Any other time, it would work. But he couldn’t allow her to distract him today or to know just how much power she ultimately had over him. He was completely weak and pliant when it came to her.

“Fine,” she snapped irritably, rising to her feet. “Freshen up and I’ll get your clothes ready.”

Before he stepped away, he pulled her into his arms to give her the hottest kiss he could manage. One that had her wrapping her arms around him and clutching at his back. When he forced himself to pull away again, she was breathless.

Blinking, she stared at him with a hunger in her eyes that matched his.

He ran his hand along her jaw. “Don’t you hate it when someone stirs a fire you can’t quench?”

She narrowed those amber eyes at him. “You better be glad I’m still not over the close call you just had. Otherwise, I’d make you pay for that.”

He grinned at her before he went to take a quick ice cold shower.

Darling hesitated before he opened the doors to the throne room. What if Zarya was right and his presence here worsened things? His people hated him. He knew that better than anyone. The plebs saw him as a selfish, entitled prick out to work them until they dropped while he became richer and richer off their backs. The aristos thought he was spineless and weak, and they laughed at him to his face. Thanks to Senator Nylan, Arturo, and his own desperate stupidity, none of them had even a modicum of respect for him.

Both groups viewed him with the utmost disdain.

Worse, his mask had been destroyed in the attack. If he walked in there, he would do it with all scars showing.

With Pip’s name carved into my face.

Shame shredded his confidence while unwanted memories flogged him. Fingering his cheek, he stepped back and traced the raised scar. Even with his beard over it, it was plainly visible. Their contempt for him would only grow once they saw what had been done to him while he’d been powerless to stop it.

How helpless and pathetic he really was. If he couldn’t protect himself, how could he protect his people? That’s exactly what they’ll say.

He winced as he remembered his guard corps spitting at his feet.

They all disdain me.

I can’t do this. I can’t be laughed at again.

In that one lonely heartbeat, every degradation and humiliation of his entire life slapped him hard in the face. He heard the laughter and ridicule that had been shoved down his throat since the day his father had died.

No one respected Darling Cruel.

I’m the punch line of all cocktail party jokes.

He closed his eyes in an attempt to blot it all out, and instead what he saw was his own brother’s face as Drake sneered his contempt for him.

“I don’t have to listen to you. You’re not my father. You barely qualify as my brother. I swear, Lise has more testosterone than you do. You’re just a worthless piece of shit who cowers and grovels every time Arturo gets near you. I refuse to be like you, so pathetic, wasted, and scared that my own guards mock me for it. I will not give up or give in, and I damn sure won’t belly crawl for someone else. So why don’t you go find a cock to suck on, and get out of my face. Let me show you how a man handles things.”