Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“But that’s irrelevant now,” Devlin said, glancing at Haydn, who looked like he’d been hit by a truck. “I’ll explain everything later,” he told him more softly.
Haydn nodded, still looking dazed and confused.
Devlin gave him a small smile, suddenly realizing why he’d never felt true animosity toward his half-brother, despite having plenty of reasons to resent and envy him. Haydn’s suppressed omega nature likely affected him on some level, making Devlin feel protective of him instead of aggressive. It explained so much. Alphas usually didn’t get along with other alphas well, after all.
“For all it’s worth,” Devlin said, looking at Haydn, “I am grateful that you’re here.” He smiled crookedly. “I know how hard it must have been to unglue yourself from your husband.”
Haydn gave a weak chuckle, still looking dazed. “But—how? Why didn’t you tell me? Who is your mother?”
“That’s irrelevant,” Stefan bit out. “Let’s return to the subject at hand. Tonight, we’ll be announcing that Haydn is willingly stepping down from the line of succession.” He glared at Haydn, as if daring him to contradict him.
Haydn didn’t take the bait, frowning a little. “If Devlin is your son, that means he should have been ahead of me in the line of succession anyway—he’s older by a few months.”
Stefan glowered at him. “It does not signify,” he said coldly. “As far as the public is concerned, Westcliff is my nephew. You will step down, and you will smile and congratulate your cousin at the ball tonight. Is that understood?”
“Yes. But I’m only doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” Haydn said firmly. “Not because you’re ordering me to do it.”
“I don’t care,” Stefan said. “All I care about is the end result.” He turned his heavy gaze to Devlin. “You. You will announce your betrothal to Liam Blake right after that—”
“No.”
Stefan stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”
Devlin held his gaze unflinchingly. “What I said. I’m not going to do that.”
“Are you annoying me on purpose?” Stefan gritted out, a muscle pulsing in his cheek.
“Not everything is about you, Your Majesty,” Devlin said. “I will not marry Liam Blake, because I decided not to.”
“You can’t just—you can’t just decide not to!” Stefan snarled, his face reddening again. “You agreed to that plan—”
“Plans change,” Devlin said.
“Everyone expects you to—”
“I don’t care,” Devlin stated. “I’m not marrying him.”
“You foolish—”
“My decision is final.”
Stefan laughed. “Fine! Be an idiot. You’re just sabotaging yourself after all. And for what? Has another omega slut caught your fancy? Is that it?”
Devlin closed his eyes for a moment, fighting the itching in his fingers. His claws wanted out. Ignoring it, he said, looking at Stefan steadily, “I find it ironic that you call omegas sluts when you’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants for decades because of an omega.”
Stefan growled, the room drenching with his alpha scent.
Devlin growled back, his claws snapping out as he let his own scent out from under his tight control. From the way his vision brightened, he knew his eyes were glowing too.
Stefan flinched back, paling, his mouth opening and closing. “Enough,” he ground out, a bead of sweat running down his forehead. “Stop that,” he added, glaring at Devlin weakly.
Devlin almost smiled. He had to admit it was kind of amusing to watch a proud alpha like Stefan try to fight the Xeus pheromones with his own—and fail, of course. It was one of the reasons people didn’t like Xeus alphas: they might be “a thing of the past,” a dying minority, but they were stronger alphas than “normal” alphas. Sometimes the next stage of evolution didn’t necessarily mean stronger. Non-shifter alphas had their own advantages like self-control, their Voice, and easier ruts, but strength wasn’t one of them.
“Stop that, Dev,” Haydn cut in, wincing. He didn’t look as uncomfortable as Stefan, but his discomfort made Devlin rein his alpha in.
He got to his feet. “My decision is final,” he said again, looking at Stefan. “You may kick me out of the line of succession, too, if you want. But I’m not repeating your mistakes: I’m not marrying someone I don’t love to spend decades in denial and misery.”
Stefan’s lips thinned. He said nothing.
Devlin turned and left. Haydn hurried after him out of the room.
They walked in silence for a while.
“You should have told me,” Haydn finally said. “I had the right to know.”
“Would it have changed anything?” Devlin said.
“I guess not, but still…” Haydn grumbled, his jaw tightening. He kind of looked like a kicked puppy. “Didn’t you want us to be brothers?”
Sighing, Devlin slung an arm around his shoulders and pulled him into a loose hug. “You already were, you idiot,” he said stiffly. He’d never been all that good at talking about feelings. He snorted. “You know, I really tried to hate you at the beginning, but you were such a goody two-shoes it was impossible.”