Page 25

Nothing.

I hear him shut the study door behind him with a sharp thud.

“Proklyatiye!”

Curse it.

My voice echoes against the walls of the study as everything upon my desk plunges to the floor in a dull crash. The wooden floorboards tremble under the weight of the falling objects.

I rush toward Lucien, I cannot let him leave in this manner. I seize him by the arm.

“What the fuck has come over you?”

He does not look at me, feigning indifference as if nothing had occurred.

“I am executing your orders, Lord Dor—”

He attempts to say, but I stop him before the word is complete, tightening my grip further, pressing my thumb against the bone of his forearm.

“Stop playing the fool.”

He glares at me, challenging my patience.

A mocking smile curls my lips. “There... the man I know.”

With a swift motion, he wrenches himself free from my grasp, takes a step back, and adjusts his collar.

“Do not call me Lord Dorian again or I shall silence that tongue forever.”

He sneers, a brief, contemptuous smile. “Is that so? Certainly, the old man would be pleased.”

I stare at him for a long moment.

“Lucien. You are my brother.”

“Bastard brother.”

“Still a brother.”

I draw my pocket watch from my jacket, the hand indicates precisely six o’clock. I snap the instrument shut and return it to my inner pocket.

“Now I must go.”

Passing beside him, I give him a light tap on the shoulder.

He follows a few paces behind.

“So, truly... you are going to hunt?”

“Do you wish to join me?” I reply, tilting my head slightly.

He takes a step back, hands folded behind his back.

“Not in the least.”

The sound of a short, hoarse laugh escapes me as I descend the steps of the hall. At the final step I pause, turning back toward him.

“You have no idea what you are missing, dear brother.” I say, and I know not why, but I cannot lower the corners of my mouth.