Page 14 of Godless Saints

Aleksei flipped a page, voice even. “Nobody is seducing or stabbing anyone. Strategy.”

I kept scrolling. Found the shop. These had better fucking work.

“Thorn is losing Favor.”

“Temporary.”

I flicked through bouquets. I stayed quiet, boots toward the hearth. Misha noticed. Of course he fucking did.

“Oh, he’s gone. Jesus Christ—you like him.”

I enjoy irritating him. Fuck.

“I enjoy provoking him.”

“No, no. I know that face.” Misha pointed with his glass. “That’s your I’m-about-to-ruin-my-life face.”

Aleksei looked up. Not ideal.

Misha leaned in, grinning like a shit. “Our boy followed Moon Hyun-seo into the courtyard and grabbed him—”

I kicked him hard before he could finish. I considered murder briefly.

“I was handling the Writ.”

“You looked ready to bend him over the railing.”

Glass clicked against my ring.

“Misha,” Aleksei warned.

Misha only grinned wider. Fucking Lovchy. Aleksei finally set the papers down, stare cutting straight through me.

“If you think with your dick, I’ll revoke the Blood Writ and give it to Declan.”

Smirk gone.

The name hit first. Just the name. Declan didn’t destabilize people. Declan broke them until the lesson stuck.

The thought of Declan’s hands on my Moon turned my blood to ice.

No. Absolutely fucking not. Declan wasn’t stealing my hunt.

Misha barked a laugh.

Aleksei ignored him. “Moon Hyun-seo is useful because he’s controlled. Aster built half their Seat strategy on it. We crack it publicly, they bleed Favor.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Because this is sabotage, not foreplay.”

“Counterpoint.” Misha lifted a finger. “Historically? Fantastic way to destroy someone.”

Aleksei closed his eyes.

Misha plowed on. “Make the pretty prince obsessed, ruin his focus, make him crack in public, yank the rug. Efficient. Mean. Romantic.”

“Nothing about that was romantic.”