Page 7 of Decimation

“Would you rather he married someone he didn’t love? Someone appropriate and boring who would give him heirs and never challenge him?”

“I’d rather he married someone who didn’t make him forget who the fuck he is.”

The words hang between us, sharp and cutting. For a moment, something flickers across her face; anger, maybe, or hurt, but it’s gone so quickly I might have imagined it.

“You think I’ve changed him,” she says quietly.

“I know you have.”

“People change when they fall in love, Laz. That’s not manipulation, that’s just what happens.”

“There’s a difference between change and complete transformation.” I set my empty glass down on the railing with more force than necessary. “My brother used to care about duty, about responsibility, about the legacy our father left us. Now all he cares about is you. You’re all he talks about, all he thinks about. He’s made you the centre of his entire fucking universe, and that kind of obsession isn’t healthy. It’s dangerous.”

“For whom?”

The question catches me off guard. “What?”

“Dangerous for whom?” She steps closer, and I have to resist the urge to back away. “For Konstantine? For your family? For the precious Brethren?” Her voice drops lower. “Or dangerous for you, because you’re losing your twin brother to someone else?”

I could laugh, I could throw my head back and laugh in her face at the absurdity of those words. She really thinks that’s what’s driving me? “This isn’t about jealousy.”

“Isn’t it?” She tilts her head, studying me like I’m some kind of fascinating specimen. “You’re identical, aren’t you? Same face, same voice, same DNA. You’ve spent your entire lives being two halves of the same whole. And now he’s found someone who makes him feel complete without you, and you can’t stand it.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Don’t I?” She reaches out, and before I can pull away, her fingers brush against my jaw. The touch is light, almost gentle, and it lingers far too fucking long. “You look at me and you see a threat. Someone who’s stolen your brother away. Someone who’s corrupted him, changed him into something you don’t recognize anymore.”

I grab her wrist, pulling her hand away from my face. “Stay away from me.”

“I’m not your enemy, Laz.” Her voice is soft, almost pleading. “I want us to be family. I want you to trust me, to see that I only want what’s best for Konstantine, what’s best for you too.”

“What’s best for Konstantine is for him to remember who he is. What he’s responsible for. The Brethren is falling apart while he’s here, making moon eyes at you.”

“He knows exactly who he is.” She pulls her wrist free from my grip, and there’s steel in her voice now. “He’s a man in love with his wife. A man who’s finally found something worth more than duty, obligation, and living up to his father’s impossible expectations.”

“Love doesn’t excuse breaking promises. It doesn’t excuse abandoning responsibility. Not when he is who he is. He’s the Grand Fucking Master, not some nobody.”

“He is,” she agrees. “But love is what makes his life worthwhile.”

Before I can respond Konstantine appears at her side, sliding his arm around her waist with the ease of long practice. He’s smiling, but there’s concern in his eyes as he looks between us.

“Everything okay here?” He directs the question at me, but his hand tightens on Ines’s hip in a gesture that’s pure possession.

“Fine,” I say shortly. “Your wife was just trying to convince me that you haven’t completely lost your mind.”

“Laz…” Ines begins.

“I need another drink.” I go to push past them but Konstantine grabs my arm, pulling me back.

“Don’t you have a certain job to do?” He says pointedly.

I narrow my eyes, and a part of me wants to hit him, wants to lash out. But he’s my Grand Master, and he’s right. I grit my teeth, glaring at them both and storm off.

Drinking won’t get my to-do list done. Drinking won’t ease the voice in my head about her. Drinking only makes this worse.

“I’ll get to it.” I half-snarl over my shoulder

“See that you do.” He says. “And make sure no one sees you.”