It wasn’t working. There weren’t enough distractions. I should be exhausted after the day I’d had, but every wire in my body was lit. I wasn’t going to bed anytime soon.

I looked at Elena pinching her eyes together over one of the questions. We were almost finished with the game. She had killed me. I didn’t need another round to know she wasn’t kidding about annihilating me.

“Let’s get out of here,” I announced.

I could have bet that Elena would protest. There wasn’t an impulsive bone in her body. If it wasn’t written in blood on the royal schedule, she didn’t want to sign off.

“It’s late,” she argued. “I probably should leave.” She looked at the clock over my shoulder.

“So? I don’t want to stay here anymore. Let’s go. Who cares about the time?”

I pushed away from the table, squeaking the chair against the polished floor.

“We have an early morning. You’re scheduled to make your comeback appearance at the library.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to think about the library. I just want to get out of here.”

“It’s a craving, isn’t it?” she asked. “I’m not doing a very good job.”

I looked at her. “It’s not a drink I need a distraction from,” I admitted.

She looked confused. “I don’t understand. I thought that’s what this was about. You wanted me to keep you from drinking. I’ve failed.”

“No, Elena. That’s not it at all. I don’t need a babysitter.” I gritted my teeth.

I hadn’t told anyone. But it suddenly made sense that the first person I told should be Elena. I’d been holding that letter close to my chest for almost two months. She had handled every scandal with precision. She had an innate ability to piece together a solution no matter how badly I fucked something up. And why wouldn’t I trust her with this now? I could have trusted her with it all along if I had been sober enough to come up with a plan.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to say.” She threw her hands in the air. “This isn’t normal. I don’t know what to do when we aren’t operating inside normal.”

I blinked. What in the hell was she talking about?

“What’s normal? When I’m drunk?”

Her breath caught. “That’s not what I meant. I would never say something like that. I think it’s getting late and we should get some sleep. Everything has to be perfect tomorrow. I’ll be back at seven.”

My hand caught her wrist as she tried to wiggle past me. “Wait.”

There was something in her eyes that burned right through me. Fuck, what was happening tonight?

Her eyes dropped to where my hand gripped her skin before lifting them to mine. “What is it, sir?” she whispered.

I dropped her arm as quickly as I had grabbed it. “Nothing.” I shook my head. “You can go.”

She ran out of the apartment, using the staff tunnel. The door clicked in place behind her. It was as loud as the gate clanging on a prison cell.

I wasn’t going to be trapped here. I wouldn’t let myself feel like a caged tiger.

I picked up the phone. “Yes, sir?” One of the aides in the downstairs operations office answered my call.

I could go for a run. I could let the beast break free and let my fur emerge from skin. Let the moonlight shine on my thick coat. I could bare my fangs and run. Exhaust myself on four legs. Chase a deer. Climb a tree. Give in to the wild side. But I didn’t.

“I need a car.”

“What time, your majesty?” he asked.

“Now.” I realized it was after midnight. I didn’t give a shit. I had to get out of here.

“I believe Emmanuel is available. I will have him meet you at the royal entrance immediately.”

“Thank you.” I hung up and grabbed my jacket, rolling my sleeves in place as I took the elevator to the first floor.

The long black car was running when I walked outside. Emmanuel greeted me as I ducked into the backseat.

“Where are we going tonight, your majesty?” he asked.

I wasn’t going to let regret move in already. Sure, I had lied to Elena, but it wasn’t the first time. I couldn’t be expected to change all my habits at once.

I cleared my throat. “The Titan.”