Downfall: Kingdoms of Sin, Book #1

by Aster, Willow

  The end result is a black shorts set with red embroidered flowers across the chest and along the side of the shorts…with a flash of my midriff showing. It’s not too low but short enough to drive Luka crazy. Unless all of that was fake. It sure didn’t feel fake when he drove into me so hard it took our breath away…

  My hair is down and in loose waves around my face. No twists or braids, just simple, so it doesn’t look like I’m trying too hard.

  Half an hour before they’re scheduled to arrive, I have a panic attack in my room. I lower my head between my legs and am breathing heavily when Ava bursts through the door.

  “They’re here,” she gasps. “What are you doing?”

  I look up and she’s breathing almost as hard as I am.

  “Panicking.”

  “Why?” She frowns at me.

  She has no concept of what it’s like to worry what people think of her or to let a guy consume her.

  “I hope you always stay this way,” I tell her, exhaling through my mouth.

  “Did you hear me say they’re here?”

  “Yes, but I’m trying to calm down first. Why are they early?”

  “Trying to catch us off guard would be my guess.”

  “You need to always stay smart too.”

  She comes over and puts her hand on my forehead. “Are you getting sick?”

  I brush her hand off and she giggles. “Losing a touch of the rottenness would be okay.” I hold up my fingers to show her just how much.

  “You look fucking amazing,” she says when I stand up.

  “Would you stop already with the sailor’s mouth? It does not suit you.”

  “You just told me to never change.”

  This time she’s prepared for when I try to swat her backside and jumps away, cackling.

  “Come on. I can’t wait for him to get an eyeful of you tonight.” She leans in my face on her tiptoes. “Make him suffer.”

  “Sounds like we’re on the same wavelength, little one.”

  * * *

  I hear him before I see him and my heart begins thumping in triple time. Then I hear Mara’s voice and I cringe. Brienne exchanges a look with me and it’s like she’s swallowing something bitter. I’m not the only one who finds Mara so distasteful.

  I enter the room with Ava by my side, Brienne close behind. Everyone stops to look at me: my mother and Jadon, Luka, his parents, and Mara. Just an intimate gathering amongst family. I nearly giggle and have to shove it down. I feel a manic laugh building up in me and that never ends well.

  Cece offers her hand to me and I take it, kissing her on both cheeks. I do the same when Titus offers his hand and the look in his eyes gives me chills. He takes in my outfit and when his eyes reach mine, I’m disgusted by the lust I see in them. I pull my hand away and wish I could go wash it right then. Has he always looked at me that way and I never noticed?

  I ignore Mara and look at Luka.

  “No kisses for me?”

  It’s as if we’ve stepped back in time and it’s our first night at Kings Passage, when he was too cool to be bothered with me but didn’t mind spewing out seductive words to put me under his spell. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this. He’s so far from the guy who snuck into my bedroom and the man I knew in Niaps.

  “Never again.” I turn from him and go stand next to Jadon.

  “Yeah, right.” Mara makes a noise of disbelief behind me, something between a snort and a huff. “You’re not even going to say hello to me?”

  “Hello.”

  Her mouth drops and she stares at her mother, apparently thinking if she glares at her long enough, her mother will defend her. It doesn’t happen.

  Jadon motions for us to sit at the dining table and the five-course meal begins. First, our camembert cheese with red wine, followed by smoked salmon and bleu cheese on a crisp cracker, mini waffles with a caramelized whey cheese, lamb, and mashed potatoes (I stick with the waffles), and cloudberries and cream with coffee.

  Jadon and Titus keep conversation going, discussing the stock market and concerns about crops worldwide with the amount of snow we had this year, and for them, the heat. Luka sits across from me and avoids looking at me. My outfit was a waste on him because other than when I walked into the room, he’s studiously listened to his father or stared at his plate. I think about all the times he’s eaten the meat off of my plate and looked like he wanted to devour me, and I feel a rush of sadness.

  Why did I agree to be here for this? It backfired on me because he obviously feels nothing.

  As soon as I’m done with my dessert, I stand up and excuse myself. Luka’s head jerks up and it’s the only time I’ve seen a reaction from him. The next second his face is wiped clean of all expression and I leave the room before the tears start to fall.

  I’m almost to the bedroom when I hear him call my name. I stop but don’t turn around.

  He comes up behind me and whispers in my ear, “It will be over soon.”

  “What will be over? It’d be over now if you’d just sign the papers.”

  He shakes his head. “Soon. Trust me.”

  My body sags and I want to lean my back against his chest, but I don’t. “Just do it and get it over with already.”

  I start to walk away and he follows, grabbing my arm before I go into my room. “Eden, wait—”

  “You didn’t even check to make sure I was okay after I was nearly killed, Luka, and you want me to—”

  He shakes his head and I don’t finish my sentence. He looks down the hall, almost as if he expects someone to be listening. Brienne stands there, and he relaxes.

  “I know it sounds insane to ask this of you, but know I wouldn’t without good reason.”

  “You’ve spoken in riddles the past two times I’ve seen you. I’m tired, Luka. I’m not cut out for this game.” I open my door and turn around leaning against the doorframe. “Make my life a little easier and divorce me already.”

