Page 17 of Retrograde

“I know how to touch her and make her come apart. So you might have had her first, even maybe had her virginity, but I will haveallof her pleasure. I will haveher.” He lifted me up, and the look in his eyes was not sane. “And the way she begs me to give her more—I would kill you to keep that.

“Do you understand now? Do youbelieve menow? Just that. Just so I get to experience that again, I would kill you. You mean thatlittleto me compared to her.” He shook me. “Do you understand?” He chuffed when I nodded. “You are completely in the wrong. How you still play the victim or the family card when you are the asshole in all of this—”

“No, this isher faultfor airing everything; letting thatdogsay I was just a bet and humiliating me. She deserved everything I said in that video and for people to hear it.”

“It was all lies!” he roared in my face.

“Fuck you. Who cares? Who cares about the truth when they get to shit on that bitch because they don’t want a female leader? She humiliated me, the elders, the high priest—the list never ends. How can you—she deserves it all and more that she’ll get from others. You think the elders will leave any of it alone? The temple for what—”

I needed to learn to keep my mouth shut. I used to be better at it, but something about Onyx—really this whole thing with Sagan just set me off.

And that was how I got slammed into the stone again.

I winced when I saw Father was conscious… And clearly had heard all I’d said.

Fuck.

Onyx opened his mouth to blast me, but then his phone vibrated. I almost thanked the gods when he held up his finger to hold us both off… Until he answered.

“Hey, baby girl,” he murmured. “You okay?”

I swallowed the gag in time when I saw he really might kill me if I irked him.

“Fine, a bit confused,” Sagan answered, meaning she’dheardhim call her that before.

And Onyx just smirked, using it for my benefit.

Fucker.

“I thought we were going to handle the rat problem and then I find out you’re gone without even sending a text,” she continued. “Was there a problem in Protesia or—”

“No, no, sorry, I misunderstood you,” he soothed. “Or I didn’t explain better. I’m sorry. Really.”

She was quiet a moment. “What is going on, Onyx? It’s not—we have misunderstandings when you’re not clear with me. Like the fob?”

He groaned and rubbed his hand over his neck. “Yeah, but I can’t ever regret or apologize for that given what happened. And I know you don’t regret it either.”

“That’s neither here nor there,” she breathed. “I just want less confusion.”

“You’re right, and I should apologize like that again. A few times. For several things.”

She didn’t respond right away. “I think that depends what you’re doing that you’re not explaining to me.”

Onyx pumped his fist in the air. “I’m handling the rat problem.” He focused on me and smirked. “Right now.”

“You’re handling it?” she asked, her tone tense. “I thought we were going to discuss options? I don’t like you just doing whatever for my problem.”

“I’m not signing your name to the check. I would never do that, but there are certain things I can do to theratthat you can’t, baby girl.” He chuckled when she didn’t say anything. “I’m making it clear what I would do to them if I had my way. We’ll do whatever you want—we will always do what you want.”

She huffed. “It’s not fair you get to be violent with him and I can’t. But honestly knowing you are is maybe hotter than the planking video.”

Onyx licked his lips. “So you did like that, huh?” He frowned when Father mumbled something and moved his hand over his face.

I did too. What was that all about?

Sagan cleared her throat. “I was going to tell you, but, well…”

“I was a fucking moron and ruined our first date and then theratdid,” Onyx mumbled. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to give you normal, and I—I’m making it up to you right now. I’ll get—give me a chance, okay? I’ll show you I can make things better.”