Cruel War (The Gilded Sovereign 1)

I can’t let her go.

But I know it’s the only way.

The moment I open my eyes, I find myself alone in bed. No evidence of Dahlia being here beside me. I know it was real because her scent is all over me. And that only makes me want her again.

Music filters from somewhere in the house, and suddenly, my bedroom door is shoved open as my two best friends saunter inside. Etienne and Tarian are both dressed in their finest custom cut black tuxedos with white button ups and black bowties.

It’s almost time for the party, and I wonder if Dahlia knows about it. If she knows who will be here and what we’re risking bringing the asshole here.

“Yo, get your ass out of bed and put some clothes on.”

Rolling my eyes at Tarian, I get up, with no modesty and turn toward them. “Where’s Dahlia?”

“God, man, put your junk away,” Etienne grumbles. “I don’t need to see that shit before the party.”

“Why?” I taunt. “Going to be thinking of me while you’re balls deep inside some pretty girl?” I grab my dick to make my point, causing him to shake his head in frustration at me. My body’s one thing I’ve never been worried about showing off in public, and tonight, that’s going to come across loud and clear when my father sees what I have planned.

“Fuck off, get your ass downstairs. B said he has Dahlia getting ready. He hasn’t told her about your dad,” Etienne tells me. I can see the trepidation in his eyes. He knows this could go either way: with me or Dahlia dead.

Casualties of war are to be expected. But I won’t let him hurt her. There’s no way he’ll get close enough to her to do anything because we’ll stop him before he has a chance. The plan is in place, he’s outnumbered, and once he gets here, I’ll tell him what the Sovereign will stand for in the future.

“Is Philipe coming as well?”

Tarian nods. “He’s coming. The asshole knows she’s here; I think we may have trouble with your brother, Ares.” The warning doesn’t sit well with me. I thought for once Philipe would see it my way. That he’d support me as the future of the society. But my father’s chokehold on us runs deep.

“Fine, leave me. I’ll get ready.”

Once I’m alone, I head into the attached bathroom and turn on the taps. I wanted this to go smoothly, but anxiety twists in my gut. I’m about to step under the spray when I hear my phone vibrating on the nightstand.

I grab it, swiping the screen. “Yeah?”

“Brother,” Philipe greets me. “I know what you’re doing, or what you’re trying to do. Are you going to choose a girl over your own blood?”

“You know what, for once, I wish you would trust me. I know I’ve never been the easiest person to be around, but believe me, when I say, I’m not doing this to break our family up. And I don’t need your help.”

“Like fuck, you don’t. Tell me what you’re doing, Ares,” he urges, and as the steam wafts from the bathroom into the bedroom, I tell him the one thing I haven’t yet said out loud.

“Dad had mom killed.”

I hang up before he can respond and make my way into the bathroom to step into the shower. The water is scalding, burning me from the outside in. For the first time in years, I feel like I know what I’m doing. I feel the nervous energy that normally comes before a fight, and it makes me itch to get down there and show my father I’m more man than he will ever be.

I want him to see how much he’s underestimated me. Tonight, the Sovereign may fall, but the brotherhood will always be there. Shutting off the taps, I take a long, deep, and cleansing breath. Then I make my way to the closet and get ready.

It’s time to end the war.

28

Dahlia

The mirror reflects a girl I don’t recognize.

It’s not the expensive, white satin, cowlneck dress Ares got me for the evening, it’s not even the jewelry I’m wearing. It’s him. He’s gotten into my heart, into my very soul, and I can see the way my eyes shine with emotion.

I’ve fallen down the dark hole alongside Ares, and I don’t know what will happen if I have to walk away from him. If I’m forced to leave, I don’t think I can go on knowing love is possible and not have it in my life.

Because I do.

I’ve fallen for him.

And for a moment, I miss my best friend. Rukaiya would listen to me complain about how stupid my heart is for falling for a man like Ares Lancaster.

As I think his name, the bedroom door slides open behind me. When I glance up, looking in the mirror, I find Ares dressed in a suit with a white shirt, black tie, and shiny black shoes. A picture of perfection. He nears me, and instantly, my body heats when I remember what we did only hours ago.