Destiny Dawning: The Vessel Games #3 by E. J. Eden

Author:E. J. Eden [Eden, E. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Octavia braided her hair into an intricate updo, placing tiny golden pearls into her blonde curls. She placed the golden eyepatch over her ruined eye with a sigh.

A knock sounded at her bedroom door. James was dressed in his full military regalia; the badges adorning his suit looked impressive, Octavia had to admit.

But she knew the truth.

“All those medals were gifted by a dead king. A king who you betrayed. You really think it appropriate to wear that to dinner with the new King? The one who’s worried that you’re going to stab him in the back and take New London from his greedy little grasp?”

“He doesn’t think that.” James swallowed thickly. “Does he?”

“I think that’s exactly what he’s paranoid about. And after seeing what he did to those traitors in the great hall, I’d be careful, James,” Octavia warned. “He’s gone mad. He’s not the man we once knew. If you give him any reason to think that we’ll betray him, he’ll get Eve and…” Octavia’s lip wobbled. She bit down on it. Hard. She hated people seeing her cry.

James shook his head, padding toward her. “He will not do anything to Eve. Or you. As long as I stay loyal. As long as the Defender Caste is loyal.”

She whirled on him. “How much longer do you think they’ll last? You don’t control the Defender Caste. They’re loyal to you for everything you’ve done for them over the years. But now, the Freedom Games are here. Now, they realize that the pretty tales you peddled were bullshit. The Commander didn’t fix New London’s problems. He exacerbated them. Eventually someone is going to make a move to stop him, and when the Commander finds out, we’ll get blamed.”

Time was running out.

The Commander hadn’t gone on a good old-fashioned killing and torture spree since that day that he’d summoned Octavia to the throne room. But a man addicted to power? A man as unhinged as he was? It was a matter of time before he snapped.

“I have control of the situation,” James said, his jaw tightening.

“What? Like you had control of him not killing the royal family? Because news flash, James. That didn’t end very fucking well!”

Octavia pushed past him, hitting his shoulder as she went. “I’ll see you in the car,” she muttered.

The car ride to the palace was silent, with Octavia staring out the window at the Defenders that surrounded them. She supposed James was the second most important man in New London now.

James got out of the car and opened her door, offering her his hand. Octavia narrowed her eyes at him but took it for the sake of appearances. She was supposed to be his loving wife now, after all.

She hated the man, but that didn’t stop the fucking annoying butterflies she got every time she touched him. They hadn’t given her a moment of peace since the day she met him at their Defender Caste training, at just seventeen years old.

“Balinger!” The Commander and his Queen stood on the staircase in front of the palace, which made Octavia blink in shock.

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