Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“It’s in everyone’s best interests if the European Ministry has a hand in what happens in this region. If Aiden’s smart, he’ll understand this implicitly.”
“And exactly how are you planning to uncover how malleable Aiden is willing to be to the Ministry’s wishes?” There. That came out without a pound of sarcasm.
“A test,” Mara announced with far too much smugness. “Christopher Heller and his clan were followers of Damon James. They don’t wish to leave the US territory as Aiden ordered after he defeated Damon. They have been in hiding the past six months. They would like for Aiden to formally pardon them and allow them to remain in the Americas.”
A harsh, incredulous laugh left Ronan as he flopped back down on his pillows. “Really? You expect him to just forgive the man who actively worked to kill him and his clan. But not only that, you want Aiden to allow him to keep his little cabal of power so he can plot and scheme against the Variks yet again. So the Ministry thinks Aiden, who clearly survived assassination attempts and general chaotic upheaval leading up to him seizing power, is a complete and utter moron.”
Ronan scrubbed a hand over his face. This…this was why he’d stayed away from the Ministry and their out-of-touch insanity. How he’d thought working for the Ministry would put him more in touch with the people of this period was beyond him.
“I’m sure Christopher will have no qualms over swearing allegiance to King Aiden once he is pardoned,” Mara said in her usual dead voice. Ronan narrowed his eyes on her, but he honestly couldn’t tell if the woman actually believed what she was saying. He prayed not.
“This is ludicrous and we both know it,” Ronan muttered. “I can’t imagine in what world Aiden would agree to this. What exactly are you planning to whisper in his ear to convince him of this so-called wisdom?”
“I don’t know. What are you planning to whisper in his ear?” Mara countered.
“No!” Ronan launched himself off the bed and to his feet. He took a step toward Mara, and Michael finally moved a muscle for the first time since Ronan had entered the room. The tall vampire took a step toward Mara as well, as if he planned to place himself between Mara and Ronan. It was on the tip of Ronan’s tongue to dare the vampire to take a fucking swing at him. At this point, he was so pissed, he was sure a little physical violence was the only way he was going to calm down again.
But he didn’t. He stalked toward the door to his room, putting some much-needed distance between himself and Mara.
“That was not part of the job description when I was assigned to this little emissary mission. I’m supposed to back you up, make sure you don’t get your head removed from your body,” Ronan snarled as he turned and walked toward the bed. There wasn’t nearly enough room to properly pace.
“Yes, support me,” she repeated, her smug smile still firmly in place. “As part of that support, you’re going to use your obvious influence over Aiden to sway him in the right direction. Since you’ve known each other in the past, it will be much easier for you to speak with him and convince him of the wisdom of aligning with the European Ministry’s wishes.”
Ronan was gritting his teeth so hard, he was sure one of the molars was about to crack. This was complete and utter bullshit. Even if by some wild and insane coincidence Ronan agreed with this stupidity, there was no way in hell Aiden was going to listen to him. Yes, they had some long and distant past that had at one time bonded them as friends, but the vampire clearly didn’t trust him now.
The reason for that lack of trust was blatantly obvious now.
Aiden was a freaking genius for not trusting him. The Ministry might have zero clue as to the extent of their history, but at just the barest whiff of a past and they were practically tripping over themselves to use Ronan against Aiden. Fuck Aiden’s wishes. Fuck what was best for the Variks and all of the Americas. It was all about what they wanted.
There was no doubt in Ronan’s mind that Mara had already called her contact in the Ministry to report that Ronan was familiar with Aiden. Ronan would also have to face some kind of hell for not coming forward with his past knowledge of the new king. Not that he was worried about it. They’d made some vague threats in the past, but not one of them had the balls to try to back any of it up with more than talk.
But now was not a good time to test any of them.