Page 10 of Bloodlust

He wants my throne.

But I need to hear him say it.

"Right!" he exclaims, clicking his tongue. "I forgot about that. My bad. Okay, well, they have vegetarian options too. Let's see…" His forehead creases as he scrolls through his phone. "Mmm... Oh! Spanakopita is meat-free! Perfect for?—"

"Leo, stop!" I march over, yanking the phone from his hands. Enough. "You can't just leave for five fucking years and come back into my life acting like nothing happened! Why are you here? Tell me!"

"I called you." Leo tenses as he slowly stands up, towering over me. He reaches out, hand hovering for a second before cupping my cheek. His thumb grazes my burning skin. "I called you every week for a year, but you didn't answer. You have no right to be upset with me, Mils. You're the one who cut me off."

My jaw sets. "You left me when I needed you the most."

And now you're back.

Ready to take the only thing I have left that means anything.

"I had to leave," he whispers with a pained expression as I pull away from his touch. "I couldn't stay. I couldn't watch—" He sucks in a sharp breath. "Ihadto leave."

"Right," I scoff. "Because traveling the world was more important to you than I was." I shake my head, disgusted with myself for ever thinking he'd always beby my side. "You were like a brother to me, Leo, and you left me."

"That was the problem," Leo mutters, running a hand through his hair. "Listen, Mils, I didn't come here to upset you, okay? I came here to make amends."

"Lies," I state with utter certainty. "We both know why you're here."

Leo sighs. "I don't want New York, Mils."

"Mhmm," I hum, not believing him for a second. "So, you just happen to return two months after my dad retires, and that's just what? An unfortunate coincidence?"

"A lucky one in my eyes," he says, trying—and failing—to lighten the mood. He clicks his tongue. "I was in Latin America, okay? I unplugged. I had no service for six months, Mils. I didn't know Tony retired until two days ago when I saw the text from my dad." He shrugs. "He said you won over The Council—congrats, by the way—but I guess I wanted to see it for myself." His gaze skims my face. "I wanted to see how you were doing."

I'm not some naive little girl anymore. Five years ago, I might have believed him. I would've eaten up every word. I would've forgotten and forgiven and focused on the fact that he's here. But I'm not twenty-two anymore. I'm not the same girl he left standing in that garden.

I've changed. I've learned. And I've grown the fuck up. I used to trust him like he was my diary, but I can't anymore. He broke the lock. Shattered the key. Tore out the pages of my heart.

"Everything's fine," I say, crossing my arms. "Better than ever."

"Zoella told me about the lawsuit," he notes. "I wouldn't say that everything is fine."

My features harden. "Zoey's taking care of it."

"Is she?" he asks, judgment oozing from his pores. "Well, that's good. My sister has always had a knack for cleaning up other people's messes."

"That's her job, Leonardo," I state. "That's what I pay her to do."

"Wow," he hums, meeting my cold glare. "Tony did a great job. It's almost uncanny."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing," he mutters, checking his vibrating phone. "I got to go. My father wants to see me."

"Aw, leaving so soon?" I jeer, gesturing to the elevators. "Give my regards to The Council."

"I will," Leo says as the elevator doors open. He pauses for a second, collecting his thoughts. "If this is what you really want, Mils, you should be more careful."

"I don't need advice from an outsider."

"I'm just saying..." Leo steps into the elevator, giving me a shrug as the doors close. His voice fades to a whisper as he adds, "It would be a shame for your new crown to break so quickly."

Broken gold is still gold.