And I know the only way I’m going to get this out.
“Truth or lie,” I say, my voice breaking.
Liesel leans forward, her mouth drops, and she stares at me blinking, not understanding. But I can be patient. I’ve waited a month to tell anyone my truth. And I only have enough strength for a limited amount of words.
Finally, Liesel says, “You want to play truth or lies with me?”
I nod.
“Okay,” Liesel says, waiting.
“I’m pregnant,” I say.
Liesel gasps and stares at my stomach like I’m already showing. I’m not. It’s only been a month.
“Truth or lie?” I ask.
“Oh, right, the game. Truth—you’re pregnant,” Liesel answers.
I nod.
“The baby is Milo’s.”
“Oh, God, Kai…”
“Truth or lie?”
“Truth?”
I shrug because I don’t know.
“Truth or lie, the baby is Enzo’s,” I say.
“Please, let that be the truth.”
Again, I shrug. Both men fucked me the same night, well Milo raped me ,and Enzo fucked me, but the result could be the same.
“What are you going to do? Are you going to be able to carry the baby if it’s Milo’s?”
I shrug—because I don’t know. This baby will be an heir to a dangerous empire. The baby will be my heir. But the child could also be Enzo’s or Milo’s heir.
If the baby is Milo’s heir, then Felix, the child’s uncle, could try to influence his or her decisions. Felix would want to raise the child in hopes of gaining control over the Black empire.
But it could be worse if it is Enzo’s child. Not for me. I would love to have Enzo’s child, but because of what Milo told me.
.
.
.
“You think you and Enzo are the first two to fall in love while playing to become the king?” Milo laughs.
My eyes widen.
“Every few generations, a woman and a man go head to head, the last time it happened was the worst. They had a child together, got married, and said they would rule together. But the entire organization requires only one person to lead—the strongest. And the competition gives the men faith the strongest will lead them into the worst battles. It gives them faith they will win against any enemy. And so when the competitors fell in love with each other and produced a child who would have no challenger to the throne, potentially growing into a weak, vulnerable leader, the men revolted. They started killing friends and family members the couple loved.
“One by one, the couple watched those they loved die. Each time it shattered their love a little more. Ten people died, but it wasn’t enough to break their love, until they had a child. And that child was killed.”