Page 7 of Crown of Steel

The thought has my face and chest heating with embarrassment.

Myshame.

Myhurt.

And I won’t share.

Louis barks out a sarcastic chuckle. “Wait, does he need to puke?”

“No, he’s just fine, aren’t you, little Régis?” Arthur wipes off his fingers on my jacket, then pats my shoulder as he leans in. “Welcome to the family,stepbro.”

2

RÉGIS

Present

Saint-Laurent Boarding College for boys.

Adieuto all those years that together form my past. I’ve held onto them so tightly, dug my claws into the crumbling stones that once forged the walls of my life.

I didn’t want them to let go.

Turning over my shoulder, I eye the large gravel driveway that stretches all the way up to the iron bars that form the large gate of Monterrey Castle. Once I’ll pass those gates, my past will be left behind, and the present will be mine to design.

When Jean-Luc, my mother’s husband, offered to pay my tuition fees for one of the most privileged boarding colleges in Europe, I knew it was a chance in a lifetime.

I bite my bottom lip while my mind replays that memory.

“I love your mother and we both want what’s best for you.”

“Please, call me Dad from now on. I’ll try and be a good father to you.”

“If it’s up to me, that monster will never leave prison.”

“Graduate in four years time and change your own life.”

I—I wanted to reject…but I couldn’t resist.

More and more cars now line along the drive, limos and SUVs, as they make their way to the main entrance to drop off students for the beginning of the school year.

Groups of students start dotting around, laughing and chatting as they reunite after summer break. They are second, third and fourth year students, already formally dressed in their school uniform of navy-blue pants and jacket, a cream-colored shirt and dark-brown shoes.

First year students had their introduction last week, but I didn’t go, I was still too busy visiting childhood memories. Thankfully Jean-Luc informed the college of my absence during the first week.

Ever since my mother burned my past and brought me into the large villa she lives in with the Deveraux family, I managed to stay out of their claws as much as possible.

They are loud and confident. Beautiful and privileged. And they make me feel everything I’m not, everything I’ll never be. It makes me want to hate them. Because they make me want something that’s simply out of reach.

Those first months were easy, because mylycéewas in Nîmes and they thought it would be better for my mental state that I finished my Baccalaureat there. If that meant leaving early in the morning and coming home as late as possible? Yeah, I had no issue with that. Besides, the Deveraux mansions by the beach—multiple houses, yes, because of course they have multiple houses that are occupied by the entire family of aunts and uncles and even a grandma—are big enough to avoid each other. And I have become a master at that.

A faint smirk touches my lips. I like that self-proclaimed title. I like—

“Master of Evasion,” I mutter, tasting the words on my tonguethat suddenly feels dry and too big for my mouth, when I recognize the bright red SUV.

The twins.

My stomach churns at the thought. I have only seen Arthur a handful of times after that glorious stunt he pulled last year. He never once mentioned it again, how he touched my weeping cock and almost tipped me over the edge, tearing through my dignity and vulnerability. But every time we saw each other, which was mostly here, at college, he has been nothing but provocative.

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