitting, some standing—their chatter filling the space with a soft hum. Standing away from my parents, I kept out of Mother’s direct line of sight. With arms folded, my shoulder pressed against a cold granite pillar.
Linc was across the room, speaking with some of the younger court members. He briefly made eye contact before going back to his conversation. We tried not to draw attention to the fact that we were close because Mother discouraged our alliance.
A cell phone rang out, and I cringed. The sound was on the list of Mother’s punishable transgressions. I followed the noise to an older man frantically pawing at his pockets before finally withdrawing the offending device.
“Whose phone is that?” my mother asked quietly, a chill descending upon the room.
No one answered, but all eyes turned to the man. Several members of Mother’s Pride smirked, leaning forward in anticipation. My stomach churned.
Please don’t let her harm him for not silencing his phone, of all things.
“Percy,” my mother said, with that hard edge she wore as a fashion accessory.
“Yes, Y-your Highness?” Percy responded.
“Leave.”
He nodded and began walking toward the door.
“Not that way,” she said.
My breath stilled, and I swallowed hard as glacial magic prickled my senses.
The room was utterly silent. My mother pointed toward a large open window—one that led to the street in front of the building. “That way, I think.”
Percy immediately swiveled and headed for the window, eyes bulging with fear. Without hesitation, he jumped.
Biting my cheek, I winced at the anguished cry that echoed from the street below. With my heart thundering in my chest, I put on an air of nonchalance and made my way to a window further back. No one else moved.
Peering out, I found the man lying upon the ground—sobbing and cradling an ankle as the building’s footmen assisted him. We were on the first floor, but it was a good ten or twelve feet to the sidewalk below.
This was how Mother kept them in line; she kept them in fear. Nobody wanted to be the next Percy. I watched as they carried him off, the sound of his sobs fading away.
Turning back to the room, I took in the expressions of those around me. As expected, I saw the grins and smirks of those who were amused. I also caught the pale, drawn faces of the nervous. What surprised me were the unguarded few who looked mortified by Mother’s act.
Would they ever decide the abuse must stop?
I shook my head when Linc started moving my way, his face lit with concern. Catching my silent message, he swiveled and reinserted himself back into the crowd. If I were noting discontent in some of these people, then Mother’s cronies were too. Linc didn’t need to be counted amongst them.
Anxious chatter filled the room, quiet at first, then growing to a crescendo.
“Oh, everyone. Calm down,” Mother said, waving her hand in the air. “You’re ruining the ambiance.”
At my mother’s command, the temperature in the room plummeted. Shoulders visibly lowered, deep breaths sounded off. For all appearances, people looked relaxed. Well, everyone except me. I remained tense, waiting for her next move—whatever that may be.
Besides me, my mother’s power of suggestion had one major limitation, and that was proximity. Her target had to be within a certain distance.
Someone cleared their throat as a movement at the doorway caught my eye. Several well-dressed individuals strode into the room.
“Isla.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Don’t embarrass me.”
I gave a terse nod.
“Magnate, it is my honor to present Lady Remmy Frederik, sister to the esteemed Prime Sovereign of Taramur. She will be leading the consortium of delegates from Taramur.” Our trade ambassador indicated a young woman a few years older than me, with beautiful blonde hair and green eyes, wearing a gray pantsuit with a low-cut white blouse beneath and high-end heels. Remmy was the epitome of class. She nodded to the Magnate, who only narrowed her eyes in response.