Page 158 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

“You cannot simply take over!” Peter explodes, losing the battle like I fucking knew he would.

Snarling, I march right up to him. Ezla doesn’t stop me, only smirks as I come to stand behind him and yank his head back by his limp hair. “Wanna try that again, dickface?” I seethe as I lower my head to his ear.

Cooper, Tiger, Alby, and Scotty have all moved closer too, and the first-mentioned brother warns lowly, “Watch how you speak to our Bonded. We don’t tolerate any disrespect towards her.”

Effortlessly spinning her dagger in an understated but threatening action, Ezla replies with a subtle mocking lilt in her otherwise-blank tone to the disrespectful, soon-to-be-dead man, “But of course I can. Am I not the Game Master’s daughter?” The last words are nearly spat out before the evenness returns as she says, “Who else would take over?” Her head tips to the side more obviously this time.

“You—you are not fit to rule, Ezla. Your Exot traits—”

My hand wraps around his sticky throat. The pig’s sweating like mad, and I’m extremely fuckin’ glad I’m wearing my gloves. “Did you not get the message the first time?” I growl out, tightening my grip. “Shut. Your. Fat. Mouth.”

The only sound he can make in response is a wheeze.

Both anger and amusement swirl through Havoc. “Do not pretend Joseph was an angel of a ruler. Techta will be much better taken care of under my rule. Admittedly, I do not particularly care about the region’s citizens, but neither did he, so there really is no difference there. But what will be different is their safety, and I am nowhere near as daft as my sperm donor could be at times. My choices will all be based around keeping my Bonds in one piece, and that will in turn keep . . . most others intact. That is more than can be said for him, and so my rule will have far less silent opposition.”

“There was no opposition—”

Ezla’s eyes roll heavenwards. “Be quiet. Your idiocy is giving me a headache.”

“Want me to cut into his head to see if I can find any brain cells in there, Havoc?” I rumble with a lick of my lips.

Her pupils seem to sparkle, delight at the idea dancing through her. “That would be so fun, would it not?”

“No!” Peter’s cry scratches at my eardrums once more. “Please! Please don’t! I’m sorry! I just want what’s best for this region! I’ve always wanted what’s best for the people! You know I love the people—”

My hand slams over his mouth.

“Thank you, my beast.” Facial expression distant once more, Ezla corrects, “You love the attention, the theatrics, and just like Joseph, only yourself.” Straightening up from the table, she slots her armoury stick back onto her shoulder blade, and I feel Peter relax a fraction. As if she isn’t just as deadly without the baton. As if she isn’t a weapon herself. “However, I do not care about that, in any case. You do not matter to me. Nobody does. Nobody but my men. I will take over with them, and you will aid me. Anyone on The Council who tries to reject me will die, and the remaining Exot, Evots, and Neutrals will prove their loyalty by not being bothered by the slaughtering of such vile creatures. I would only be being their . . . saviour.” Ezla’s nose wrinkles.

I feel Cooper’s amusement at that, and he sends down the bond, Don’t like the sound of that, do you, Vengeance?

It is vile, she replies shortly. But for you, I will do what must be done.

Warmth floods the bond from all directions.

Thank you, Love, Scotty says with his tooth-achingly sweet affection dripping all over the place.

Thanks, Ezzy! You’re the best! I’d smooch you so good if we weren’t in mission-mode right now!

You will thank me properly when we next have a spare moment together in our Bonded chambers, Ezla purrs wickedly, and I shiver, teeth sinking into my lower lip as my eyes have a feast on our perfect girl. Then she snaps out loud, “Moving on. You will also need to announce the Game Master’s death, of course, and you will relay everything I am about to tell you word for word. Is that understood?”

The Showmaster’s gulp is audible, and he doesn’t immediately speak when I remove my hand from his mouth.

Stepping closer, Havoc’s expression darkens along with the rest of her demeanour. “Must I repeat myself? This is not optional. Maybe I shall simply expand my story to encompass you in some way. I already have a handful of respectful scientists to back any claims I make.”

He hesitates another moment too long before blurting, “I want to stay the Showmaster! That’s all I care about! What’s the point in living if I don’t have that?! You’re trying to take the Games away—”

“The Bonding Games will not be over. I said they will not be as they are now,” Havoc cuts him off, tone icy cold, and he freezes.

“So . . . so, I can continue to be the Showmaster?”

Her head tilts as she puts on a show of considering. “Will you speak for the globe and support me as you have been told to?”

A beat.

Then his head frantically bobs. “Yes. Yes, I swear it. You keep me as your Showmaster, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Peter’s probably too thick to see the truth in Ezla’s devilish smirk. “Excellent.”