Page 34 of The Curse of a Kingdom
He didn’t need to tell his father that idealism had saved his heart when he’d been a lonely child in an unwanted place. It wasn’t his craving for power that allowed him to be human and pardon people the Society of Crows wanted dead for no reason other than wanting freedom.
Human or fae, he’d rather just be true to himself.
CHAPTERTWELVE
ORION
“Ithought the next time I saw you, the cat would be dragging you in.” Devon's voice carried through the walls of his room, his ebony eyes studying him. “It surprises me that I’m disappointed she wasn’t the one bringing you to me.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Orion said flatly, making his way into the room without waiting for an invitation. The door clicked behind him, and his brother followed him, crossing his arms over his chest.
He already looked ten times better than he had the day he arrived. His sunken cheeks had filled some. The darkness under his eyes had lifted.
“I have many names for her—cat, kitten . . .” Devon used his fingers to count, his lips twisted into a shadow of a smile. “Myfiancée.”
Orion flinched at that last word. Devon calling Nava his fiancée had his blood boiling. The smirk barely reached his brother’s eyes, however, and it was as if he knew deep inside the word alone would grate at him. “I see,” Orion growled.
It was odd with the way Devon held himself around him, like a wound that had festered between them. They had been close just four months ago, before he’d come to this place . . . unless something was off.
Devon could be under a spell that was forcing him to be here, acting strange. Manipulated by the same beautiful woman who hadhimunder a spell.
Clearing his throat, he took a step closer and changed the subject. “You look thinner than four months ago.” He studied Devon’s complexion with a frown.
The aforementioned moved with floating steps toward the sitting area by the hearth, unbuttoning his deep blue jacket before taking a seat in the plush gold chair. “Arkimedes, brother, your manners are horrid. I would think they would beat you into shape in this hell, teach you better.”
“Just call me Orion.”
Devon tilted his head, showing straight teeth behind a tense smile. “Changing names in such a short time seems rather abrupt. Are you determined to stay here, then?”
Orion shrugged, making his way to the chesterfield sofa in front of his brother. The silk cream fabric was soft, with golden botanical patterns that shimmered with the light of the fireplace. His brother chased his every move, like a caged animal waiting to bite. His chest constricted at the realization that behind the false confidence, Devon was terrified of him. The only family he truly had hated him.
Orion laced the fingers of his hands tightly, bouncing both legs as the uncomfortable silence descended over them. “Arkimedes reminds me of someone I wish to leave behind.” His throat thickened, and it was hard to swallow. Not knowing what to do with his hands, he raked his fingers in his hair. Arkimedes B. Valeron was a name associated with so much pain. With feeling like he didn’t belong, like he wasn't wanted. Always feared. A monster.
“Ah.” Devon allowed his body weight to rest on the back of the couch, crossing his ankle over his knee. “The tormented act.”
“It’s not an act. If someone were to offer you a chance to turn the page, to start fresh and not be who we were, you would also take it in a blink of an eye.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that you turned out to be a prince.”
“You know me well enough to know I don’t care about status or money.”
“Yet somehow you always end up with both.” Devon sneered, and Orion sat back, mute for a moment. His brother’s eyes burned with a fire he hadn’t seen before.
“What’s happening here?” he wondered after a moment of extended silence. “Did we have an argument I’m not remembering?”
“You have no idea.”
“What?”
Devon let out a heavy breath, his jaw tightening. “Never mind.”
“Speak your truth. What’s happening?”
Devon opened his mouth, and gurgling noise came out. His cheeks turned red, and he tried again. Silence, not one word. His thick black brows met in the middle. “Fuck.”
“Are you under a spell?”
“You know well enough I wouldn’t be able to tell you. But no, I'm not under a spell, per se. I’m under something much bigger.”
