The Gender War (The Gender Game #4) by Bella Forrest (read novel full TXT) 📗

I had only seen King Maxen once in person, and even through the glass, he commanded attention.

“Mr. Croft,” came his smooth, rich voice, somewhat dampened by the crackle of the speakers that transmitted it from room to room. “Imagine my surprise to hear that not only are you alive, but you have brought me what I asked for and more.”

“Your Majesty,” Viggo said, offering a shallow bow. “I’m pleased you agreed to meet with me so quickly. I have a lot to tell you… and I understand it may not be very believable. Please, I beg you, try to keep an open mind.”

The king’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Go on.”

Viggo straightened, and a pulse of nervousness shot through me.

It was the moment of truth.

“First and foremost,” Viggo said, his voice clear, “Violet Bates may not be the villain you thought her to be. I’ve uncovered a plot, one that leads directly to Queen Elena of Matrus. She’s conspiring to have you assassinated, sir.”

I waited with bated breath for the reply. King Maxen’s face was impassive for just a moment. Then he gave Viggo a curious look. “This can’t be over that silly bombing thing in their little temple. I’ve already assured Elena that I had nothing to do—”

“She staged it,” I cut in, unable to bear the tension. “She’s trying to set herself up as the victim of a Patrian attack so she can justify going to war with you.”

The king’s face had turned red the moment I interrupted him, deepening to a shade of purple as I continued to speak. “Mr. Croft,” he hissed. “Please tell that woman that it is improper for her to address the king directly.”

I laughed then, shaking my head at him, anger rising inside of me. “Are you joking? Your life may be in danger. I’m trying to warn you!”

“I will not tolerate being spoken to like that,” the king spat. “Open your mouth again, and I will have Mr. Croft execute you.”

I clamped my teeth together and smiled at the king, secure in the knowledge that Viggo would never, ever obey that order.

“Sir,” Viggo said after pausing to stare between me and the king. “As much as you may be resistant to the idea, I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It’s true. Queen Elena has been working toward this for years.”

The king’s ire faded and was replaced by amusement. “My son… It’s clear you have been spending far too much time with women. What you’re saying doesn’t make any sense. Women lack the foresight to plan such things. It’s not their fault; it’s merely a fact of their biology. Besides, those Matrians couldn’t stand against our far superior forces. See reason, and hand over the prisoners for interrogation by my investigators.”

I found myself blinking in shock, trying to find a starting place to explain to the king exactly how wrong he was. There wasn’t enough time to even begin the list. I went another route instead. “Listen to us, King Maxen. It’s not your militia they’re after—it’s you.”

The king shook his head, raising his fingers to his temples as if he had a headache. “For the last time, women should be seen and not heard. Do shut up, or else I will have Mr. Croft put a bullet in your skull.”

At that moment, the jarringly clear sound of automatic gunfire came ricocheting from outside the hall, making me duck in spite of the fact that none of it could come through the walls. I whipped my head around, automatically checking to make sure everyone was all right, even while my stiff, swollen fingers began fiddling with my cuff. “They’re here!”

Viggo was by my side immediately, his fingers pushing mine away. Within seconds I was free of the cuffs. The rest of the group was throwing their cuffs off as well, exposing our ruse.

King Maxen recoiled in horror. “TRAITOR!” he screamed, pointing at Viggo. “GUARDS! SHOOT THEM!”

There was a metal snap, followed by a chair hurtling through the glass. King Maxen ducked, his arms going over his head, and his guards were forced to leap to the side as shards of heavy glass showered down on them. Then Jay leapt through the remaining glass and slammed into one of the king’s guards while his eyes were still shielded. He picked the man up and simply flung him at the other guard, leaping after them as they both went down in a tangle of limbs. He hauled back his arm, and I could hear the impact of flesh on flesh.

King Maxen was back on his feet, dropping into the worst fighting stance I’d ever seen. “HELP!” he screamed, looking back and forth. He then prepared, apparently, to attack—clumsily throwing himself onto Jay’s back.

The king’s face morphed into an expression of confusion as Jay stood up and turned around. He reached back and dragged the man over his shoulder, easily holding him up by the neck. The king gagged, his feet kicking, and I saw his face turning red.

“We need him alive, Jay,” I shouted, and then Ms. Dale was moving, scrambling through the window after them. She ducked down for a second and came back up with a pair of handcuffs, which she slapped on the king. As soon as they were on, Jay dropped him, and the king gasped, collapsing to the floor.

A moment later, Ms. Dale tossed Viggo a guard’s gun through the shattered window, then picked up the other one, pointing it at the door in their room. “We need to see if we’re pinned down,” she shouted.

I nodded to her. The sound of gunfire in the corridor outside had stopped, and that was ominous. “Everybody, get away from the doors! Somebody grab the king and get him over here.”

“Don’t you dare touch me, you bastards,” I heard the king say, and I shook my head at him as Jay pushed him through the window, sideways, having no trouble lifting the man. The king landed on his side