Crooked Kingdom By Leigh Bardugo Novels & Stories

Darius curtsied. The man laughed, “Darius, the crowned prince of the Lakewood kingdom and the Alpha of the Lakewood moon pack, Your reputation precedes you,” the man curtsied to Darius as well. “allow me to introduce myself, I am King Barroc of the Silver lake kingdom,” “’ your highness,” Darius curtsied again. “I know you may be wondering what I am doing here or how I got here,” King Barroc said. “I am your highness, but I do not want to be too forward by asking,” Darius replied.

I had no home, no family, and no escape from this living nightmare. ********* Romario's POV I arrived at the King's Manor fashionably late, but as they say, better late than never. Jose King, the formidable ruler of the Mafia world in the south side, and my father's childhood friend, greeted me with a warm smile. His intimidating presence was tempered by his kind eyes, and I was grateful he wasn't an enemy. "Rommy, you're late," Namiro chided, as she embraced me. I chuckled and rolled my eyes, "Stop calling me Rommy." She playfully scoffed, and I smiled at her teasing.

I get it he wants me to work out the rogue king problems with Cato but how is that possible when he ignores everything I suggest? Ugh, why does everything have to be so difficult? Why can’t for once in my life something be easy? A sharp tightening pain in my chest hits so sudden it brings me to my knees. ….. Two weeks that’s all it took for Cato to cause massive trouble between his kingdom and the rogue king and since our kingdoms are soon to be connected which puts us right in the middle. “What do you plan on doing? Amir won’t listen…” Uncle Bane tells my dad. He sighs and shakes his head.

Third came the Winter kingdom, which produced the best clothes, especially leather clothes, which were the most worn in winter, because it was the coldest kingdom. And last was the Autumn kingdom, with its best fishermen on the continent, who made the best and most resistant boats, to stay longer facing the ocean. When I finished reading the book, Anthony appeared in the garden, I had told the maids to tell him I would be waiting for him. " What's going on? Are we celebrating a holiday? " No, I was just thinking that it would be good for both of us to have dinner alone. Sit down, I had your favorite dish prepared.

He turns to me with a loving smile, a smile I haven't seen him give anyone else. "The kingdom has been without a queen for some years. After my father died, my brother took over the kingdom. Of course, I allowed him too." The people laughed, then he becomes serious once again. "He betrayed me, he rots in the kingdom's dungeons." "The point I'm trying to get to is that a queen is the glue that holds the kingdom together. I've been a stern ruler. Yet somehow, Kathleen has melted my heart. With her, I'm sure that the kingdom will only flourish." He says with pride in his voice. Levi lifts his cup, so does everyone else.

“What does your lie buy us? Some time?” “Hmm. A bit of time and also a deliberation.” Rose frowned. “My brother, Maxon, is the current Alpha King. I am sure that my mother is worried that he is yet to conceive an heir. If you are pregnant, it assures my mother that our bloodline can secure the throne. Shortly before my banishment, two different parties expressed venomous interest in the Alpha seat. They might have gotten me out of the way, but they remain focused on the throne. Once it is confirmed that our family will not be succeeded, they will swoop in.” “So,” Rose sneered, “if I was truly pregnant, would you have used me to secure the throne?”

“You got roped in the second you were his kid. Like it or not, you’re stuck with it.” The car veered onto a twisty road, city glow fading as cliffs jutted up ahead, black and ragged against the storm. Sienna’s gut twisted—not from the ride, but from the weight crashing down. She’d spent years dodging Dorian’s long shadow, pouring her rage into paintings nobody bought, swearing she’d never touch his filth. Now it was grabbing her by the throat.

"Your father paid for this package, kid. Premium. He told us to shatter your ego. Shave it all off." The clippers pressed to my forehead. Cold metal on my scalp. Then I felt the weight of my hair falling away, clumps of dark curls hitting the wet floor one by one. I closed my eyes and made up my mind not to cry. I didn't cry. That felt like the first tiny win I’d managed in this whole nightmare.” "Look at the floor," the guard hissed. I looked down. My hair swirled toward the drain. I felt empty, not like a Prince anymore. I felt like I was being processed, already halfway done.

“This bond will not cage you. It will not weaken you. And it will never be rejected.” I swallowed. “You don’t know that.” “I do,” he said. “Because I am not a pack Alpha.” My wolf stirred, suddenly alert. “What are you, then?” I whispered. “King.” The word echoed in my mind. Not just any king. The Rogue King. The ruler of the borderlands. The one whispered about in fear and awe. The Alpha who bowed to no council and no Goddess—except one. My knees weakened. “Impossible,” I breathed.

And despite everything, he had been kind to me. But the thing about Liam Kingsley was that I didn’t know what exactly he wanted from me. And that made him the most dangerous one. “What do you want?” I asked, forcing my voice to be steady even though I was scared. Where were the bodyguards Dominic left behind? Liam tilted his head slightly, like he was amused by my question. “Straight to the point. I like that.” Dominic had told me enough about him on the drive here. He told me how Liam always found ways to ruin his plans, how he thrived on chaos, and how he couldn’t be trusted. None of it had been flattering.