Page 58 of Tyrant

He nods to me. He gets it. I respect him for understanding. If anaceisn’t willing to kill to protect theirclaimed one, then what are we doing here?

“None of my business here, Ty, but whatever happened, I hope you get an answer,” Mac says. “That’s not how we do things. Nobody deserves to have their drink spiked like that. Without consent? No fucking way, Ty. No fucking way.”

My brother calls my name now. His voice is like ten billion paper cuts inside my ears.

“I better go check on theking,” I say to Mac.

He flexes his jaw, knowing part of our responsibilities are to respect the one on the throne. Do I respect Luc?

Don’t make me fucking laugh.

I approach my brother. He stands there with Sin and Ven at his sides.

“Still nosighton Baal, huh?” I ask my brother with a grin.

“A joke,” Luc says. “Considering you’re the reason why he had his eye removed…”

“Not me,Brother. That was his own doing. Look at the mess he’s caused. Maybe it’s good he’s not here. I’d love to cut his other fucking eye out.”

“Let’s not talk too much business tonight, Tyrant,” Luc says. “This is a celebration for you and yourclaimed one. You will care for her. You will break her in every way possible. She will be left with nothing when she’s handed off to her husband.”

That fucking word makes my heart angry. Luc is waiting for me to get pissed off.

“Of course,” I respond to him. “I know my job here. I know what must be done. I’d also like to point out to you that someone is after her. This isn’t like other ones.”

“I’ve heard,” Luc says. “The drink…”

“And a teddy bear with its head and eyes taken apart. That doesn’t sit well with me.”

“It doesn’t sit well with me either,” my brother says.

He grabs my shoulder and gives me a squeeze as though he’s my father and I’m getting thatgo-get-‘em-champvibe. It takes all my might not to throw a right uppercut and take out Luc’s bottom row of teeth.

“Need anything else?” I ask Luc.

“A drink,” he says. “You and me, Tyrant. Beyond what this all means. After all, we are brothers, right?”

My jaw tightens.

I see the look in Luc’s eyes. That reminder that our father chose to raise him and left me hanging. That our father simply just fucked my mother and that was that. He made a life with Luc and Luc’s mother. I hate to think for a second I could possibly feel something that resembles jealousy in all of this. Fuck that. Fuck jealousy. Fuck feelings. Fuck emotions.

Des brings the bottle of expensive vodka and two glasses to us.

I look at Des. “Put any drugs in this one?”

“No,” he says. “That’s just for really special occasions.”

I take a step and Sin makes a fist and presses it to my chest, keeping me back.

“Drink, Tyrant,” Luc orders me.

I take one of the small glasses from Des. Luc has the other. Des pours the drinks.

“To yourclaimed one,” Luc says.

I nod.

The vodka is smooth and chilled. This particular vodka is a very deadly drink because it has no real smell and the taste is that of purified water. I’m talking this stuff hits your tongue and you wantmore.

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