Page 1 of Ever Dark

DRAVEN

When the matriarch of an empire dies, most heirs fight to the death to stake a claim for it. Not my family. No one wants the chaos that is the Blackwell Gin Company. So since everyone eligible has refused the inheritance, the burden falls at my feet.

I never wanted it. But the second I saw my grandmother’s lifeless body slumped over her favorite velvet chair, I knew.I do fucking want it. Some say monsters aren’t born, they’re made. In this family, it’s both.

After going through the documents Penny Blackwell left for me, I now know why. There are far more dangerous things in these woods than me. But I don’t give a fuck. The devil may have a hold on Ever Graves, but so do I. And I have no plans to give up control.

“You good, man?” Bones flips his lighter in the seat next to me.

I don’t look at him but instead keep my gaze focused out the tinted window of the limousine. “I just want to get this over with. I have meetings scheduled for the rest of the day.”

Aries snickers. He sits across from me, blond and godlike. “On the day of your grandmother’s funeral? I’m sure you can reschedule.”

I grip the edge of the leather seats, my palms sweating. “I don’twantto reschedule. Someone has to clean up this mess of a company before we all end up broke as fuck.”

They both shut up at that. My two best friends care about self-preservation just as much as I do. Plus, they know better than to push me when I’m in this shitty of a mood. It’s not sadness or loss. Just fucking inconvenient. I actually don’t remember the last time I felt anything other than apathy, darkness, and fucking misery.

The only things that bring me even a sliver of pleasure are ice-cold glasses of Blackwell Gin, hand-rolled cigarettes laced with nightshade, and getting my dick sucked by women who don’t ask me any fucking questions.

Even then, the joy is fleeting—temporary euphoria that ends up making me more miserable because it’s faker than the last pair of tits I had in my mouth.

There’s already a crowd of a hundred people gathered around my grandmother’s coffin when we arrive. She was the richest person in this town. As much as the locals fear and despise us, they also have to show us respect. My family owns most of the land in this town. Every one of these pathetic fools pays rent to us for either their homes, businesses, or both. Fuck me over, and I won’t forget.

The three of us step out of the limo in our crisp, black suits, looking very much the part of the town heathens.Super fucking rich and powerful heathens. It’s no secret that the men in this town seethe with jealousy every time we show our faces. Mostly because all their women want to fuck us so badly they can barely walk past us without clenching their wet thighs.

Bones snickers as he looks out at the mixed expressions glaring back at us. He chews on a toothpick, unfazed, as it rubs against the cut on his lips. It took a miracle to get him into this suit, buteven with his neck tattoos and scarred knuckles, it works for him. It makes him look even more dangerous.

“Are we late, or are these ass-kissers fucking early?” Bones is always itching for a fight. Anyone. Any time. It’s like he’s always high on adrenaline.

I grit my teeth a little too hard and wince as a sharp pain shoots up my jaw. “I honestly don’t give a fuck. Take note of anyone who’s not here. We’ll pay them a visit later.”

Aries runs a hand through his pale-blond hair, admiring himself in the reflection of the car window. “As long as no one finds outwhoput your grandmother in that coffin, I don’t give a shit who turns up.”

“Of course, no one’s going to find out. It’s family business,” I snap. There’s only one person who means more to Aries than us, his twin sister Libra. She may have been the one to finally put an end to Penny Blackwell, but I paved the way. Libra was owed justice after Penny had her locked up in Absentia Asylum, and I needed my grandmother to leave me the fuck alone. It’s a win-win in my eyes. As sick and fucked up as that sounds.

We stalk over, our leather shoes sloshing through the wet grass. The autumn equinox has brought more rain and humidity than usual this year. In my twenty-seven years in this town, I’ve never gotten used to my clothes clinging to my skin. But the scent is intoxicating. Another one of those little slivers of enjoyment I periodically savor.

I take my rightful place at the head of the coffin just in time to catch the scowl on Father Peter’s face. I glare back at him, forcing his gaze to the ground.I’ll fucking slit your throat, priest.

Bones clenches his fists at his sides, picking up on my feral energy. One nod in his direction, and he’ll slaughter whoever holds my ire. No questions needed. Aries and I would do the same for him.

The crowd collectively bows their heads as Father Peter rambles on about endings and new beginnings. I tune him out as the three of us keep our heads upright, fixated on all the superficial tears and forced expressions of remorse. Waiting. Watching. For one of thesemotherfuckers to step out of line.Give me just one sign of disrespect, and I’ll gladly ruin a life today.I’ll add that to my list of joyful slivers as well. Like bittersweet slices of shit pie I choke down.

By the time he’s done with his torturous soliloquy, we’re drenched. It seems even the rain wants to cleanse Penny Blackwell from this world. But no one dares move unless I do, and I’m stoic as fuck.

I will make these sheep stand in the rain all day if I feel like it.

I have a sick, perverse lust for the sight of the whole town shivering and wincing under the marble-size raindrops. It gets my dick hard. It’s the power. The control. I’ll get off later tonight thinking about it.

Aries groans, snapping me out of my crude fantasy. “You made your point, Dray,andyou’ve ruined my suit. Can we hurry this the fuck up now?”

Always the delicate pretty boy.“I’ll buy you another one.”

Bones cocks an eyebrow at me. “Fuck the suit. I need a drink. Let’s wrap this up.”

I sigh, nodding as I stalk toward the pile of black dahlias on the ground.My grandmother’s favorite flower.I pick one up and place it on her chest. Despite the coroner’s feeble attempt to make her look presentable, the flower matches the color of her lips. I shudder as I look upon her one last time.

I lean down and whisper in her ear, hoping my words reach her wherever she is. “Even in death, I have no love for you.”

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