Page 45 of Crown of Steel

“Let our pupils come forward!” Elder Jacques roars. Crescendo turns into an explosion as the door opens on a loud clunk, sending in a gush of chill. Of excitement, of consternation, of fucking sexual arousal. Six cloaked, unmasked first-year students stand in the corridor, nicely set up in lines of two.

The Elder must be in a particularly good mood, because theydidn’t get the same treatment during their first initiation. But then they weren’tallthere.

Watching my little stepbrother walking inside, followed by some guy who looks like he’s about to start crying, makes my cock harden instantly. Knowing that every single brother is watching, Régis has carved his face into his usual aloofness. For a brief moment he looks up, eyes flitting around, never resting on one of the staring masks, before he dips his head again. I wonder if he’s searching for me. However, he won’t find me, since I changed from white to black. It’s a better match to his pale, smooth skin and those golden waves of hair. To those big, blue eyes and those lovely, wavy lashes that flutter swiftly when he gets anxious.

Like now.

“Pupils. I’m thrilled to see that you are all here, all six, brothers-to-be. Welcome home.” Father Jacques eyes Régis, who looks away, biting his lip. My cock throbs behind my cloak, so ready for action. “You have all been chosen by the Alpha Fraternarii, and in these next weeks, we will show you who we are, what we stand for, and what it means to be a brother among us. We will familiarize you with our values, and you will not always learn in the easy way. You will go down on your hands and knees and show your respect, and will take out your chequebook to make that royal donation to one of the many thoughtful charity associations that make our country so prosperous. After all, we respect our commoners. We want what’s best for them, even if they don’t realize what that is. We will guide them, will protect them, will keep them modest. So we can shine, bright and big, and keep the power between ourselves.”

“Respect.” We all boom. Elder Jacques’s cane bangs into the wooden floor and Régis flinches.

“Loyalty.” All brothers line up in an outer circle that keeps our pupils inside. Régis turns around and takes a few stepstoward the door as we start to shuffle and chant at the same time.

“Traditions.” We keep on shifting, keeping the circle intact as the values of our brotherhood are sung on repeat, on a similar rhythm that perfectly matches the booming of the cane. Régis seems to panic, now clawing at a random brother in his attempt to break the circle and bolt for the door.

“Régis Deveraux,” Elder Jacques suddenly roars. Everyone stops, and even my little stepbrother freezes on the spot, before he turns over his shoulder. The cloak is too big, and honey curls peek out from under the large hood. It makes him look even more fragile. Still, he manages to radiate a biting fierceness. He stays rooted to his spot inside the circle, close to one of my brothers, right across the door. So close, yet so far away.

“I’m glad that you could make it, though you will need to learn that you can’t always come and go as it pleases you. We operate as a family, and as such, we value trustworthiness.” Elder Jacques uses his smooth voice. When Régis doesn’t reply, he asks, “Do you understand what it means to be relied upon by your brothers?” Régis’s eyes dart around the room, but again, they don’t linger long enough to see.

He can’t find me.

That makes me both hot and cold, but my cock still thumps against my garment. He has clearly made up his mind.

Régis shrugs.

“In here, we answer with words,” Elder Jacques croons. “So what’s your answer, Régis?”

The tension rises with each second he doesn’t speak.

The bell rings, and someone clears his throat, then the door opens and another brother enters.Monsieur Z.

Shit. I know what’s about to happen now. We all know the procedure, but I’ll be fucking damned. Régis is mine.

Monsieur Zlanguidly moves inside the circle, his mask a brilliant red, and makes his way to the window in the front. Whenhe reaches Elder Jacques, they exchange quiet pleasantries, as if he hasn’t just disturbed an extremely awkward situation. The longer it lasts, their mumbles creating a soft buzz as it floats on silence, the more I think they will just step over the unfortunate situation my little stepbrother has created. It is his first time, after all. But right as the first brothers start to dwell in impatience, Elder Jacques rises his arms and reaches out to Régis.

“Come here, Régis.” Still glancing from over his shoulder, he nibbles his lips nervously. Both cloaked figures are now watching him, together with the rest of us. “If you’re not sure, I’ll show you how you can become trustworthy in our eyes.”

Régis takes another step back, hitting the chest of my brother, who gives him a firm push back into the circle. Régis stumbles, then turns, a furious glower on his beautiful face. He looks haunted, shoulders deflated, jaw tightly clenched, but dazzling at the same time.

“Very well,” he finally mutters. It’s his damn pride that makes him listlessly move, the cloak gently brushing his slender frame. The other pupils step aside and watch him come forward, most likely relieved it’s not them who have been called upon. Régis doesn’t stop until he stands right in front of the two predators and the thick, wooden cane that carries the logo of the Alpha Fraternarii.

The golden crow.

“Good.” Elder Jacques purrs, then he palms Régis’s cheek. “Members of this family say what they do, and do what they say. Do you understand?”

Yes.Just tell the old hag that you understand.

“Nothing? Hm?”

He doesn’t reply.

“Very well.” I can feel the smile on Elder Jacques’s mouth, and it makes my skin crawl with something cool and slimy.This is exactly what they are looking for.It makes me want to jump out of my own flesh. I can’t see his face from here, but when theElder andMonsieur Zsoothe my little stepbrother onto his knees, I feel my own body go rigid with agony. Clenching and unclenching my fists, I try to fight the urge to run forward and beat the hell out of them. And maybe it’s in my mind, but for a flutter of a moment, I feel like everyone agrees. Why wouldn’t they? Every single brother in this circle knows that I claimed Régis as my own. And like hell will he be taken from me. When Régis’s knees hit the wooden floors, it’s like the rest of his body collapses. He looks so fucking small right now, despite his head, tilted up, chin brought forward, eyes no doubt sending daggers. But that little act of bravoure is not going to protect him.

No, I am.

Isn’t that what I told him? Isn’t that what he literally asked me earlier tonight? I bite my lip until I draw blood. This is for the best. Régis won’t stay after tonight. He will leave, and my future will be secured. My cock vaults in my boxers, disagreeing.

He’s mine.My little devil growls. But my brain wants to overrule anything else like it always does.

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