Page 7 of Bound by Love
She glanced back at Master Anderson. “I remember every little thing you did back then, Master Anderson, and I will always be grateful to you for it.”
He gave her a charming half-smile. “Think nothing of it, young Brie. The fact you are safe and Thane is recovering is all the thanks I need.” He placed his hand over his heart, and for good measure, he flexed his pecs, making the material of his shirt dance.
Brie giggled. “See? You always make me laugh, and I love that about you.”
“I, too, appreciate your good humor, but…” Rytsar said, looking at Master Anderson, “your statement insinuates that I would have lost control and crossed that line. To assume that I would fail where you did not is extremely arrogant on your part.”
“Look, I know what a passionate man you are.”
Rytsar narrowed his eyes. “Thane is my brother. Why would you ever think I would betray him like that?”
“Thane is like a brother to me as well, buddy, and I’ve known him longer than you. But I’m telling you…the struggle was real. Even Nosaka felt it.”
Brie’s eyes widened. Tono had seemed so calm and in control when he was with her. It broke her heart to know he’d secretly suffered, too. At the time, she’d been so focused on Sir that she hadn’t given a thought to anyone else.
Master Anderson pointed at Brie. “See? Look what you’ve done by forcing me to discuss it. Young Brie feels badly now, and that was never my intent.”
Rytsar glanced at Brie, saying nothing for several moments. Finally, he broke the silence, telling Master Anderson, “The truth—I was theonlyone to be trusted.”
Master Anderson shook his head in disagreement.
“Da, you know it is true. And, yet, I was kept in the dark. You must have realized something was wrong when I didn’t show up for weeks after.”
“As I told you before, I was barely hanging on, myself. If things had been normal, I would have eventually figured that out.”
Rytsar snarled. “I think it boils down to jealousy.”
“Jealousy of what?” Master Anderson cried indignantly.
“My relationship with Thane. To be honest, I have wondered if keeping me in the dark was a form of payback.”
Master Anderson looked at Brie, brushing his hair back angrily. “Can you believe this guy?”
“Do you deny it?” Rytsar demanded.
“I sure as hell do!” Master Anderson took a step closer to him, physically stating his dominance. “I never once felt jealous of you. Why would I? Thane and I were friends long before you.” He squared his jaw and looked Rytsar in the eye. “The fact you even think so is insulting.”
“Hah,” Rytsar replied, a smirk on his lips. “I said the same thing to you after you dared to question the scars thatradost moyaand I share.”
Master Anderson cocked his head to one side, his voice hinting at his growing annoyance. “Yeah…I’m still not sure about your decision to bond with her by blood without Thane’s permission. At the very least, it was a rash thing to do.”
“But necessary,” Rytsar stated firmly.
“Since Thane has not spoken against it, I cannot argue the point with you. However, I would have strongly cautioned you against it, had you asked.”
“That’s the difference between you and me,” Rytsar declared. “You’ve become overly cautious as you’ve gotten older.”
“And you are still controlled by your passions.”
Rytsar crossed his arms.
Brie finally spoke up, the truth being very clear to her. “That’s why Sir loves you both. You are authentic and true. Fighting about your differences is like water arguing with fire. You can’t change each other’s nature nor should you try. I personally think you’re both perfect the way you are, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Rytsar snorted in response, continuing to stare Master Anderson down.
Master Anderson, on the other hand, winked at Brie. “Fire describes Durov to a T.” Instead of arguing further, he offered Rytsar a challenge. “How about we settle this like men?”
Rytsar raised an eyebrow. “What do you propose?”
