Page 73 of The Ruthless Rivalry

Chapter 16

Sutton

The scent of lead and charcoal hangs in the air, a heady mix of chemicals and creativity. Ah, my favorite smell.

I’m just finishing up my work when I notice Cam and my brother making their way up the final flight of stairs to our designated area in the dining hall. Even in this space, Legacy is held above everyone else.

I quickly tuck away my sketchbook, not wanting them to see my latest designs. Cam’s eyes light up as he spots me, his smile as bright as ever, despite the exhaustion that seems to cling to him.

“There you are!” Cam is slightly out of breath but I know it has nothing to do with the climb. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”

My twin, ever the stoic one, simply smiles in greeting. Sly’s gaze, however, lingers on the charcoal smudges on my hands. I resist the urge to hide them behind my back.

“What’s happening?” I ask casually. “I thought you guys were going to practice fencing together?”

Cam and Sly exchange a knowing look before bursting into laughter.

“Well, that was the plan,” Cam explains taking a seat at the table. “But your brother here decided to show off and ended up pulling a muscle,” Cam finishes, playfully nudging Sly.

He winces slightly, though I can’t tell if it’s from the memory or Cam’s touch. “I didn’t show off,” he protests weakly. “I was just…demonstrating proper form.”

I raise an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at my lips. “Proper form for what? Injuring yourself?”

Sly scoffs, but I can see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Very funny. I’ll have you know it was a very impressive move. Just…poorly executed.”

“It was impressive, alright,” Cam chimes in, his eyes twinkling in memory. “Impressively disastrous. You should have seen him, sprawled out on the mat like a starfish.”

I can’t help but laugh at the mental image. My brother, always so confident and effortlessly charming, completely out of sorts on the fencing mat. It’s a rare sight, that’s for sure.

“My only regret is no one else was there to witness your moment of glory,” I tease, unable to resist.

Sly shoots me a playful glare. “Keep it up and I’ll tell Cam about what happened when we were ten.”

I feel my cheeks flush at the memory. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Try me,” he challenges, a promise in his eyes.

Cam looks between us, clearly intrigued. “Oh, now this I have to hear.”

I can feel how my face flushes slightly, a mix of embarrassment and amusement. “Yes, well, perhaps it’s for the best you don’t. My reputation should remain intact.”

“Come on,” Cam pleads. “You can’t just dangle that tantalizing tidbit and not follow through. I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

I shoot a warning glance at Sly, but he’s already grinning, clearly ready to spill the beans. I sigh, resigning myself to the inevitable.

“Fine,” I grumble. “But only if you swear on your honor as a Legacy to never breathe a word of this to anyone else.”

They both nod solemnly, though I can see the mirth dancing in their eyes.

We each raise our thumbs and twist our wrists to the left, connecting our fingers in a familiar promise. It’s a gesture we’ve been doing since we were children, locking in our agreement.

“Alright,” I begin, my voice lowering conspiratorially. “It was when Sly and I were kids, one of those endless summer afternoons when time seemed to stretch on forever. Our father was buried in work, as usual, and Mom was off on one of her diet-focused retreats, obsessing over some cleanse or another, leaving us to entertain ourselves. We were bored out of our minds, stuck in the house with no one around to supervise. So naturally, we decided to play hide-and-seek in the far wing of the manor, where no one ever went.”

Cam leans in, clearly enthralled. I can see Sly’s smirk widening from the corner of my eye.

“I thought I’d found the perfect hiding spot behind this tapestry mother got when they’d vacationed in Europe,” I continue, the memory vivid in my mind. “But as I was shuffling backwards, I miscalculated and…well, let’s just say my head found its way between two of the banister rails.”

Cam’s eyes widen. “No way,” he breathes.

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