Page 162 of House of Pain
Blaze shrugged. “You say it as if it’s a bad thing.”
He was sure Andro’s eye twitched.
He clapped a hand over his shoulder, leaning closer to whisper something to further agitate him, but his father signaled for him from the other side of the room.
Blaze sighed. “Be right back.”
He followed his father from the lounge into the corridor and into his study. Dread slowly settled in his bones.
To Blaze’s surprise, his father strode around his desk and plopped heavily in his chair before turning his attention to Blaze.
He seemed to be in a rather good mood.
As good of a mood as Galliermo Leveau ever was.
“Tell me, how many girls are at Venefica?”
Blaze’s mouth fell open at the unexpected question. His father raised his brows, waiting for the answer.
“I never counted,” Blaze said slowly. “But I suppose plenty.”
His father nodded. “That’s right, Blaze. There are plenty of women in the academy. Knowing the name you carry, and that you indeed got your looks from me, I am sure most of them are more than willing to spread their legs for you whenever you wish.”
Blaze brushed a thumb over the middle of his lip. “I’ve never checked, but you might be right.”
Galliermo’s face settled into a cold expression. “So why do you find yourself between the legs of a fuckinghalf breed?”
His father never screamed. Never once did he raise his voice.
He never had to.
The sinister look and the way his voice filled with the darkness from the deepest pits of Hel was enough to send Blaze’s body into freezing fear.
Fuck.
Blaze swallowed hard. “I don’t know which half breed you’re talking about.”
As the fists slammed into the desk, rattling the pens and the papers stacked neatly around the edge, Blaze flinched.
“Don’t fucking play me for a fool.”
“Why does it matter to you who I sleep with? You don’t seem to be worried about me fucking Val, and she’s a ‘breed-less street rat’ to quote you.”
His father rose to his feet and rounded the desk.
This was the part where Blaze was going to get the beating.
“Valeria has potential,” he said, voice low. “She might not be the best choice to marry into the Leveau family, but she could be useful.”
Blaze could only blame himself.
He had brought her with him, thinking her being from the streets would deter his father from trying to marry them.
Apparently, he was wrong.
“But you andAlecto Black,” he spat her name as if it was a curse, and Blaze’s fists curled in response, “shouldn’t be getting close. Leveaus are above shagging with half breeds. Even being in the same House as her is a disgrace.”
Blaze took a deep breath, his body trembling. “I will fuck who I wish.”
