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

bombing in Matrus. But I had no idea how much the king believed. Maybe none of it.

“Surely you’re remembering wrong,” the king said.

“No. It was him. I’m sure of it.”

“What were they talking about?” the king demanded.

“I wasn’t there… I didn’t hear what they talked about,” I admitted. “But if Desmond has him in her web, you can bet it’s not going to end well. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have told you about the secret facility in The Green where a bunch of rebels are waiting to tear down the government?”

At that point Ms. Dale came through the door with a faint smile on her lips, and accepted the ticker tape Viggo wordlessly held up. As her eyes moved slowly across the paper, her face turned grim.

“I can’t believe this,” the king exploded, standing up, his handcuffs clinking. “I will not sit here and be blackmailed while my country is being run by traitors and attacked by terrorists! I need to get out there so I can lead the people in this war.”

“The war is over,” Ms. Dale said coldly, dropping the tape on the floor. “You lost. The Matrians are controlling the media, and they’re already moving into your government. And your people are so terrified, they’ll believe the first thing they hear. If you want to stay alive, then you need to stay with us. We’re your best chance at surviving and mounting a rebellion.”

Maxen whirled, taking in Ms. Dale. “And what use are a bunch of females in war? Especially two Matrian females who are ill-educated and poorly behaved?”

There was a bright chuckle from the doorway, and I turned to see Henrik leaning his shoulder on the doorframe, staring at the king with humor in his eyes.

“I apologize,” he said in a mirth-rich voice. “I’m just appreciating the irony of this—your country is being led around by its nose by Matrian females, and yet your best chance is… also with Matrian females. Am I the only one amused by this?”

Nobody answered; nobody had to, as the blood drained out of Maxen’s face. He gaped, first at Ms. Dale, who stared icily at him, and then at me—I couldn’t help but give him a little wave. Henrik came up behind him, laying a heavy hand on the king’s shoulder and forcing him to sit back down as he took in the reality of his situation.

“I suggest you treat these women with utmost respect,” Henrik said, and Maxen flinched as Henrik tightened his grip on his shoulder. “Because they’re some of the best strategists we have, they know the enemy far better than you, and last, but not least, they’re the only ones here, trying to help.”

“You might also want to consider improving the conditions for women in your country after this,” Viggo added. “After all, it’ll be hard to find a leg to stand on even if we’re able to get you out of this mess. And believe me, the women of Patrus will not forget.”

The king’s face grew more horrified, and I had to laugh at the image of two Patrian men fighting for women’s rights with their king. Granted, it was clear that Henrik and Viggo no longer felt included as a part of Patrian society, but even so, they were schooling the king admirably.

I was just glad I got to be there to witness it. And, judging by the warm, appreciative look Ms. Dale shot at Henrik, so was she.

14

Viggo

I was tired of arguing with Maxen. The man was intractable. Gone was the charismatic and intelligent persona he liked to put out to the world. In its place was a man who simply couldn’t grasp the severity of the situation he was in.

The king was still flabbergasted from what Henrik and I had said to him, so I jumped on it. Slapping a blank piece of paper down on the table in front of him, I slid a pen toward his hand and crossed my arms. “The pardon,” I said pointedly.

Maxen’s eyes drifted down to the paper, his expression still a bit dazed. He licked his lips and glanced at me, then back down at the paper, seemingly overwhelmed by his own indecision. I wasn’t about to let him argue more.

“The pardon,” I pressed. “Or we leave you here to rot. It won’t be long until our enemies learn of this location, and I plan for us to be long gone when they get here. Whether or not you’ll be with us is completely up to you.”

Maxen stared at me, and then reluctantly picked up the pen. “What, ah, should it say?” he asked after a moment.

Ms. Dale moved up next to him and began coaching him. I had to roll my eyes and tune it out—it was annoying to think that the king had never once written a pardon. Perhaps it was just easier for him not to, but I didn’t care. No system was worth defending if it didn’t bend for its people.

No system was worth defending if it would allow innocent women to swing for defending themselves.

Yet here I was, working to save a man who embodied every aspect of it. It felt unconscionable. It felt wrong. Why did doing the right thing feel the same as making a terrible mistake?

I looked over at Violet, feeling a heavy ache in my heart. We still hadn’t talked about my proposal. Which wasn’t her fault—the situation wasn’t exactly welcoming. When we’d been alone together in the cab of the truck, she’d practically passed out on my shoulder, and I hadn’t wanted to press her. It had just been comforting to have her there next to me as I drove exhaustedly through the night. But who knew when we would have a chance to talk about it in the future? I could only imagine we were going to be on the run for the next few days. In all probability, it would be longer.

Yet there were things