  He looks down the hall again. “I need to get back. I wish you’d come back in…”

  “And watch you ignore me again? No, thank you.” I stand up straight and step back. “Goodbye, Luka.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  I have a hard time settling into sleep. I jump up when I hear the car start outside and watch as Luka and his family drive away. It feels like another door shutting to us and our ending, even though I still share his name. I don’t know why he insists on stretching this out.

  Jadon peeks his head in my room and sees me staring out the window.

  “Are you okay?”

  I nod, clinching the material of my robe between my fingers. “I will be.” I turn to face him. “Did you find out anything?”

  “This night further cemented the fact that I do not trust Titus Catano. He claims he had nothing to do with our father or this latest threat, and that he only wants to maintain a peaceful relationship, despite the ongoing differences between you and Luka.”

  “My relationship has nothing to do with it. If he had anything to do with Father, it was when things were good between Luka and me. Maybe that’s what he felt threatened by…”

  Jadon looks through me; I can tell his thoughts are rushing through his head. It’s the look he gets when all the pieces are coming together for him, and usually when it does, it’s a profound revelation. I want to push him—plead with him to tell me what he’s thinking—but I know better. He has to work it all out before he’ll spill.

  “I need to look over some paperwork, do some kingly things.” He waves his hand and smirks, trying to snap out of his thoughts. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. And also,” he hesitates for a long moment, “I’m sorry to ask this of you, but can you stay put until we get to the bottom of this with the car explosion?”

  “That could be forever! It’s finally getting nice out—I need to be outside.”

  “Be outside here, where we have more of a handle on security. It won’t be long.”

  Luka’s words come ba
ck to me. It will be over soon.

  What aren’t you telling me, Jadon? I want to ask him so badly, but I know by the determination in his eyes that I won’t be getting anything out of him tonight.

  I turn back to the window. “It must be nice having control of all of us. Holding all the answers inside and keeping the reins on us. Must be really nice.”

  He puts his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t be like that. You know that’s not what this is.”

  “You may not see it that way, but I have been a trained puppet my whole life, simply by being born a woman. This is where it ends. You are my king and I respect you as my king and brother, but I will not let anyone pull my strings anymore. Not you, not Mother, and not the Catano family.”

  He grins. “I think you might have finally grown up, Edie. Just don’t forget to use caution and wisdom while you’re trying out those wings.”

  I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Go do your kingly things and let me sleep.”

  He kisses my cheek and leaves me alone.

  * * *

  Despite all my bold talk about doing whatever I want, I stay in the house for the next two weeks, only going outside on our patio in the mornings and on my balcony at night. I paint in the sun-room off of the patio and embrace the solitude. I create a series of ocean landscapes and continue the series that I try to keep hidden from prying eyes—all of Luka. Everyone leaves me alone for the most part. I see them at dinner but otherwise keep to myself. I feel the need to heal by myself and to take time before trying to figure out the next step. I’m still in limbo and it’s still driving me crazy, but I’m gaining more peace inside with each passing day. At least that’s what I tell myself: all of this solitude has to be helping.

  It changes the next morning when Ava pounds on my door at eight in the morning. I was up all night painting and didn’t go to bed until five, so I yell at her.

  “Go away!”

  “I have to show you something!”

  “Show me later,” I moan into my pillow.

  She stalks in anyway, completely ignoring me, and throws the newspaper at me. I crack an eye open and glare at her but then look at the paper. She has it folded so I can only see Luka and Nadia.

  All I see are the words: New baby for the clandestine couple…and I don’t even read the rest. It shows them leaving the hospital and I get up and run past Ava to the bathroom, throwing up.

  “You have to do something about this. He’s making you look like the biggest fool.” Ava gets a wet washcloth and hands it to me when I’m done.

  “You think I don’t know that?” I croak. “What do you suggest I do? He won’t sign the papers.”

  “Show this to your lawyer and I think this will get you out of it.”

  “It might not even be true.” I lean my head against the wall. “But I’ll try. You’re right. I have to do something. You could’ve told me when I was fully awake, though.”

  “Look, I know you’re going through a lot, working things out and all that, but you can’t stay in that room painting the days away.”

  “Jadon told me to stay put. Someone tried to kill me, in case you forgot!”

  “I could never forget that, but this with Luka needs to be put to rest. You deserve at least that much.”

  I nod and get to my feet. “You’re right. I’ve been wallowing too long.”

  “You said it, not me.” She grins.

  I flick her with a towel and she jumps out of the way.

  While I’m grabbing my toothbrush, she adds, “So I called your lawyer and he should be here in half an hour.”

  “Ava!”

  “What? Someone has to be proactive around here.”

  “Not your place.”

  “You weren’t getting it done.” She shrugs, and in spite of being furious with her, I love her for looking out for me.

  I take a quick shower and take a picture of the headline. Not letting myself think about it too much, I send it with a text to Luka.

  This seals the deal. Thanks for that. My lawyer will be finalizing our divorce with or without you.

