Reign of a King (Kingdom Duet 1)

Alicia’s voice filters in, brittle and shaky. “Claire…I just…I just found out Jonathan wants me dead. He’s been poisoning me all this time. He wants to kill me. I…I don’t think I can make it. I wanted to take you and Aiden and go, but…I don’t think I can. He’s after me. Remember when I told you to only call him in emergencies? Don’t. Ever. Run, baby sister. Run from all of them.”

I gasp as her words creep into my head like doom.

No.

No.

Jonathan didn’t…he couldn’t…

And yet, he did.

It’s just like when Dad told me on that day I was crying when Alicia didn’t come to see me.

“You’re born alone. You die alone. Why do you keep leaning on other people?”

My mind shuts down. I turn numb as all the events from today slam back into me. Dad’s interview. Sarah’s attack. Alicia’s warning.

I kick the car into gear and do as she said. As I did eleven years ago.

I run.

I disappear.

TO BE CONTINUED…