Page 19 of Crave Me

“You’re not me! And you most certainly don’t want to be either!”

“I’ll be whatever it takes to get the job done!”

“That’s a dangerous approach to fall into.”

“Yet, it’s reality.”

“What would your father say if he were here?”

Caspian came to a jolting stop.

I could see Dante’s words had affected him.

But in the next moment, he blinked it away and shoved it down, then spun around just as Dante was right upon him, thundering, “He’s not here! And it’s because of that motherfucker! He took my family from me once and now he’s trying to do it again! There is no fucking line I won’t cross to prevent that from happening, to save them and put Elijah fucking Bane in the ground!”

“There should be,” Dante spoke in a calm, even tone. He grasped Caspian’s shoulder. “There needs to be.”

Caspian shrugged him off and turned to go.

I went to step forward, but a voice coming from the top of the staircase pulled me up short.

“My brother wouldn’t want this.”

Caspian turned back as Damien descended the stairs. “You don’t know what he’d want.”

“You know all too well that I do.” He grimaced as he made it down the stairs, then approached Caspian and Dante. “I know Seb inside and out and you know that’s how I’ve been able to manipulate and come at him to such great effect over the years.”

Caspian’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t counter Damien’s claims or dismiss them.

Damien took the opportunity to go on, “We’ll get them back, but not like this. Defeating a monster by becoming one sounds all well and good when you’re not factoring in the aftermath, which, for once, I really doubt you are. It’s nearly impossible for you to do when it comes to those you love. The threat is all that you see. The thing is, King, you do this and you won’t be the man they all love once they’re back here. And then Elijah wins anyway.”

“You have no fucking right to talk morality with me.”

“I don’t, no. But I’m not talking from me. I’m talking from Seb’s point of view, how he would view it, how he would make you see the detriment of this path you’re headed down. He wouldn’t want this for you. Caleb wouldn’t either. And let’s not forget, with Cal’s own issues with the dark, he looks to you for where to draw the line. If you do this, you can’t be that for him and he needs it, he’ll always need it from you.”

I saw Dante looking on, almost seeming as flabbergasted as I was that Damien was being the voice of reason here, that he was actually trying to help with this, of all things.

“You spent a lot of time with Jett. He spoke about his brother, yes?”

Damien followed his train of thought. “I got the lowdown on what he’s capable of, yeah.”

“And you’re still standing here trying to talk me down from approaching this with the swiftest and most effective strategy, knowing what your little brother and your long-time crush are suffering at his hands?”

When Dante moved to speak, Caspian held up his hand. “We’ve discussed this non-stop for the last hour. My position hasn’t changed. It’s done.” He glared at Damien. “And you don’t get to counsel me.”

Shaking my head, I stepped from the shadows. “And what about me?”

They all jolted, then Caspian turned toward me.

It took a few moments as the rage in his hazel eyes collided with the understanding in mine, but then it eased off, and he smiled sadly.

I walked to him and took his hand. “Let’s talk, okay?”

No words came as he stared at me.

And then he gave a nod, letting me lead him away.

I caught sight of Damien looking stunned, and Dante tugging at his goatee in clear concern for Caspian’s state of mind.

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