Gleam (The Plated Prisoner, #3)

by Raven Kennedy

“I’m glad you’re choosing you,” he says quietly, and my lips part, like I want to swallow the rumble of his cadence. “You are?” I go completely still as he moves his hand and grips my chin, like he wants to make sure I’m paying attention. I am. “Yes, Goldfinch. Because I’m choosing you, too.”

Same shit, different castle.

Midas nods. “I’d actually like to speak with you.” I’d actually rather chew iron nails and shit them back out, but the life of a king isn’t easy.

You’re not the villain in my story.” “I am,” he says without remorse, his sharp jaw tight with tension. “But I’ll be the villain for you. Not to you.”

His lips tip up. “I’m no gentleman.”

“Hey, Judd?” Slade calls, and I peek out from between my fingers. He perks up, looking pleased with himself. “Yeah, Commander?” “Shut up.” A quick nod precedes Judd’s cheerful reply. “Yep, will do.”

When we start walking again and catch up to Lu, she smirks at me. “You got in trouble,” she singsongs.

“Guilt doesn’t assuage the guilty.”

“You can’t cut off the strings of your puppet and still expect it to move for you.”