Chapter 27

Cora

Rock looked more unnerved than usual. His sharp eyes flicked behind me toward the entrance.

“I didn’t know where to find you earlier,” he said, his voice low. “I looked everywhere for you. Your sister’s outside.”

I frowned. “Daisy?”

But why would she be here? And why was she waiting outside? It didn’t seem right.

“She’s trying to get in. She’s kicking up a storm out there, shouting and stuff. Claims she was supposed to be invited.”

I let out a slow breath and rubbed at my temple. “Of course she is.”

“I figured it would be best to come and find you to ask how best to deal with it,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “Do you want me to get someone to escort her off the property?”

I considered it. Truly, deeply considered it.

“I’ve got it,” I said finally with a sigh. “I’ll talk to her. Thanks, though.”

He nodded and stepped aside.

I slipped through the double doors and out into the cooler air of the hotel corridor, where the murmurs and music from the party dulled to a distant hum. And there she was.

Daisy.

Perched by the velvet ropes like she owned them, even though she very much didn’t. She was dressed lavishly, with expensive jewelry adorning her throat and wrists and a long red dress, the color of blood.

The second she saw me, her expression twisted. “Unbelievable,” she spat. “They let you in.”

My heels clicked across the marble as I approached. “Nice to see you too.”

“I wasn’t invited,” she said, her voice rising. “Do you know how humiliating that is? After all I’ve done for him, all that we’ve done together, and they didn’t even put me on the guest list. But somehow you still made the cut.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m a loyal employee of his company,” I said flatly.

Daisy’s eyes widened, but just for a second. Then she scowled. “So what? You think you belong in there more than I do? I deserve a spot in here, too! We know each other very well, actually.”

“I think,” I said calmly, “Kingston wanted to keep this part to just his employees and political allies. I wouldn’t take it personally.”

A beat of silence passed before she exploded.

“You always ruin things for me! Always!” Her voice echoed down the hall. “You act like you’re better than me, but you’re not! You’re just pathetic enough to fall in love with a man who doesn’t even want you!”

Before I could respond, Rock appeared at my side.

“If you’re going to act like this and cause a scene, I’m going to have ot ask you to leave,” he said firmly to Daisy.

Daisy’s lips curled into a snarl, her eyes darting between the two of us. For a moment, I saw an echo of her at the age of seven—the spoiled, clever girl throwing a temper tantrum to twist reality to suit her.

But this time, she turned and stormed off, her heels slamming into the floor like gunshots.

I exhaled shakily.

“Thanks, Rock,” I muttered.

He nodded and gave me a look of silent support. “Let’s head back inside. I think we’ve both earned some more champagne.”

I stood there for a second, collecting myself, then turned back toward the ballroom and followed Rock in. Toward Kingston.

The part was still in full swing as though nothing at all was amiss. It was like the encounter with my sister moments ago hadn’t happened at all.

My gaze swept over the crowd, searching.

The new Alpha King hadn’t moved from the balcony.

When I approached this time, there was no one to stop me. No Rock. No Amy. No Daisy. Just the two of us and the city skyline glittering behind him.

“Hey,” I said softly.

Kingston turned. His expression didn’t harden the way I expected it to. It didn’t shut me out. If anything, it softened.

“I just heard about Daisy,” he said. “The Head of Security told me a woman in a navy dress was telling her off. Sorry you had to deal with that.”

I shook my head. “She’s not your problem.”

“You shouldn’t have to endure her spewing verbal abuse,” he said. “It’s not right.”

I smiled faintly. “You’re one to talk. We’ve both gotten our fair share of name-calling recently.”

He looked at me then, really looked at me, and something in his gaze made my breath hitch. He was standing so close that I was overwhelmed by the scent of him and the heat radiating from his body.

“You came to talk to me,” he said.

“I did.”

He didn’t ask why. He didn’t need to.

I stepped closer, and for a moment, it felt like we were back in the warehouse. I was awash in the simple comfort of being near him.

“I never got to thank you,” I said, “for saving me from the warehouse and the fire.”

“You shouldn’t have gone in alone. Both times. But especially that fire.”

“I couldn’t let the project be destroyed.”

He gave a small, almost fond shake of his head. “You never do the easy thing, do you?”

“I try,” I whispered. “It just never works out that way.”

We stood in silence for a beat. The sounds of the party were muffled now, distant. It was like we’d stepped into a snow globe, separate from the rest of the world.

“I don’t regret going in after you in the warehouse or the lab,” he added. “I’d do it again.”

My throat tightened. “Even if you got burned?”

He gave a crooked half-smile. “Especially then.”

“I’m sorry about the photo,” I said. “I really didn’t know it would get out like that. I even tried to get Zach to not release it but—”

“Zach?” Kingston repeated, tilting his head to the side like a curious dog.

“M-my ex-husband. He had the picture and wanted money, so he wouldn’t release it. I even paid him off but—”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Kingston said softly.

“I didn’t want it to hurt your candidacy,” I said. My voice sounded small even in my own ears.

“That was kind of you, but I would have handled it if you had only talked to me.”

“You haven’t exactly been in a talkative mood recently,” I pointed out.

Kingston stiffened and sighed. “I know. And I’m sorry about that, really. But I appreciate you handling things. I appreciate it more than you know.”

Something shifted between us. Something fragile and real. For the first time in weeks, I felt seen.

Then, as if on cue, a staff member stepped out onto the balcony. “Alpha King? They’re ready for your toast.”

Kingston nodded, the spell between us breaking.

“Duty calls,” he said wryly.

I watched him walk back into the ballroom, straightening his jacket as the crowd turned to greet him with cheers and applause.

He raised a glass. The cameras flashed. A speech followed. I barely heard the words over the joyous audience.

“I vow to protect everyone under my reign,” he was saying. “No matter what their bloodline is, they will prosper.”

Was he insinuating that humans might be able to reap the benefits of his rule, too? It seemed impossible, but others had begun to exchange questioning looks as well.

But Kingston seemed oblivious to the scrutiny surrounding his declaration.

Then he brought the champagne to his lips. He took a long swallow, and I watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

I smiled as he lowered the glass, clapping with the rest.

And then he collapsed.

The room erupted in chaos.