Rise of a Queen (Kingdom Duet 2)

“Alan told me the prosecution has absolutely no evidence against Aurora,” Harris continues in his half-bored, half-sleepy voice. It’s the middle of the night there, not that he minds — I don’t think. He’s a workaholic with zero life outside of King Enterprises. “They thoroughly investigated her eleven years ago. There was nothing that hinted that she knew or participated in Maxim’s crimes.”

“Are you telling me Maxim’s solicitor is going after her as a ploy?”

“Probably. Alan says Maxim wants to drag her down, just to show his power.”

“No. There’s more to it.” I take a sip of my cognac, savouring the burn. “If he only wanted to drag her down, he would’ve done it a long time ago. Something triggered him. Look into it.”

“I did hear a tale some time ago.”

“And why have you waited this long to tell me? You’re losing your touch, Harris.”

“I didn’t think it was important at the time.” He goes into defence mode. “I still don’t, but it could be of value.”

“Go on.”

“When Aurora first entered your life, I met with a few of Maxim’s inmates.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I didn’t trust her, okay? She came out of nowhere and could’ve played that entire thing with Ethan just to get close to you.”

“What is this nonsense? You honestly think someone can use me?”

“No. But I don’t trust people, especially new people. Better safe than sorry.”

“And? What did your distrustful journey bring?”

“There was one of Maxim’s inmates who was later transferred to a mental institute. Robert Hill. He was convicted for killing his wife and mother-in-law with a kitchen knife. He stabbed his wife twenty times and his mother-in-law fifty times, then went to the police station and handed himself in. Anyway, Robert told me that Maxim has a muse, and when I asked him what he meant by that, he said that Maxim gets inspiration by seeing his muse, and when he doesn’t see her, he feels like he’s missing something. Robert said that Maxim keeps her picture with him at all times.”

“Is it Aurora?”

“No clue. Robert said he doesn’t allow anyone to see it, and since Maxim is in solitary confinement, no other inmate has managed to take a look. He also said that Maxim is proud of his muse, saying it’s because of her that he found his true self after years of floundering with no clear path. His muse is his freedom. Robert connected with that — the freedom part — because killing his wife and mother-in-law gave him his so-called freedom.”

I scratch my chin. It must be Aurora. I thought Maxim was making this ruckus and asking for parole to take revenge against her, but if it’s because he wants to see her, there’s a problem.

He wouldn’t just want to see her. Someone like Maxim will always want more. He and I are similar on that front. The need for more isn’t a luxury — it’s a biological need that cannot be stopped.

It’s power.

For him, it’s the fake god-like power that comes with controlling someone else’s life before eventually ending it.

For me, it’s the rush of control and the fact that I have so much ahead of me rather than behind me. The more I acquire, the more doors open in my way.

“Have you heard anything from your contact with Tristan?” Harris asks.

I down half my glass in one go. “Not yet. Tristan says Kyle does everything h

is way. It’s a game of waiting now.”

“How long are we supposed to wait for this Kyle to bring in results?”

“As long as it takes.”

“We don’t have as long as it takes.”

“Your impatience is your weakness, Harris. School it.”

“We have work to do. I’ve cancelled three important meetings since you left.”