Page 18 of Crown of Steel

“No!” I want to scream.“The fuck I am not.”But if I’m not, then what am I? The son of a burned past? The son of a manwho’s behind bars? It’s devastating how the tables have turned.It’s him now who’s locked up behind steel.

“Can I count on you, Arthur?” Jean-Luc asks.

“Of course Dad, I’ll make sure that Régis will feel safe.” Arthur’s voice is still breathy, the remaining tremors of shock adding a rasp to his voice that makes his tone even more sensual. Or perhaps it’s his words that make my chest clench.

Jean-Luc stands, followed by my mother. “Good, that’s settled. Régis, you can trust Arthur. And trust me when I say you will need him. Being a member of our family comes with certain other obligations. It should have been me to guide you through, as your father, but since the family decided that you must prove yourself, it will be up to you to discover this by yourself. Go to Arthur when you need something, get to know each other a little better. Freely discuss things with your counselor. Please, use the tools that we’re handing you. You’re not alone. We want you to feel safe.” The thought makes me grimace. He doesn’t see, his eyes already on his real son. “Arthur, this is his journey. Guide him, but do not demonstrate.”

Demonstrate?I think, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. What the hell does that mean?

Arthur casually runs a hand through his hair and nods. “That won’t be a problem, Dad.”

“The future of this family lies on your shoulders, my son. Everything you have worked for, that we have worked for over the past years, together, is about to happen after you graduate. I need you, Arthur. The world needs you. Please don’t let me down.”

There’s that weird vibe again. Shaking it off, I bristle, “You know, I’m not a kid. If you wouldn’t have barged into my life, I would have gone to university, and I wouldn’t have had achaperoneeither. Or a counselor. So don’t make this any weirder than it already is.”

“Régis.” My mother murmurs. “The past years have been so hard for you, so—”

“Hard, yeah. I get it.” I too stand up, limbs tight as a string and my breath high in my chest, locked up but too proud to let go. I can’t face her. Haven’t been able to ever since we were reunited. “I’ll wait for the counselor to get in touch with me. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get settled. Classes will start tomorrow.” I mean to pass Arthur and get the hell out of this crooked room. God, it feels like the walls are scratched right off its foundations, only to tumble down—and down, and down. The entire place feels like it’s spinning, taking my crashing thoughts into some weird spiral.

But Arthur takes that moment to sweep himself off the couch, right in front of me. Our chests are almost touching when he effectively blocks my way. He’s taller than I am, by at least ten centimeters. Rolling my lips, I tip up my head and gaze right at him.

“If you’ll excuse me,” I mutter, then press forward, but he won’t budge, leaving us standing even closer than before. Sucking in a breath, I try to focus on anything but the heat radiating off his body. Embarrassment coats my cheeks.

Arthur blinks, raising his eyebrows, and fuck—he must have said something that I completely missed. Slamming my jaw together, I give him a subtle push against his chest, the connection bringing a zap of electricity right into my stomach.

“Since I’m your new chaperone, let’s get you back then,” he mutters, eyes still on mine, before he flits them back to our parents. “Bye Dad, bye Nathalie, see you soon. Sorry for the abrupt goodbye.”

“Good luck tomorrow. Have yourselves a fantastic start to the new school year.”

My mother asks something, but I can’t hear her words through the whooshing of my ears. I don’t know what has taken me out of balance. Perhaps this weird talk of true value andfamily, perhaps seeing my mother again after all these weeks of hiding. Perhaps it’s the way I can feel Arthur following me, stalking me like the prey I am. Whatever it is has my skin prickling in trepidation.

“This is something he needs to do himself, Nathalie,” I hear Jean-Luc say, his voice slowly dimming because we’re now across the room, facing the door.

Need to do what? I want to ask. Study? Earn my place in their fucking family? I never asked to be part of their family, nor do I want to work in their business. I never asked for my mother to come back after having left me with my dad.

But you wanted to.

Oh, I did. So badly.

Night after night I’d wait for her to come home. And I wondered, oh I wondered.

Why did you leave me?

Espèce de merde.

Did you stop loving me?

Useless boy. Get in there.

Why didn’t you take me with you?

And you’ll only get out when I fucking say so.

You left me with him.

The door clicks closed behind us, but we’ve hardly taken a few steps, before Arthur snatches his fingers around my neck and jerks me against the wall. I flinch at the touch and at the need to shake him off. My chest clamps tight, but I force my chin to tip up and stare back.

Punishment.

---