CHAPTER 34

LAURA's:

"What the actual hell, Laura"

My eyes locked onto Sonia, my mind suddenly rising with a mix of emotions. I feel anger, guilt, and trepidation. But not for Sonia.

It was for me. I looked down at my hands, and a tickle of my blood dropped on them. I left myself weakened to the exploit of another man.

Maxwell was different and I could see that but how different. His father was one of the council elders and what I knew was that they all wanted to kill me and keep the throne for themselves.

To have someone like Sonia and Alex sit on my throne. Someone who the elders knew they could easily control.

Unlike me, I was level-headed and barely ever listened to their words.

That was what I feared most.

Why won't Maxwell be among them? What if he was just playing me, letting my guard now and marking me trust him and then, betraying me afterward?

I wanted it not to be true but I couldn't let what happened the last time Alex killed me happen again, but this time Maxwell. I told myself not t