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Thane steps up to me and grabs my arm, and as he pulls me away from my dad, his lips curl into a cruel smirk.
“Running to your daddy isn’t going to save you, Grecia,” he taunts, his voice dripping with scorn. “I’m not letting either of you leave here until I get what I want.”
He glares at my father, who answers the silent challenge with a scowl. Thane’s presence casts a dark shadow over the room, and when his eyes flick to mine, the intensity in them sends a shiver down my spine.
“What is it you want, Thane? Stop playing games.” My father’s voice booms through the room, bouncing off the walls.
Thane pins my father with a stare. “I want what is rightfully mine. I want a crown.”
This causes my father to guffaw. I wouldn’t dare laugh at Thane, but Dad seems unperturbed that this dangerous bastard has us both at his mercy.
My father shakes his head as he says, “That will never happen, Thane. You know it’s only the eldest child who can take that position.”
Thane tilts his head to the side.
“What about Ares?” he questions.
Thane’s right. Ares is the younger of the two Lancaster brothers. Only Philipe should have been a Crown. As the younger brother of Theodore Calvert, Tarian’s uncle was not permitted to be one.
“That’s a different scenario, and you know it,” Dad tells him. “In any event, I’m not in a position to help you with your request. I’m no longer on the Sovereign board. If a crown is what you want, you need to go to Ares, Etienne, and Tarian.”
Thane suddenly tugs me backward, and I stumble into his body.
“Fair enough. I’ll keep Grecia and you here until Tarian confirms my place in the society. I want it more than my brother ever did and far more than my nephew does now.”
“I’m not staying here,” I insist. “You can’t keep us hostage when you’re demanding something my father and I can’t give you.” My voice sounds more confident than I feel, my father’s presence gifting me the strength I need to stand up to Tarian’s uncle.
Thane’s smirk widens into a predatory grin. His eyes are alight with a sinister gleam.
“Such fire, little sweetheart,” he purrs, his voice a velvet whisper that sends a chill through me. “Your daddy’s going to get me what I want because I have you as collateral.”
He looks over at my father and smiles.
“I’ve already had a conversation with the Crowns,” my dad responds. “I’ve given them their options.” My father’s gaze flicks to Yasmine for a moment, and the anger that creases his expression sends a ripple of fear through me.
But Thane who draws my father’s attention once more. “There’s no need for options.” Thane shakes his head. “Tarian will convince the rest. He’ll play the hero for his pretty little girlfriend here because he knows he fucked up.”
Thane’s talking about the other morning when he goaded Tarian into telling me to leave. He doesn’t know that Tarian came to apologize to me, and I chased him away with a gun.
I voice my response with conviction. “He doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Are you sure about that?” Thane challenges.
“Sadly, Miss Birchwood, I’m sure you’re mistaken.” Mrs. Calvert’s voice startles me. She’s been quiet all this time. “I don’t know my son as well as I should, but I can tell he cares about you,” she says with a knowing smile, but there’s ice in her words. “And as much as I hate the idea because of who your father is, I am certain my son is a good judge of character.”
“Your son has been on his own for years. He’s more than capable of making his own decisions,” Dad throws at Yasmine with rage dripping from every word. “You have no control over him, or what happens in Tynewood any longer. You should have stayed away.”
I tug myself out of Thane’s hold and step away before he can grab me again. Just then, the living room door caves in, splintered into shards of wood by three gunshots.
My father pulls me to the floor and holds me down, protecting me, as a small group of men storm inside, their shouts echoing around me.
The next second, my father is gone and I’m being lifted off the floor by a strong pair of hands. Turning my head, I look up into the eyes of my savior and see the blue there that’s held me hostage all these years.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Thane says as Tarian pulls me to my feet. “I’ll have to get that mended.”
“What the fuck do you want?” Tarian asks his uncle.
“Make me a Crown.”
