Volatile Love (The Gilded Sovereign 2)

“I know, and I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize our brotherhood,” I tell him. “It’s something that means more to me right now than revenge. Shit happens, I know that, and Tarian may have walked out of this house, but he’s never out of our lives. Even though he may think we’re done,” I tell Ares sternly, “he’s delusional because we can never let one of our own walk out.”

“Exactly, so stop thinking of revenge. We have better things to do,” he mutters, as if he read my mind only moments ago. “Let’s go tell those assholes just who runs this fucking town.” Ever the alpha. He’s always been a leader; even when we were younger, there was nothing that Ares couldn’t control, but he never looked down on Tarian and I ever, he looked at us as equals. Like we were all on the same level, even though I think, for the most part, we’re all on different ranks, but at the same height. Ares is second in command after Philipe, and Tarian and I are both at third. Due to the way the Elders of the society are chosen, if anything happens to Ares or Philipe, it would be up to both Tarian and I to take the helm.

“Sounds good,” I smirk, following my best friend down to the office where I know my father and Thane are having their discussion. The moment we enter, they both turn to look at us.

“Son.”

“Listen to me and listen well.” My focus is on Thane. He’s watching me with a satisfied smirk on his face because he knows he’s gotten under our skin. Ares and I aren’t going to stand by and watch him break apart the Tynewood faction. “I don’t give a shit who you are, you’re not a Crown, and you never will be. You’re merely the brother of one of our Elder Crowns, so if you think that Tarian will ever be able to leave you in charge, you’re wrong.”

“I have a contract.” Thane hands me the folder, which I take and move around the desk. Finding Ares’s lighter hidden in one of the desk drawers, I pull it out and flick the flame. Once it’s dancing in the early morning light, I hold it to the folder.

“This is what I think about your contract.”

“Etienne, no,” Dad says, but it’s too late, the pages ignite, the flames dancing wildly, and I know I’ve made my point when Thane’s face drains of color.

“Now, if you have anything else to discuss, we can talk. But right now, I would recommend you leave here, find Tarian and inform him that your utterly ridiculous notion to take his place is no longer valid.”

“This isn’t over,” Thane promises. “My nephew knows better than to fight me on his place. I was the rightful—”

“You were nothing,” I bite out in frustration. “Just because you were fucking Yasmine doesn’t mean shit.”

“Are you sure about that?” Thane challenges, his voice confident, sending an icy shiver down my spine. “Because there’s a lot more to all this shit than a few old men playing God.” I wouldn’t put it past Thane to hide more secrets until he’s ready to reveal them. But only when it suits him. And if there are more, we’ll have to deal with more bombs being dropped. There might be one that could shake the foundation of the Sovereign.

25

Etienne

“Is there something you’d like to tell us then?”

Thane grins manically. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t offer up anything more, and I wonder just what the hell he’s hiding. Rage simmers through me as I watch him. If it were up to me, I’d knock him the fuck out, and when he’s down on the floor, I’d probably end up killing him.

“Tarian will meet my demands because he wants to see his mother again,” Thane tells us.

“Oh?” My brow arches with curiosity because I doubt Tarian wants anything to do with her, but I play his game. “And you’re keeping that over his head like a fucking prize for your seat at the table. His mother is a—”

“Watch your mouth, Durand,” Thane sneers. “She’s a woman who had to leave because of the shitty rules that your fucking Sovereign had laid out before her. Not because she didn’t love her son.”

“What the hell are you talking about? She made her son believe she died!” My voice peaks and rage vibrates through every inch of me. I feel every word, every syllable because I’m no longer cool, calm, or fucking collected. “How do you think he feels knowing the bitch walked out on him? She made him believe she’s dead, and then suddenly comes back into his life and wants a relationship with him.”

“That’s not what I want,” Yasmine’s voice shudders through me. Memories of my younger years suddenly at the forefront of my mind. And when I turn to regard her, I can’t help but recall every moment I spent with her.