Page 53 of Crown of Steel

Feeling my gaze glued to his, Arthur turns to meet mine—and winks. He fucking winks. I’m sure no one else noticed, but I did. And it causes my breath to hitch and my boxers are starting to feel a little tight. Swallowing heavily, I decide to ignore him altogether. Confusion created by the hurtful words exchanged with my mother earlier, and the way my body nevertheless burns for Arthur’s touch, flare somewhere ferociously inside of me. I force my lips wider and smile at Jean-Luc.

“It has been interesting,” I start. “The level of the courses here is amazing, that includes the support I’ve been getting from the teachers.”

Jean-Luc nods, happy with my words. Next to me, Arthur stands to take the bottle of champagne out of its ice bucket. When he’s turned his back to me, I quickly gulp down most of the contents of my glass, stupidly not wanting to be the only one who hasn’t even started yet. When Arthur refills my glass, we both stare at my shaking, outstretched hand.

“What about friends?” My mother suddenly asks. I eagerly take another sip from the glass, knowing that I need to slow down. Knowing that I need to keep focused now.

“Um, yeah,” I blabber. “I’ve made a few of those as well. I joined a chess club.”

“Dominique asked him to join,” Arthur adds.

“Dominique, Gaël’s boyfriend?” Jean-Luc asks, and my stepbrother nods. It makes me puff up my chest with pride.

“Régis has been doing really well,” Arthur shares a small smile, sounding like he’s my damn psychologist. “We’re both very committed to our studies, but I know that his door’s always open. I like to make sure that he’s feeling happy and safe,right Régis?” He drops the bottle back into the bucket, then sinks back onto the couch.

“Well, we’re relieved to hear that.” Jean-Luc says. What falls is a small silence, then he clears his throat. “There’s something else I wanted to speak with you about.”

“Which is?” Arthur counters immediately. Before, I wouldn’t have noticed, but having spent more time with him over the past weeks, I recognize the way his tone dips, making his natural huskiness sound a little strained. The touch of his fingers on my lower back falters. Jean-Luc offers us a reassuring smile that is not at all reassuring.

“What’s going on?” I find myself asking. I mean, it can’t get any worse than him offering for Arthur to guide me through my first months of college now, can it?

“Nothing to worry about,” Jean-Luc urges. “It’s actually kind of a celebration. You may have already met Mister Montague, the school’s newest recruit. There was a big article in the local newspaper about Saint-Laurent recruiting a remarkable teacher who has come a long way through public schooling. By hiring him, the school also achieved an important quota on hiring… less privileged people.” His gaze darts to mine before it flicks back to Arthur. “After his trial period, Mister Montague made a formal request to change the criteria for our traditionalPrix d’Honneurto make it more accessible for different students. The board agreed after hours of debate. It wasn’t a decision we made lightly, given the fact that the prize is laced with traditions. It has never changed ever since it was introduced in 1865. But, I suppose our world has changed since then, and we finally decided that perhaps it is time for things to modernize.”

“Well,” Arthur chuckles lightly, his tone too low. “There are already plenty of rumors making their way around school. Something about a presentation in order to be qualified for the actual competition?” I don’t understand why those words sting the way they do, technically he hasn’t said anything wrong.Perhaps it’s the way that chuckle vibrates past his sensual lips, pretentious and imperious. Perhaps it’s the way my body reacts to that rumble, despite the sting those words cause. I seem to find myself in a free-fall when it comes to Arthur and any unwanted desire. Or perhaps it’s because I’m feeling fucking awful now that my heart has been torn out of my ribcage, squashed, and put back. Whatever it is, makes me feel a little bold and a whole lot of game for some competition.

“Oh, that.” I force a grin, the dried tears on my puffy skin making my flesh feel rigid and dry. It doesn’t make the sudden need to defeat Arthur on his own ground any less strong. “Mister Montague told me about the news himself. Every single student needs to do a presentation to qualify. Referrals no longer rule—” I wrench my hips as I turn my body to face Arthur. “It hasn’t been officially communicated yet, but trust me, an official declaration will be announced shortly, right,Dad?”

My mother sucks in a breath at that word, and I don’t miss how Arthur’s eyes flare with something dark, while his nostrils flare. “Care to clarify?” He drawls.

“Well, Mister Montague and I work on different projects together. I highly value his skills and opinion.” Jean-Luc lets out an impressed hum. I turn my head and send Arthur an innocent smile. Damn. If looks could kill, I’d be on my way to hell. Arthur’slittlestepbrother.

A surge of pride washes through me.

Ido that.I’m getting under his skin.

“He’s helping me to prepare a presentation that will make sure I qualify for the competition.”

Arthur opens his mouth to speak, surely to spew venom, but his dad beats him to it. “That’s great to hear Régis,” Jean-Luc beams. “Noah is an excellent teacher who comes with a solid list of references.”

“Perhaps you want to elaborate on the types of conversationsyou’re having with your teacher?” Arthur hisses through clenched teeth. He’s fuming, barely unable to hold it together. But there’s also something else there, in those dark depths. Rivalry. Like fucking always, he’s trying to challenge me in overplaying my cards.

It makes the bleeding of my heart stop, placing the conversation with my mother to the back as my mask slips back in shape. I can do rivalry, I can do aloof expressions. Because I have the upper hand here.

“He says I have a good chance of qualifying.”

“Oh, does he now?” Arthur snarls. It’s the first time I’ve seen him so off his game, and judging by the shocked look on Jean-Luc’s face, he’s noticed as well. I inwardly purr. “And what else did your pet teacher confide in during your one-on-ones?”

Tilting my chin in the air, I reply, “That it’s time for a change. After all, like Dad points out, we no longer live in 1865. Our world has changed, and while people may still be the same, the situations we call ours today, are by no means comparable to those in the late nineteenth century.” That’s not entirely true, and Mister Montague would never have said such a thing, but right now, the words are already spilled. I can only hope that my hothead stepbrother won’t go after an innocent teacher. “And that—”

I am going to win this fucking prize.Arthur’s onyx eyes flicker, as if he can hear my thoughts. After all, it was you who told me about it before I even knew of its existance. You told me that we’d end up competing, didn’t you? Even more than we already have.

“Your Mister Montague is full of lies and deceit,” he sneers, cheeks coloring the slightest of pink.

“Arthur,” Jean-Luc chimes. “Those are heavy accusations. I suggest we direct ourselves to safer territory.” I think he says something more, but I’m too captured by Arthur’s onyx glare, drilling holes inside mine. His jaw is clenched, lips pursed into afine line, seething in silence, challenging me. When he finally leaves my face with that heavy, mystical gaze, I exhale on a shudder, heart thumping wildly in my chest. Fuck, I won. Again.

“I agree with you and Noah—Mister Montague—Régis. Since I’m part of the board, I can say that we have been looking into ways to make this environment a little less traditional, but never seemed to know how to do so. Perhaps this decision is the fresh air we needed.” Jean-Luc turns to face my mother, smiling.

“So you expect me to do an actual presentation in order to be qualified for the prize?” Arthur rumbles in a low voice. “You’ll have me beg for it like some…some—”

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