The Wrath of the King by Danielle Bourdon Read Free Book Online Page B

arrested. There are guards outside who will see it done.”
    “Yes, your Majesty.”
    Paavo exited the chamber, hearing the men's voices raise before he even had the door closed. Andersen and those loyal to him had their work cut out explaining their actions to the rest.
    High on the adrenaline rush of forcing his hand, he set a course en route for Wynn. He wanted the press release in his hands for dispersal day after tomorrow. On the way, he pulled out his phone. Speed dialing a number, he put the cell to his ear and waited for an answer.
    “Yes?” a brusque voice said.
    “Are the troops in place?” Paavo asked.
    “They are, your Majesty,” Ingvar said.
    “Excellent. Make them aware that the plans go into effect tonight.”
    “As you wish.”
    Disconnecting the call, Paavo pocketed the phone.
    This was how a King took control of his country.
     
    . . .
     
    Gnawing at the inside of her cheek, Wynn stared at the press release she held in her hand. A stack of printed copies sat to the side of the laptop, whose screen had gone dark in the absence of her tapping fingers.
    She supposed she shouldn't be surprised at the information the press release contained—but she was. And she wondered what Chey would think when she heard. Although the press release was in the native language of Latvala, Wynn utilized a translation program built into the computer to help her translate those words shestill didn't know. Switching to English, she made a few extra copies, telling herself she would claim not to know whether both languages would be needed if Paavo caught her with them.
    Not even twenty-four hours in power, and already Paavo was pushing through his former agenda of splitting the country into sections. The statement in her hand was aggressive and brooked no argument about the changes to come.
    She couldn't decide if this was a test of her loyalty straight away, or whether he was trying to trap her. The second she confessed to Chey, Wynn knew Chey would take action of some kind. Word would cycle back, as it always did in turbulent times, and Paavo would know she'd broken his trust. What then? What would he do if she ran straight to the Queen with information he'd pointedly stated was confidential?
    When the door to the room swung open without warning, Wynn twitched in surprise and nearly crumpled the paper out of guilt. Saving herself in time, she forced herself to be calm when Paavo entered.
    She hadn't expected him for another three or four hours, at the earliest.
    “Did you get the release finished?” he asked.
    “I did. Here are a stack of copies, ready to be distributed.” Playing it off as if she held nothing of importance, Wynn tapped the big stack in the Latvala language and set the paper she held aside atop separate ones in English. Sitting on the other side of the laptop, Paavo wouldn't see them as easily, unless she gave him reason to look.
    “Thank you. Did you have trouble?” Paavo's gaze skipped from the larger pile to the few sitting separate.
    Wynn saw him look and reached out to tap the English printed version with as much nonchalance as she could muster. Why hadn't she gotten rid of the evidence when she had the chance? She said, “Just a few copies that didn't print right at first, but I got it fixed. I guess after taking the summer off work, I'm a little rusty with printers.”
    Paavo picked up the large stack and looked over the front page. “Good, good. It'll come back to you quickly.” He met her eyes. “These are acceptable. What would you say to the idea of your own office? Down here on the main floor, a space totally devoted to you?”
    It took every ounce of Wynn's willpower not to fidget. He stood so close to the desk and her chair that she worried he might glimpse the other papers and realize the language wasn't the same. He stood too close, in fact, and she wished she wasn't so attuned to his presence or interested by the gleam in his sharp eyes.
    “I think that sounds perfect. Can I