Between Love and Ruin

I stiffened. Everlight. I remembered the name perfectly. But more than that, I remembered the girl.

"No," I said immediately, the word leaving my mouth before I could stop it.

My father's smirk deepened, his fingers steepling beneath his chin. "You haven't even heard the terms."

"I don't need to," I replied, my voice sharp. "I'm not interested."

His expression hardened. "This isn't about your interest, Leonardo. It's about the family."

The family. The phrase grated against me, the weight of it always pressing down, demanding and suffocating.

"Then find someone else," I said, turning toward the door.

"You killed her father," he called after me, his voice cold and commanding. "This is your responsibility."

I stopped, my hand hovering over the doorknob. My chest tightened, the pressure of his words wrapped around my ribs.

"Send Alexander," I said finally, not bothering to look back.

"You think I haven't considered that?" My father's voice was lower now. "Despite being your twin, he lacks the focus this arrangement requires. It has to be you."

I turned slowly, my jaw tightening "Why Everlight? There's loads of families begging to get engaged with us"

"A perfect match," he replied, his smirk returning. "Her family influence was waned after you killed her father."

My expression darkened at his words. "You're not going to let me forget that, are you?"

My father's smirk widened, ignoring my question, he continued. "Ours will elevate them, and in return, we gain access to resources that will secure our future dominance."

I snorted. "Dominance. That's what this is about?"

"It's always about the dominance, Leonardo," he said, his tone condescending. "You'd know that if you'd stop running from your place in this family."

"I killed her father," I said, my voice firm. "What do you think she'll do when she finds out?"

My father stared at me, sending chills down my spine. "It's your job to make sure she doesn't and marrying her will make that easier" he stood up, pouring himself a glass of champagne. "We could even use her."

I clenched my fists, anger rising in my chest. "She's not a pawn," I said before I could stop myself.

His eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

I bit back the response I wanted to give, forcing myself to take a slow breath. "I'll talk to Alexander," I said instead.

My father's lips curled into something resembling approval. "See that you do. But remember…. this is not a negotiation."

***

I found Alexander in the lounge, sprawled across the velvet couch with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other. He glanced up as I entered, one brow arching lazily.

"Leo," he said, his tone amused. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Close enough," I muttered, grabbing the chair across from him and sitting heavily.

He closed the book, setting it aside. "What's wrong now? Father breathing down your neck again?"

"Worse," I said. "He's arranged a marriage. For me."

Alexander laughed, the sound sharp and unbothered. "Well, congratulations, brother. Who's the lucky victim?"

"Maria Everlight," I said flatly.

The humor left his face instantly. "The Everlight girl? The one whose father, you assassinated last month?"

I nodded, my jaw tight. "That's the one."

He leaned back, swirling the wine in his glass thoughtfully. "Why you?"

"Because I'm the eldest," I said bitterly. "And because Father thinks I'm the only one who can keep up appearances."

Alexander smirked. "He's not wrong."

I ignored the jab. "I want you to take my place."

His smirk faltered. "What?"

"You heard me," I said, leaning forward. "You'll attend the engagement, the meetings, everything. Just play the part. You've always been better at charming people anyway."

"Leo," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing. "What's this really about?"

I didn't answer immediately, my mind replaying the image of her face in the dining room that night. The grief. The fire behind her eyes.

"I don't want this, I killed her father," I said finally, my voice quieter. "I'm not—"

"You're not what?"

"Right for this," I finished, my voice firming. "But you are."

Alexander studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he sighed, leaning forward to set his glass on the table between us.

"All right," he said finally. "But you owe me. And you're explaining this to Father."

I nodded, relief washing over me. "Done."

But as Alexander picked up his wine again, a small, nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind.

Will Alexander really be able to do it without any consequences?