The Palace (Chateau 4)

I took another drink then wiped my mouth with my forearm. “How are the men treating you?”

Another pause. “Fine.”

I knew the men unanimously hated him, as they should, but they would never cross me and slit his throat in his sleep. But their anger would fade, just as mine had. “Negotiating that increase in product will increase their salaries, so they must have granted you some forgiveness.”

Magnus continued to stare into his glass.

“You’ve definitely earned some from me.” I ignored the window and stared at him. There was no amount of anger that could overcome the connection between us, the bloodline, the unspeakable bond. He was my little brother, and like a parent, I couldn’t stay angry with him forever.

He turned to meet my gaze, to look me in the eye, his brown eyes and facial features similar to mine. It wasn’t just a pause, but an eternal silence. His look said it all, that my forgiveness meant the world to him, that we were still family…even after what he’d done.

I let it linger a little longer before I moved on. “How’s the cunt holding up?”

His expression immediately tightened at the mention of her, anger floating to the surface of his eyes like flames. His breathing changed. His posture. Everything. “I wouldn’t know.”

I believed him, not just because I had a source on the inside to confirm it, but I could see the truth written on his face. He looked like he might kill her with his bare hands. “I don’t understand your fascination with her. Melanie is beautiful, petite, quiet…and she’s the ugly one.”

There was no reaction.

I took a drink and looked out the window again, not expecting him to justify his strange fascination. He could have any woman he wanted, but he chose to risk his integrity and honor for a woman so unremarkable. It was just a dig on my part.

The sound of heels was audible behind us.

I hadn’t asked her to come down, but I didn’t mind her joining us. It was another shot at Magnus, to show him what real beauty looked like. She was the kind of woman worth life and death, worth your integrity and honor, and it was an opportunity to show him what I had and he didn’t.

That I had picked the winner.

He’d picked the loser.

I turned to regard her.

She was in a deep blue dress, cinched around her waist with a slender black belt. Her makeup had been reapplied, and her hair fixed from the tangled mess it’d been just moments ago. Stunning and perfect, she glided to me, like a butterfly about to land on my arm.

Magnus turned to look as well.

She stopped a few feet away, as if asking for permission to be there.

I lifted my fingers and silently beckoned her to me.

My arm outstretched as I waited for her to step into me, to come to my side so I could secure my arm around her waist, so I could squeeze her tight. When I felt her dress against my palm, another rush came through me, like I was in the presence of royalty. She was the countess of this palace without a ring. She was the countess of my heart. I brought our lips close together but didn’t kiss her. “Glass of wine?”

“Please.”

I squeezed her tight then kissed her before I departed. Gilbert was nowhere in sight, probably with the chef preparing dinner, so I went down to the cellar to get her a bottle of the wine she loved.

I gave Magnus the opportunity to become acquainted with her—since she would be my wife. I also did it for more selfish reasons, to flaunt what I had and he didn’t. The bottle was uncorked, the wine was poured, and then I returned with the glass.

The second I rejoined them, I could feel the tension, feel the negative energy. Magnus clenched his hand tightly like he was annoyed before sliding it into his pocket to disguise his anger. “I had to go down to the cellar to get your favorite.”

Her eyes softened as she looked at me. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“You know I’d do anything for you.” My hand encircled her waist before I gave her another soft kiss. “Now, let the men talk business. I’ll join you for dinner soon.”

She gave a nod before she left my hold and walked away, her heels growing fainter and fainter as she disappeared.

“Now that is a woman worth fighting for.” I turned back to my brother and took a drink, seeing the anger still on his face.

He hated Raven so much it was even hard to be around her sister.

Guess I had nothing to worry about.

He took a drink before he spoke. “I’ve never seen you this way with a woman.” He didn’t ask how I felt. He didn’t ask for details of the relationship. He just made his assessment based on a single interaction.