Page 127 of Crown of Thorns
“No.”
“You’ve graduated.”
“We’ll build our own palace next to the castle. You can crawl to work.” Fuck, that sounded hot. Now I want to see him on his hands and knees, the kind of king who rules with his mouth.
“What if?—”
“Noah,” I cut him off.
“Shut up and kiss me instead.” I close my eyes, shifting closer, but his lips don’t come, so I peek at him, and he’s watching me with a slight frown.
“What?”
“I…I love you, Louis, darling.”
I quirk a brow. “And that surprises you?”
“I mean?—”
“Just kiss me, baby. Don’t make this awkward.”
“Brat.”
“Grumpy bear. You—” My words end with a moan because his lips are on mine then. He captures me, tastes me, devours me. And I consume him. Noah has been away, has been alone. But at least he’s come home—where he belongs. To us.
36
LOUIS
Noah insists on partaking in the final Wicked Chase, and I’ve never been prouder. It’s unlike him, my professor, my scholar, my man of codes and clarity. But he signed the NDA. He made his choice. Somewhere beneath his disdain, I saw something else flicker: the need to own the darkness that once threatened to consume him. A dirty secret, just like how we began. Yet another proof of depravity that defines the Alpha Fraternarii, and yet another way he’s choosing to take control.
Participants have been carefully selected by brothers who want to lay claim to their chosen one. They're expected to run, pursued by masks, cloaks, and the illusion of ownership. It's a new ritual dressed as power, but rotting at the core.
The first one ended up collared. The second one was drugged and trapped in a giant spider web. The third one was hunted by a horse. And tonight, a sinister reunion will take place. I've heard the cat cage is ready. When I explained the idea, Noah was disgusted, but his eyes didn't fool me, flickering with curiosity. Neither does his body, responding with a confusing tension, part instinct, part unease. He hates the power imbalance, the illusion of ownership. But he’s here anyway, maybe to understand it, or maybe to reclaim something that was once stolen from him.
But that's not the only reason why we're heading out for Monterrey Castle. The past few weeks have been amazing. We threw a birthday party locals still talk about, then spent weeks lazing by the pool. Okay, I spent weeks lazing by the pool, while Noah used one of our spare offices to work on another paper.
We were insatiable. In my bed, the bath, on the balcony—where I lied about no one seeing us—and even in the pool. We even fucked under the stars in the ocean.
We've been living in our own little bubble, and I've loved every single second of it.
As we're getting ready to head out for campus, Dad calls us into his office, surprising the fuck out of us when he too, is dressed for departure. Next to him stands my uncle Levi, Gaël’s Dad, in similar attire.
“Boys. Tonight's the night we'll meet in the forest. After the Alpha Frarernarii hold their initiation, we will hold our own.”
“What do you mean?” Arthur asks.
A lethal grin curls Dad’s face. “It’s time to say goodbye to brothers who have betrayed our values. And it's time to introduce our future into the brotherhood. Noah?—”
“Yes, sir.”
I grin behind my cupped fist at the formality. I think he's still afraid of Dad. Dad winces at the word. “The Board has granted you acceptance to the Alpha Fraternarii. Unlike Dominique, who's only allowed to join gatherings blindfolded, you will be a full member.”
“I don't know what to say, sir.”
“Say you accept,” I squeeze his hand.
“I...accept.”
