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“No, actually, I’htfully unaware that it’s our family who should be on the Elskov throne, but your lot dabbled in poison and voilà, the Dahl dynasty ended during a single dinner One quick-witted Madsen took advantage of the power vacuum, and your ancestors stole the throne I’ve just taken it back”
“How is that even possible if all of the Dahls died?”
“Now you of all people should know that while it’s not easy, royalty can hide a of the evidence, and you’re all set Of course, what end is in actuality truth We are the lost Dahls, and the throne is ours; it is divine provenance,” he said, his voice ringing with conviction as a calmness settled over him
Walther wasn’t crazy He wasn’t greedy He was a true believer Bile rose in Elle’s throat The urge to run as far away as fast as possible seized her by the throat If she couldn’t find a way to escape, she’d forfeit her life She jiggled her legs; they felt better Maybe not 100 percent, but close If she could piss hio on a rant, she could make a break for it
“Wow,” she said with just enough of the insolence she used to iers who caall you then to see my cousin Alton on it”
The air sizzled around Walther “He won’t be there for er Whether you marry him or not, you will carry hting a wrong o”
Her stooing to happen,” she said, her voice tre “I’m not alone anymore”
“Did you er, then a second, and then a final finger—“three explosions e took off? There’s nothing left of your Resistance”
She pictured Dom, his wide s roo Roman Holiday The feel of his hands on her bare flesh The look in his eyes when he’d come with her name on his lips
Had it been love? Yes
Dom had deserved more out of life than to die in her name Grief twisted her heart until all that was left was fury and regret
Walther reached into the pocket of his wool coat He withdrew a needle and uncapped it “So do I need to shoot you up again, or can I count on you to be a good little princess alk across the tar car and not make a fuss?”
Clear liquid for to the end of the needle It had taken her fourteen hours to get back after he’d shot her up last ti back under She’d buy her time He couldn’t have his eyes on her with the needle at the ready all of the time
“Elskov is an island,” she said “Where in the world would I go if I did et away?”
“That is the s I’ve heard you say since you woke up” He yanked a thick metal cuff from his other coat pocket and clapped it around her wrist, securing it in place with a thin chain “Now this will ensure you stay with us Part GPS tracker and part ticking time bomb, it will let us knohere you are at all times, and if you try to take it off, this little bit here”—he pointed to what looked like a sent you just enjoyed, but in a round before your head even processes what happened Honestly, I’ where you are or the fun of seeing you fight the toxin” He held out his arm “Now, shall we?”