37. Conrad
“ Y ou married a child.” Magnus says again as soon as the door shuts.
“She’s twenty-one.” I state. “And what’s more she’s malleable, unlike Giselle.”
Like he doesn’t appreciate that trait. Like he didn’t spend months ensuring his own, now wife, has that very same trait.
“Why do you think I chose her in particular?” Magnus says. “I knew Giselle would keep you in check. You’re reckless, headstrong…”
“I am not.”
“This very act proves it.” He snarls.
“I deserve to pick a wife of my own choosing. And Brynn will give me sons. Lots of sons.”
He rolls his eyes, sitting back down, but it’s clear this discussion is far from over, even as he picks up his cutlery and starts eating again.
I take his cue, sitting down, and eat in that same stilted silence.
“You put us all at risk.” He says suddenly. “There are rules. You can’t just do what you want…”
“You did.” I state, “And besides, none of it will matter when you are Chapter Lord. No one will be able to touch us then. We can do what we want.”
“When.” Magnus repeats. “But I am not Chapter Lord yet, and you creating issues like this puts our entire future in jeopardy.”
“Like you haven’t been reckless. You broke the rules when you married Liliana.”
He narrows his eyes, but we both know it’s true. The day he chose to put a ring on that bitch’s finger instead of a knife through her heart, he changed our entire trajectory.
Oh, we may have Antonio pushing for us, we may have him pulling the strings, but Magnus marrying that woman turned the contest into a damned mountain instead of what should have been a stroll in the park.
“You’ve gone soft.” I sneer. “That woman made you soft.”
He’s up before I can register it and he’s hauling me out of my seat again, while his hand wraps around my throat.
“The Magnus I knew wouldn’t give a shit what the consequences were.” I add as we glare at one another.
“The Magnus you knew understands the boundaries.” He retorts. “Understood what games to play and when to keep his mouth shut.”
My lips curl. I know I’ve hit a nerve, I know I’ve pissed him off. Good. He thinks he has the right to judge me? He thinks he can decide my future and expect me just to go along with it, as if I don’t have Blake blood running through my veins.
He shoves me back before releasing his grip and I shrug, straightening my suit jacket, smoothing out the creases.
He walks back, sitting down once more.
“I would have broken her weeks ago.” He says pointedly. “She’s easy pickings. Are you sure you even know what to do?”
Those words piss me off, and I know he can see it. I draw myself up, using the only defence I have. “I’m not going to ruin her the way you did Liliana. And I certainly don't intend to share her either, so you better forget that idea.”
Magnus's laughter is like a sharp crack in the air. “You accused me of going soft, but look at you. One taste of that girl, and you’re under her thumb. You’re so entangled, brother, you can’t even think straight.”
I clench my teeth, resisting the impulse to lash out. “I’m not weak. I’m in charge of her, not the other way around,” I reply, each word laced with defiance.
“And if that's the case, then why is she not obedient, huh? Why is she not pregnant already?” he asks, tilting his head, challenging me with amusement flickering in his eyes.
“Because I’m doing this my way. Not yours.”
He leans forward with a calculated look in his eyes. “You have one month, Conrad. One month to get Brynn pregnant, or I’ll sort the entire mess out myself. And you’ll be back down that altar, marrying Giselle whether you like it or not.”