Page 12 of Crown of Steel

“Régis?” Dominique’s deep brown eyes look up in their search for mine, filled with a curious glance.You coming?They ask.

“Oui,” I clip, blinking away the sudden chaos in my mind. I replace it with a new wave of determination as I drag my feet down the stairs and force myself to keep my cool. Pursing my lips into a fine line, I bypass Dominique in silence, my head dipped and my pace picking up, already dreading this fucking lunch we’re about to have. I should have said no. Should have gone to the canteen myself. My muscles tighten at the thought. Why did I say yes? Why did I—

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Dominique murmurs from behind me. He’s close, his voice soft, filled with a husky edge of understanding. He’s too close. “I was too.”

Part of me wants to snarl at that, wants to tell him to back off. Yet another part of me imagines reaching out, lacing our fingers together and just breathing. In. Out, and in again.

A yelp, then someone gets in my path on a dash, nearly making me stumble as he bumps my forearm in an attempt to pass me. It’s a guy I’ve met before, with ginger locks, a bright smile and a piercing voice that radiates both innocence and infatuation, and he throws himself at Dominique, who grabs him and holds him flush against his chest.

“Sunshine! It’s so, so good to see you.” Their spontaneous hug is a sign of affection that has me glue my mask of indifference even tighter around my cheeks, my forehead, nose and mouth. It feels a little cramped, as if the sizing isn’t good, as if it can crack with one wrong movement. But it’s better thanimagining what it would be like to have someone hug me with such warmth.

The guy peeks up at me from Dominique’s dark mane. “Hey there Régis. I’m Maxime, Dominique’s friend. Remember me?” I do. We met a few months ago when he was worried sick about Dominique. We somehow ended up in the forest with Gaél and the twins and some cloaked guy who had had a love affair with Dominique’s brother. Weirdest. Night. Ever. One that no one has ever spoken of again.

I give him a jut of my chin, but Maxime just clicks his tongue in disapproval. That’s the only warning I get before he grabs my shoulders and pulls me in. His face, pale with sparkling freckles that seem to spring up as he smiles, is close to mine, his gray eyes wide and innocent as he pulls me close. I stiffen, the hug seeming to last like fucking forever. “So you are the stepbrother,” he hums thoughtfully when it’s finally over. “How’s that going for you? Glad to finally properly meet you.”

“Maxime—” Dominique warns.

“What?” He teases, gaze lingering on mine. It stays there for a beat, as if they want to pry inside and seek out the secrets that I keep behind metal. But I won’t give it up.

Myshame.

Myhurt.

And I won’t share.

“You know they’re not the easiest.” He gives me another smile and a pat on my shoulder. “But not to worry, we’ve got you.”

Shaking him off, I growl, “I don’t need protection. I am capable of keeping them at a distance myself.” Maxime’s smile turns into a cackle, all cheerful and shit, but I don’t miss the way he winks at Dominique.

Flipping them both the bird, I stalk toward the food corner. It’s well after one in the afternoon, so there’s no queue anymore, lunch hours limited to half past one. I quickly grab a tray,consider leaving the other two, who are still chatting and laughing behind me, and find myself a quiet spot in some corner. But by the time the canteen employee hands me a full plate with lasagne, water and bread, I change my mind. Instantly.

Because I hearhimlaugh. A rumble through the closed space, floating its way through the air and right at me. It’s a raspy sound, low and taunting, as if it’s a private chuckle brushing past my ear. My fingers clench and I inhale deeply, inwardly preparing myself to get ready to turn around and face Arthur like the inevitable sin he is.

“Can I take my food upstairs?” I ask the canteen lady in my most convincing voice and a flutter of my lashes, but she just crosses her arms, glances from my tray back at me, then shakes her head. “No food in the dorms, I’m afraid. But there’s plenty of space and you still have half an hour.”

I fail to hide my disappointment when I nod in understanding. Then Arthur laughs again, and I grind my jaw. I need to get away from here, but my feet won’t move, body rigid with apprehension. Exhaling a woosh of air, I puff out my chest. Fuck this shit. My stepbrother might be obnoxious and provocative, but he won’t get to me. I willnotlet him get to me. No one can get to me. Swirling around, I bite the insides of my cheek and let my gaze wildly flash around in search for a free table in a far corner.

“Régis. This way.” Dominique stands half way through the canteen, already waiting for me.

I frown. “How did you—” He lets out a smile, looking unfazed by my inner turmoil. He stood behind me in the queue. Eyeing the seats he mentions, I find Maxime is waving at both of us.

“You blacked out for a moment. We took advantage,” he grins, poking out his chin toward a table in the corner. “Especially him. Maxime’s a king at finding the best seats. Come on.”

“Right,” I mutter, then force myself to follow him. I am not that stammering, blushing kid anymore. He’s gone. But when I nearly reach Dominique, I hear my name being called out.

“Look who’s there. Baby stepbro, why won’t you come and sit with us?” It’s Louis, who's waving at me, his voice carrying all the way through the canteen. Making heads turn. I grind my teeth at the sudden attention. He is surrounded by guys who now eye me curiously, guys I don’t care about. Next to him, Arthur sits with some dude on his lap, who has his face buried in his neck. Arthur’s raven hair is all slick and styled, the pants of his school uniform snug around his well-developed thighs, his smile sensual and secretive while he murmurs secret words in the guys ear. I feel my face heating at the sight, puffed chest slowly deflating as something tightens inside. Why am I so affected by this guy? My throat feels dry, and no matter how hard I try, my scrambled mind just can’t come up with a sneer. Still my lips part, ready for combat though nothing but a pathetic wheeze comes out.

Dominique claps a hand on my shoulder, leans in and muses, “Get used to it. Whatever rule this school has? The Deverauxs don’t have to obey them. Their family name is sacred here. They are powerful.” He pulls back and sends me a wink. “That means you too.” Letting go of my shoulder, he cocks his head to the public display at the table right in the middle of the canteen, and quips, “I’m afraid you’re too late.”

At the sound of Dominique’s voice, Gaël whips his head around, platinum hair shimmering in the light as his gaze flies up to mine. It makes me fucking squirm.Heis…oh well, the three of them have that same effect on me. Next to me, Dominique doesn’t seem to share that feeling, because he nods my way, catching my wide eyes. “Régis is having lunch with us today. I’m trying to recruit him for our chess club.”

“Are you now, beautiful?” Gaël scrapes his chair back as he stands, catching the attention of other students. People stop andstare, their hungry curiosity now fully focused on us, making me grit my teeth. So much for staying low.

Arthur drags his gaze from the guy on his lap, only to sweep that dark stare right onto my face. It’s enough to make my legs go wobbly and for my skin to itch. Sinking my teeth in my lower lip, I nibble the soft, plush flesh while my spine turns rigid.

Gaël approaches, his large, painted eyes focused on Dominique. Fuck, everyone in the canteen is watching the show. When he stills right in front of his lover, they eye each other intently for a beat, before Gaël dips his head and brushes his mouth over Dominique’s neck, licking its way up to the corner of his mouth.

“Bon appétit, trésor,” he purrs. “I’m sure you’ll successfully recruit Régis. Save some appetite for later.” With his lips connected to Dominique’s mouth, Gaël’s eyes flit to mine. He stares at me, and then he smiles against his lover’s delicate skin. He gives him one last kiss, then snaps his fingers. One of his friends lifts his backpack and holds it out. He snatches it out of his hand and throws it around his shoulder, ready to leave the canteen. “I’ll see you later, beautiful.”

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