The Almighty Dominance

Last week, Samuel Prescott sat across from Jericho Kane in a private study thick with the scent of oak and old leather.

The table between them gleamed with crystal glasses and an unopened bottle of wine.

"Samuel," Jericho said. "I don't understand you. You want me back in the governor's seat? You don't have the power to make that happen."

Jericho uncorked his finest bottle, pouring deep red into Samuel's glass.

"I don't," Samuel admitted, accepting the pour. "But the king does. He could put you back."

Jericho laughed, sharp and bitter. "You know where I stand. I am always on the old king's side. Thee new king? He despises me. He gave Kelly Kingston the governorship just to keep me out."

"The king sees more than you think, Kane." Samuel swirled the wine, took a sip, and let his eyes widen. "Remarkable vintage."

Jericho smirked faintly.

"He's been watching you," Samuel continued. "You've done nothing. You've stayed in the shadows. To him, that means you're teachable-maybe even useful again."

Jericho's smile wavered. He sipped his wine, the weight of it heavy on his tongue, and let out a tired sigh.

"When a man has only a few years left, Samuel, he stops looking for wars. He searches for peace."

Samuel's eyes narrowed. "So it's catching up to you. How long? Ten years?"

Jericho shook his head, slow and grim.

"You know the old king. His greed had no limits. My father-in-law drained forty years of my life's core to strengthen himself. I feel it slipping from me every day. At best, I've got a year-maybe two."

He set the glass down with care, voice dropping to a whisper. "For now, all I want is peace."

"Is that truly what you want?" Samuel asked, his voice calm but cutting.

Jericho turned his gaze to the blue sky beyond the window.

"When I was young, giving up my life span for power and authority felt like a fair trade. But now? No. Time is not something you sell. It's priceless."

"I'd give anything to see my daughter marry, to hold a grandchild. But that's impossible now. All I can hope for is a brighter future for Bella."

Samuel studied him carefully. "Then will you take the king's offer?"

Jericho leaned back, his face unreadable. "First-if it means Bella has a chance

to be governor, then yes. But second-what happens to Kelly Kingston? She's the governor now."

"She'll be stripped," Samuel said flatly. "Stripped of her position and her place in the Kingswell."

Jericho chuckled, a low, weary sound. "Fallen from the king's grace. That's no small punishment."

He tilted his glass again, smiling thinly. "Fine. No problem. But tell me, Samuel- what was her mistake? What line did she cross? I want to know, so I and Bella never step on the same land mine."

Samuel pushed back his chair and stood. "Every eye in Vermont reports to you, Kane. Tell me did you see anything different about Kelly in her last term?"

Jericho's face hardened. "She became obsessed with killing Sophia Lancaster. And worse-she started helping Charles Kingston plot against Alex."

every move. She was slipping into the dark side, and that path only leads to destruction. She

nodded once, lips tightening. "Good. Then don't make the same mistakes. Keep clear of that

stood. "Tell me, Samuel-have you met the king? Is

harsh and loud, the sound echoing off the

daughter-her eyes are sharper than yours. The king will

met him and My daughter sharp eyes?" Jericho muttered, his mind already turning. He was a calculating man-one hint

night, he summoned

her face, "what would you think

Bella didn't even pause.

hard as Kelly, earn twice the respect, and deliver better results than she

natural the king would put you back." She popped a snack into her mouth, chewing like it was the simplest truth in the world. Jericho leaned

an opportunity like

narrowed. "Why is the

with Bella. His daughter

anyone

emotional," Bella

The king clearly favors Sophia, yet Kelly dared to strike at her. That wasn't

glinted. "If Kelly falls, what happens to

Kingston will believe that if

gaze hardened. "And

he's poking a tiger.

take Los

brow. "And how exactly

like the whole thing

king placed him there. Half the city hates him as governor.

he comes at us first, that gives us the excuse to

worked the plan through in his head, then smiled. He

were reading men like open books at ten years old. With an IQ of two-fifty, this world is too dull

smart," Bella said coldly.

"True enough. The world's full

into a sly smile. "But Alex is different.

eyes are always calculating

studied her. "You're

to you?" she

my own kind. Alex is the first-he's different. Smart, yes. But too soft too sentimental to be a real man. Maybe that's

said,

When I

everything Everything. But he

think she'll steal my life

mastered

life to strengthen himself.

family. He'd always feared

"You know?" Jericho whispered.

slept. I've counted-ten years, gone. I learned the art in

twisted with shock.

gaze with his. “Grandfather

I'll teach you how to take years. Take mine.

into rough, guttural laughter, though his eyes burned with tears