Page 230 of Lethal King

“It means ‘lion man’. Isn’t that nice? I can be your lion, kitten. And believe me, I’m so much more fearsome than that fool you’ve fallen for.”

Before I can respond, Leander forces a rancid kiss onto my captive lips.

I nearly gag.

“A lion would never be as scared as you are right now,” I spit when Leander finally releases me.

But I’m not just talking about any lion. Only one matters.

Rian.

My lion.

“Who says I’m scared?” Leander tsks.

“You’re pale as a ghost,” I point out, trying to distract from my own paleness. All the heat has been drained from my body.

I didn’t think Leander even had it in him to imagine such depraved cruelty. But he keeps on shocking me in the worst way possible.

“I’m just tired,” he mumbles in response. Pushing himself back, he leans over to catch his reflection in the window. The vain fucker. “it’s been a busy week.”

“No. You’re scared,” I keep pushing, afraid of what will happen if I give him a chance to breathe. “You’re worried you aren’t as evil as you want to be.”

“No. Idiot girl. That’s not it,” Leander sneers, looking back at me.

“What is it then?”

“None of your fucking business.”

“… Maybe I can help.”

By now, I’m just buying time—anything to save myself from the horrid fate he just described.

It doesn’t sound like there’s any chance Tytus is going to come to my rescue.

But that doesn’t mean Rian won’t.

Still, doubt invades my mind.

How will he know where I am? How will he even know what’s happened?

A knot forms in my gut as I realize what’s going to have to happen.

Shit.

Rian is going to have to find Tytus, or Tytus is going to have to find him. They’re going to have to find a way to work together. That’s my only hope.

Fuck.

How the hell is that going to work?

The knot in my gut tightens… before being crushed by a heavy warmth.

They’ll make it work.

They both care about me. They’ll do whatever it takes. I believe it. I know it.

I just have to hold out long enough for them to make it here.