  After I’ve sent it, I hope that I’m right.

  * * *

  A few nights later, I’m at dinner and my lawyer has just left. He says my divorce should be final within the month. Luka never responded to my text and it’s just as well. Brienne rushes in the dining room, face flushed.

  “I think you need to see this.” She’s out of breath and motioning for us to follow her into the living room.

  I get up and follow her and so does Mother and Jadon. Ava is the last to enter the room. The TV is on and there’s a breaking story.

  “What’s going on?” I haven’t seen what is so important yet, it’s just reporters waiting at a courthouse. “Wait, is that Niaps?” It is.

  I squeeze my hands together when I start to shake, feeling in my gut that this is big. And I don’t have to wait long. The doors open and Titus is led out in handcuffs, guards surrounding him and he’s shuffled to a waiting car. The reporter quietly gives the play-by-play.

  “It appears that the Niapsian king, Titus Catano, has been arrested for conspiracy of murder on two counts. What this means for the throne is still in question, as far as how soon Prince Luka will take the title…and the prince has been in the news a lot lately himself. What does this mean for the royal family?”

  They talk and talk and talk, but I’m stuck on conspiracy of murder on two counts. So it is true.

  Everyone turns to see my reaction, but I have to move. I leave the room and go outside. If he’s responsible for the threat on my life, I don’t have a reason to be afraid. I walk for at least an hour, mulling over every possibility.

  When I get back to the house, I grab my phone and walk out on my balcony.

  I’m tired of waiting. I call Luka.

  He answers on the first ring and says these four words: “I’m coming to you.”

  Chapter Forty

  It’s early the next morning before he arrives and I haven’t slept at all. Jadon and I are the ones who let him in, even Brienne hasn’t gotten up yet and she’s always up before I am. The house is quiet and I’m glad that Jadon and I are together for this.

  Luka looks as exhausted as I feel. He’s lost weight, something I hadn’t fully noticed when he was here the last time because of his suit, but without his jacket over his button-down shirt and black pants, it shows. He has a bag slung over his shoulder and it looks heavy.

  He moves toward me, as if to hug me and I step back.

  “Right,” he says, holding his hands up.

  Jadon leads us to his office and shuts the door. He motions for Luka to sit down and folds his hands together. “Give me one good reason why I should be trusting you inside this house.”

  “I’ll give you several reasons. I’m the one who turned in all the evidence against my father. I’m prepared to show you all of it.” He holds his bag up.

  Jadon motions for him to get on with it and Luka pulls out a large file and sets it in front of Jadon.

  “I left here because things weren’t sitting right with me about your father. Things my father said in the months leading up to that. The way he was so obsessed with our marriage and tried to be involved in our relationship. In ways I never told you about,” he says to me. “Basile and I started meeting regularly when I went back…somewhere different each time and without a tail unless we wanted it. He was in agreement with me and ready to see my father pay for not only this but things he’s done in the past. I finally learned the depths my father could go to and when he hired Juan and your car exploded within days of him being here, I was truly terrified that I wouldn’t have enough on him to keep him from doing this again…until he succeeded.”

  He bows his head and rubs his eyes and when he looks up again, the exhaustion in his face is almost more than I can take. Everything in me aches to comfort him and I end up sitting on my hands to keep from doing just that.

  “How were you able to prove it was him?” Jadon cuts to the chase.<
br />
  “After we came here for that farce of a dinner party, he was overly cocky. He was after me all the time about cutting ties with you once your father…” He clears his throat and swallows hard. “Can I just say…I know what my family has done can never be forgiven…but no one is sorrier than I am that my family is the cause of such an unspeakable act.” His eyes fill with tears. “I haven’t been able to rest, knowing that my father committed this crime against you and your family. If he’d succeeded with you—” He looks at me and shakes his head.

  The sorrow in his eyes, the guilt; he’s drowning in it.

  “Nadia was able to secure papers that I couldn’t get my hands on. After the explosion, she acquired phone records of his conversations with Juan before and after he was here, and in that second conversation, Juan said a name that made everything come together. Caulder Farthing.”

  Jadon slams his hand on the desk and I jump.

  “Fuck!” he yells.

  “Who is he in relation to the king in Alidonia?” I ask, unsure of how this all ties together. It’s a blow to Jadon, that much is obvious. Being the female that I am, I’m still stuck on Nadia.

  “He’s the nephew and right hand to the king.” Jadon goes through the file, his forehead creased with worry. “I’m supposed to meet with Delilah, the king’s daughter, as soon as the king passes, to negotiate new terms. It keeps getting delayed. This will change everything.”

  “Your father was working with Alidonia to destroy us?” It all finally makes sense to me. Except one thing. “Why did he push so hard for us to get married?”

  “Yes, he was working with Alidonia.” Luka’s face is grim, but he looks at us boldly. “And he got what he wanted from our marriage. Once he had access to all your resources, he was done. He just didn’t expect me to—” He turns to me and touches my hand, causing goose bumps to scatter across my skin. His jaw ticks before he continues. “It’s a relief to finally say all of this out loud. To you. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to give my family a better name, a name to be proud of.”