Page 64 of Empress of Ruin
If I get Spencer on my side, he might be able to get me Ryan. And if that’s the case, I win.
Those are a lot of if’s. If I fuck up the meeting, or get Spencer but not Ryan, then I have to find a way to bribe Raegan. And that woman isn’t bribable.
I shut down my computer and head out of the office, needing some fresh air to help me think.
I find Lyra sitting on the patio already, which raises my eyebrows. I keep it locked for a reason; she must’ve convinced Locke to open it for her.
“It’s chilly,” I chide, grabbing a throw blanket from the outdoor sofa and draping it over her shoulders. “How did you get out here?”
“Told Locke that you gave me permission,” she says absently, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. “You still shouldn’t be out of bed.”
“I have an empire to run.” I shrug. “I can’t afford to take a break. Especially not now.”
She turns to look at me. “Now that there’s conflict… within The Eyes?”
“A little more than conflict.” I help myself to a seat beside her, briefly scanning the text on her laptop. It’s the marked-up manuscript she’s working on with her agent. She’s on page 250—almost done.
“Oh?” she twists to face me, but doesn’t put distance between us. I see that as a win.
I nod. “I told you the tribunal’s coming up. Silas will want to make his case against me, calling for my head because of what I did to him.” I smirk at the memory. “And I’ll make my case on why he should die—because he violated the rule of coming after family members.”
“But we weren’t family,” Lyra points out quietly.
“We were about to be,” I reply. “You were pregnant with my child. I’d made my intentions clear. That should be enough for the judges to excuse my actions and kill Silas.”
“Should?” Lyra repeats.
“Should. I was functioning within a grey area. While it shouldtechnicallybe allowed, arguments can be made against it.”
“And if you lose… it’ll be your head?” Lyra whispers.
I meet her eyes. “Are you worried about me, little bird?”
She swallows. “Worried aboutme, more like. I understand I’m right next to you on the chopping block.” But her eyes tell a different story. They’re filled with an intriguing mixture of anger, fear, and concern. Sheisworried about me, but she’s still at war with herself. My little bird doesn’t know what to think.
“I’ll be alright,” I assure her. IhopeI’ll be all right. “And whatever happens during the tribunal, your safety is assured.”Thatmuch is beyond doubt, and I can live with that. Or die with the knowledge, as it were. Despite recent mishaps, I have an extremely competent security team and a lot of money. She’ll be safe and set for life.
“Oh,” she says quietly. “When is the tribunal?”
“Three weeks.”
She inhales sharply. “That’s not very much time.”
“It isn’t,” I agree. “But it’s enough for me to set my affairs in order and implement a winning strategy.” My lips curve. “Youareworried for me, Lyra. It’s okay to admit it.”
She averts her eyes.
“Look at me,” I prompt. When she doesn’t, I shut her laptop, set it aside, and put a palm on her thigh. “Look at me.”
She meets my gaze.
“We don’t have to be at war.” I’ve already made my sentiments on this clear, but they never quite land. “Stop putting us on opposite sides.”
Every time I think there’s progress between us, it’s two steps forward, four steps back. I despise it, but not quite as much as I hate the turmoil in her eyes. This fight she’s fighting is making her miserable.
Nobody gets to make her feel that way; not even her. I want to protect her from every bad thing there is in this world, including herself.
“Is it the tape leaking?” I ask. “Is that what’s causing this barrier?”
