Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56786 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
He doesn’t want you to protect him, he told himself, over and over. It helped very little. Lucien might think him no better than his rapists, but unfortunately, that didn’t kill Aksel’s feelings. No matter how much the comparison hurt and angered him, the love in his heart still stayed, unquenched and unquenchable, its roots too deep to be eradicated. Sometimes he thought he would suffocate on it.
“I’m not afraid of your father,” Aksel said as the dance ended. “He’s lucky I haven’t had him thrown out for what he did to Lucien.”
Dylan’s brows furrowed. “You mean for disowning him?”
“And you think that’s not a sufficient reason? He kicked a traumatized, pregnant kid out of his house.”
Dylan winced. “I suppose it was cruel of him, you’re right. I wasn’t even alive back then, so I’m not exactly well versed on the subject. Father never speaks his name at home. I wouldn’t even know that I had a brother if it weren’t for the gossip.”
“Have,” Aksel said. “He isn’t dead.”
Dylan pulled a face. “As far as my father is concerned, he is.” He studied Aksel curiously. “So you want to mate me because I look and smell a bit like him?”
“It should help,” Aksel said, watching him carefully. If Dylan was offended, he didn’t show it. “Why are you not offended?”
Dylan shrugged with a crooked smile. “It makes no difference to me. I didn’t expect a love match anyway.”
“Why not?” Aksel said with a frown.
“I’m already in love with someone else,” Dylan said. “But I can’t have them. So it makes no difference to me whether you love me or not. In fact, it’s better that you don’t. More fair. You can have a dozen lovers if you like. It doesn’t bother me.”
Aksel stared at him, puzzled. “Why do you want to get married, then? You’re still very young.”
Dylan scoffed. “Surely you aren’t unaware of the rumors? My family is on the verge of bankruptcy, and I’m the only valuable asset we have. I need a very rich spouse to get my father out of this mess. You were the top pick on my list: I’m not bothered by you being a Xeus, as long as you stay away from me during your ruts, and I really like your looks—we’d make cute babies—and you aren’t all that much older than me. Other options are less appealing, for various reasons.”
Aksel mulled it over. Although his instincts still rebelled against picking a mate with such cold-blooded pragmatism, he quashed them. Frankly, Dylan was perfect for him: he loved someone else, he didn’t expect love from Aksel. They could be friends. In time, they might grow fond of each other. The mating bond would help.
It could be enough.
It had to be.
“Then marry me,” he said, ignoring his unease and revulsion.
Something like sadness flickered in Dylan’s eyes before he smothered it and put on a smile. “All right,” he said with forced cheerfulness. “Let’s be miserable together.”
They shook hands on it.
***
Lucien found out just after dinner.
Two young omegas were expressing their disappointment that Aksel had made his choice.
“I guess Dylan is pretty,” one of them grumbled. “But are you sure there’s no chance anymore?”
“I’m sure,” the other omega said. “My brother wasn’t very far from them when Cleghorn proposed to him during their dance. Obviously Dylan accepted.”
A scoff. “Of course he did, he has no choice, considering his father’s situation. Oh, well. I’m a little relieved, to be honest. Cleghorn is very handsome and rich, but you know…”
“Yeah, I’m glad I wouldn’t have to mate a beast.”
Lucien stopped listening. He turned around and walked away, his vision darkening around the edges.
He thought he smiled as he joined the other guests in the living room. He wasn’t sure. The world around him seemed surreal, as if it was all happening to someone else.
Aksel was getting married. To Lucien’s own brother.
He felt sick to his stomach, his insides twisted up with nauseating jealousy and a deep sense of betrayal—which was irrational as fuck. Aksel wasn’t his. Aksel didn’t owe him his loyalty. Lucien had pushed him away himself. He had no right to feel this way.
This was for the best. It was.
God, who was he trying to fool? He could lie to Aksel, he could lie to the rest of the world, but he couldn’t lie to himself. And the truth was, he wanted to throw up. He wanted to get into his bed, curl up with the jacket Aksel had forgotten in his room, and cry.
He could do neither of those things.
He was in public. People were watching. His pride—his damnable, stupid pride—wouldn’t allow him to leave.
Lucien walked to the loveseat in the corner and sat down. He didn’t bother trying to join any of the groups of guests in the room. It was pointless. They would never accept him.