Harry narrowed his eyes, thinking, “Why didn’t she just stay in Ustrana? What the hell is she doing here?!”
He’d always known Molly, from a family that practically ran Ustrana like their private empire. And she wasn’t one to be content playing second fiddle; she had her eyes on the top seat. A woman like that in the Kingdom of Xyperia was best to steer clear of.
Judy, undeterred and full of bravado, sneered, “Touch me, and Shermaine won’t live to see tomorrow.”
Molly raised an eyebrow. “You? Seriously?” She had had enough of Judy’s arrogance. In fact, she was just about ready to shoot her on the spot.
And she did. She didn’t flinch and just pulled the trigger.
Harry moved in a flash, throwing himself between them. The bullet tore into his foot, and the pain hit him so hard his face went pale in an instant.
Judy shot to her feet. “You dare hurt my people?!”
“Say another word and I’ll put a bullet through your head,” Molly said flatly, her gun now aimed at Judy’s temple. “I’ll ask one last time. Was Shermaine’s disappearance your doing?”
Judy stared her down. “And if it was? I’m not here to trade words with you. You’re not even in the same league. I want Joshua.”
Knowing she couldn’t walk away easily, Judy said, “You threaten me again, and I won’t even need to lift a finger. Shermaine’s life is hanging by a thread. I can cut it anytime I please.”
The certainty in her voice only made Molly scoff. “A woman who needed to cheat just to barely hold her own against Shermaine? And you expect us to take your word for anything?”
Harry wasn’t about to let Judy’s credibility crumble in front of everyone. He stepped forward. “Don’t believe her? Fine. Watch this.”
The room had a large screen on one wall. Harry brought up a live feed, footage of Shermaine trapped inside a four-dimensional space. They could monitor the scene because the robot inside had been sent by them. Everything they were seeing came from the machine’s point of view. The robot was in relentless pursuit. Twin blades slashed through the air, deadly and mechanical.
If Shermaine hadn’t been in the frame, they might’ve thought it was a scene from some sci-fi thriller. The landscape itself was strange, clearly not anywhere on Mount Hordeum. Or maybe… that place didn’t even exist on Mount Hordeum.
People in the room began to realize Judy and Harry might not be what they seemed—not entirely human, perhaps.
One of the blades nearly struck Shermaine, but she flipped backward, landing a few steps away. Still, the hem of her coat was sliced clean. She glanced down at the ruined edge, and her expression darkened. The coat had been expensive, and Joshua bought it for her. Just like that, her patience ran out.
Harry cut the feed, the screen going black. “Our robot hasn’t even started using its real arsenal. You’d be smart to show Her Highness a little respect.”
Now that they had proof Shermaine was still alive, Harry figured that would keep them in check.
Molly, however, didn’t look the least bit convinced. “Sheary’s gonna rip that hunk of metal apart in five minutes. Watch.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Judy said coolly. “You think she can dismantle it just like that? Shermaine might be gifted. I won’t deny that, but your little genius is nowhere near advanced enough to override our technology.”
Molly was already raising her gun again when Roy stepped in, pulling her into his arms before she could lose control. “Momo, let’s wait for Joshua. He’ll decide how to handle this.” After all, Joshua was Shermaine’s husband, and no one else had the right to make that call.
Molly frowned but didn’t resist.
“Hey, don’t be mad,” Roy whispered.
Elsewhere, Joshua ended the call with Roy, eyes deep as storm clouds. “I’m on my way back.”