Page 4 of Cruel Devotion

Hu stepped back. “Mountain Master?”

“Now!”

Chen remained between Duck and me. “I would like to discuss the possibility of—”

“Now.” I spoke through clenched teeth. “Right fucking now. Duck can handle himself.”

With heavy reluctance, they began to move. Their footsteps, though hesitant, resonated on the stones.

Chen, always drawn to the wisdom and lore of the past, gravitated towards the statues of the mythical guardians. Once there, he ran his hand over the phoenix’s head and rested it there as if trying to draw strength from the statue.

Hu, on the other hand, sought solace in the natural beauty of Mount Utopia. He made his way to the waterfall. Mist rose around him, creating a hazy silhouette of his figure.

I looked back at Duck.

There we stood in the ring, ready for battle.

The two of us.

Bound by blood but divided by desire.

I could hear Chen’s voice in the back of my mind, suggesting my feelings for Monique were fleeting, a mere distraction.

But deep down, every fiber of my being screamed in protest.

What I felt for Monique wasn’t just a passing fancy.

It was profound, overwhelming, and all-consuming.

The memory of Monique’s face flashed before my eyes—her gentle grace, the soft curve of her smile, the way her eyes danced when she laughed. Those were images I alone should cherish.

And, not only had Duck failed to protect her as he’d promised, but the glint in his eye whenever he spoke her name was unmistakably clear.

He likes her even more than I thought.

Unfortunately, Duck’s fascination—this unspoken desire—treaded on grounds we both knew were sacred and forbidden.

My heart thundered in my chest as the weight of our shared blood and history pressed down on my shoulders, pulling me in two opposite directions—possession over Monique and loyalty for family.

I stared at Duck. “You disobeyed me.”

He remained silent.

“Then, instead of coming to my tent with humility. You take Monique’s panties like a pervert.”

“I had not planned on doing that but I was pissed.”

I held in my annoyance, ready to deal with the elephant in the room. “Pissed about what?”

He clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Duck.” My voice shifted to a dangerous growl. “Your audacity has exceeded the limits of our kinship.”

He sneered. “You’re using her.”

“What the fuck did you say?” Done with all the talking, I charged for him.

He dove to the side and narrowly missed my fist.

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