Page 54 of Crown of Steel

“Yes, son,” Jean-Luc nods. I inwardly fistbump the air while keeping the expression on my face blank. “And before you ask, yes, I have considered giving you a free pass. But I also realize that that wouldn’t look good for the family. People will notice, and not in a good way. Besides, you are the most praised student of your year, Arthur. You have absolutely nothing to fear.”

“More students will apply,” he grunts. It almost sounds like a pout. Something flickers in his voice. It’s enough to make me bold and show my polished, cool side. Because it’s the first time that I caught a weakness in his solid walls of self-confidence.

“Afraid that someone else might steal your prize? Someone with a less powerful name than Deveraux?”

Arthur shifts to face me, dark eyes blazing furiously. “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

Sitting a little straighter, I narrow my gaze. “Oh,Idon’t know what I’m talking about? Let me tell you what I see. A spoiled brat who already has everything he desires in life, and who wants that damn prize on top of it. Just to add to his collection.”

Arthur’s eyes flare with something fierce. “Is that what youthink of me? That I’m some rich ass who doesn’t do anything to prove his worth?”

“Régis, Arthur—” My mother begins, but none of us look her way. We’re too busy getting back into our staring competition, only this time I see clearly. It’s like part of Arthur’s mask has slid off, exposing a rawness to his anger. A cocktail of pride, mingled with sultriness and sinfulness.Ruthlessness. The realization brings a shiver to my core, and goosebumps freely rise. He won’t back off because he is too fucking proud to do so. Too privileged to believe that this could really affect him.

“That’s exactly what I think of you,” I snarl. “So unless you truly believe that you’re too good for us all, show the contrary. Prepare a presentation that rocks our world. Work on—”

“That’s enough.” The rest of my words freeze in my throat. Jean-Luc has stood up, his hand raised. “You have made your point clear, Régis, and as I mentioned before, there is a reason the board agreed to this. There’s room for modernization.”

My mother stands too, and we follow suit. My legs are wobbly, anger and sorrow swirling freely inside me. This cocktail of conversations has left me drained.

“You are family, boys. We can disagree at times, but we always stick together.” Grabbing my mother by the shoulder, he pulls her in closer. “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to leave you shortly, we have an appointment in town. But whenever you want, we can discuss this further, I always have time for my boys.”

My boys.

He leans in and gives me two kisses, patting my shoulder. “Before we leave, we’ll be heading to the football field to watch Louis during his last hour of practice. You want to come with us and watch your brother play?”

“Thanks, but I’ll be heading back,” I mumble, fatigue already curling around my mind like fog. “This was a lot.” Jean-Luc nods at that, his gaze softening in understanding. “Take goodcare of yourself. You’re making us very proud, whether you qualify for that prize or not.”

“Oh, before you leave, Régis, I’d like to go over our Friday meeting.” Arthur blinks his thick eyelashes at me, before turning to my mother, sending her a charming smile. “We always take a moment at the end of the week to discuss how Régis is settling in and if there’s anything I can help him with.”

“What a great idea.” My mother beams, green eyes glistening with something suspiciously close to hope. “Thank you, Arthur, for helping Régis.”

Gritting my teeth, I force out a smile.If only you knew.

“Uhm, yeah, sure.” My voice feels breathy, a little hesitant. But that disappears the moment she sends me a bright smile. She’s proud, I realize, proud of me. And that does something to my heart. It makes it swell in its ribcage, makes it thump a little faster, makes me crack a smile that we hold together as we drink each other in, carefully clinging to that earlier conversation we had. Maybe, just maybe, it isn’t too late for us.

“Thank you,” she breathes. I only notice our hands were intertwined when she carefully lets go of mine. “For listening to me. For allowing us to start over. We’ll take our time, of course. We will do it our own way, right?”

I’m unsure of what to say, but luckily Jean-Luc chooses that moment to stride toward the door, ending our conversation. “Come on, love, we need to get to the football field. Arthur, half an hour? You know how Louis loves it when you come and watch him.”

“See you soon, boys,” my mother sends us a final wave. When the door finally closes with a subtle click, my heart rate doesn’t hesitate to pick up, my mind raising a red flag.

At first, the silence stretches, while I look at the closed door and swallow. Hard. When I finally have the courage to turn my face and eye to my stepbrother, Arthur’s leaned back, his head resting against the board. His legs are planted wide, glasstwirling in his hand, his eyes already on mine. God, his stare is intense, dark, and provocative. But it’s void of any mockery. Tilting his head, his lips part, but nothing comes out. It’s as if he’s tasting the words in his mouth, before throwing them out.

“Chaton,” he finally mumbles, his low rasp making my breath hitch and my mask tighten. He huffs out a hum, visibly lost in thought again, letting the silence stretch. Tipping his head back, he stares at the ceiling. “Did you really just try to screw me over in front of Dad?”

13

ARTHUR

It feels as though the air has been sucked from the atmosphere by my question. Something shifts in Régis’ demeanor with a flick, and I blink as I try to understand what’s going on. My little stepbrother looks exquisitely freaked out as he turns to face me.

“No?” He squeaks. His earlier bravado has disappeared, though parts of it are still lingering. Pride and irritation battle with that usual skittishness, and it's fucking alluring. His big, blue gaze is wide with something devilishly close to fear, and it makes my heart thump a little faster. Did I just do that? It makes me feel incredibly greedy and indecisive. Because my body craves for nervous Régis, my mind wants to provoke snarky Régis and then there is this other part of him, the one he accidentally revealed, that seems to have captured both my mind and soul. It’s a sad, lonely Régis, I think. The part of him he’s always so desperate to protect from the world.

Thoughts lock inside my chest. Without a chessboard to hide our play behind, our conversation won’t get far.Shouldn'tget fucking far. Because things have gotten far enough. Butcatching sight of those eyes, all red and puffy? Yeah, I didn’t like that.

What made you cry?

There’s no way he’s going to unmask that to me without being challenged. And I shouldn’t really, but as those thoughts swirl through my mind, my resistance crumbles away, bit by bit. I could poke him just a little, just enough to inflame his exasperation. Then strike.

---