Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
And then, at last, they appeared.
I didn’t even blink.
At the far end of the path, under the cascade of blue light my father emerged from the shadows with his sapphire robe swirling around him.
And beside him with her hand tucked neatly into the crook of his arm, was Moni.
Finally.
And she was more captivating than ever.
The gown—deep blue shimmering silk—clung to her frame like it had been poured onto her skin. A fur coat was draped over her shoulders as she walked.
Jo gasped. “Damn, sis.”
A crown of sapphires sat on her newly shaved head.
Camera flashes snapped on the edges of the trail.
My father had only invited three newspapers to the event—the ones that were the most loyal to him.
Moni.
She looked amazing, but it was her face that had my body vibrating. The steadiness in her gaze, the calm tilt of her chin—it was the face of someone who absolutely belonged on the throne next to mine.
She was a queen walking into a kingdom that had forgotten it was hers.
And my father knew it.
He boldly held her arm like he was presenting her to us all, like he was the one who’d carved her into this image of ruthless perfection.
Like she was his.
All his.
He even had his damned mouth curved into a smug, satisfied smile, and it took everything in me not to cross the space between us and cut that smile from his face.
Chen exhaled slowly beside me. “Lei, they’re here. Now you must focus and not play any of his mental games.”
I didn’t look at Chen.
My gaze returned to Moni’s face.
The jazz continued its slow, murderous wail, every note stretching the tension tighter and tighter.
Enough of this shit. I’m done giving him his fucking way.
Chen caught the shift in my posture before anyone else did. “Lei. . .what are you going to do?”
I pushed away from my throne and left Soaring Precious where it lay.
Chen called out to me, “Lei, You’re supposed to stay here.”
“I’m the fucking Mountain Master.” I headed away.
Murmurs swept through the guests like ripples in water as I moved.
Some watched Moni and my father.
Others’ gazes locked on me, wide-eyed and stunned.
I got around the table and then leapt off the platform.
A few women gasped.
The drop from the platform was nothing. A clean, sharp movement. My body landed steady, muscles coiling as I straightened my shoulders.
The orchestra faltered again.
Confused notes sputtered into silence before half of them started playing Moni’s theme song again—slow, jazzy, and dripping in murderous confidence.
But the other half panicked and shifted to my theme song. A low, violent march.
The sounds were all tension-soaked and thunderous.
A hot, chaotic mess of sound.
I felt it—both themes clawing for dominance, competing like predators but I didn’t stop.
I stormed toward the entrance.
You really thought I was going to sit back as you walked my woman to me? What the fuck is wrong with you?
Even from across the space, I could see my father’s face twist as the music disintegrated into a tangled cacophony of crazy.
I was ruining his moment.
You don’t like that, do you? When your plans don’t work out. It sucks. Right?
Anger flashed in his narrowed eyes. He slowed his steps as though trying to maintain control, but I could see it—my father was beyond pissed.
And he should be.
Because I didn’t give a fuck!
A second later, Moni saw me. Her head tilted slightly and her lips curved into a soft, knowing smile.
I fucking missed you. Do you know that? Can you even understand how much?
That smile split through my rage, anchoring me for a second before everything flared hotter.
I picked up my pace.
The space around me turned into a blur of blue banners, chandeliers, and terrified faces.
I got closer and noticed that my father tightened his grip on her arm, yanking her closer.
Meanwhile, his other hand shifted low to the hilt of his sword.
I dare you to take it out. We can fucking fight right here.
I continued forward and when I reached the center of the path, the orchestra’s sound devolved into even more chaos—one trumpet let out a broken wail, strings fumbled in confusion, and I could hear the musicians snapping at each other.
My father and she got to me and stopped.
Then, my father sneered. “This is your Mountain Mistress’s moment. Her debut. What do you think you’re doing?”
I met his glare with one of my own, stepping closer until the space between us vanished. “If that’s true, if this is my Mountain Mistress, then why are you next to her?” My voice dropped lower, cutting through the noise like a blade.
“She’s my Mountain Mistress. Right? Not yours. You had your moment with Mom. Let mine go.”
Moni tried to move from him.
My father wouldn’t budge and that other hand flexed on the hilt of his sword. He didn’t speak at first, but I could see the rage bubbling just beneath the surface—his chest rose and fell heavier.