33. Thirty-Three
33
THIRTY-THREE
ARCHER
“ T he ceremony is tomorrow night. Have you talked to Mila about it?”
Kai followed me as I walked back toward my room, his footsteps echoing like a death sentence.
“I’m not sharing her,” I scoffed.
“You never had a problem with it before.” His words dripped with disdain, and I could feel his judgment burning into me.
“That was before Mila,” I snapped. His callousness only fueled my growing anger.
“You still have to be honest with her. She deserves that,” his tone condescending.
“Don’t fucking tell me what she deserves. You don’t know the first thing about her.” My fists clenched at my sides, itching for a fight.
"Calm down. I'm just trying to uphold the legacy of our ceremony. The Brotherhood comes first, you know that. If our fathers caught wind that you were showing favoritism toward her, do you know what would happen?"
"I know," I seethed.
"But do you? Because you're not being smart, parading around with Mila like she's above The Brotherhood. Your father may look the other way, but mine and Theo’s won't. We are only here by their mercy. We move when they order us to. We respect their traditions, and we never question their commands."
“Goddamn it, Kai! Mila is above The Brotherhood. She’s above you, me, the whole fucking legacy!” I roared, feeling my control slipping away as I slammed him against the wall, the impact causing a picture frame to fall and shatter against the marble floor.
Kai's eyes widened in shock as he steadied himself against the wall, his gaze meeting mine with a mixture of fear and understanding.
“To you, she is. But do you think they care? Will you be able to watch all of them take her in front of you? She will be passed around like a toy to show you who you belong to. They won't stop until she's broken, and you know it. She may be above all of this, but you aren’t. You chose to bring her into our world and knew the price she would have to pay. I'm trying to protect her too, even if you're too blinded by your feelings to see the truth," he whispered, his voice laced with desperation.
I released my grip on him, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Despite our heated argument, deep down, I knew Kai was right. The Brotherhood's traditions were archaic and brutal, but defying them meant losing Mila’s and my life in the process.
"I'll talk to Mila," I finally conceded, my jaw clenched tight with resolve. "But if anything happens to her..."
"We'll do everything in our power to keep her safe," Kai interjected, his expression solemn as he straightened his jacket. "Just remember our duty. Our loyalty lies with The Brotherhood above all else. But my loyalty lies with you. Theo and I are with you. I just want to make sure you are prepared for the consequences if you defy our fathers."
As Kai left, the weight of his words hung heavy in the air around me. I knew he was right, but the thought of betraying Mila made my stomach churn with guilt. She had become more than just a part of my life; she was my everything. And yet, The Brotherhood demanded sacrifices that I was not sure I could make. But if I didn’t, she would be destroyed, not by me. Not willingly. I knew her. She would fight, and they would punish her for my defiance.
I found Mila still asleep when I came back into the room. Her peaceful expression softened the turmoil raging within me. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my heart aching at the thought of what could await her if I didn't act. The weight of my responsibilities pressed down on me, threatening to crush me under their immense burden.
Mila stirred slightly, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly woke up. Meeting her gaze, I saw trust and affection reflected in her eyes, making it even harder to contemplate the inevitable conversation we needed to have. How could I explain the dark reality hidden behind the facade of our seemingly idyllic life together?
Taking a deep breath, I started to speak, hesitating for a moment as if the words themselves were a betrayal. "Mila, we need to talk about something important."
Her brow furrowed in concern as she sat up, giving me her full attention.
“What’s wrong?" Her voice was soft, filled with a tenderness that made my heart ache.
“I want to talk about who I belong to and what that means for you,” I replied, choosing my words carefully. “I think it’s important for you to understand what it entails before you choose me.”
Mila’s expression shifted, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features. “And what does it entail?”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves before continuing. “The Brotherhood has certain traditions and ceremonies that we must uphold. And tomorrow night is one of those ceremonies.”
Mila’s eyes widened in realization, a shiver running down her spine. “What kind of ceremony?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s...complicated,” I began, struggling to find the right words. “It’s about loyalty. About...sharing.”
Her gaze searched mine, sensing the gravity of the situation. “Sharing?”
I nodded, the weight of my confession heavy on my shoulders. “It’s a part of our allegiance to The Brotherhood. We...we share partners to show our devotion, to prove our unity.”
Understanding dawned in Mila’s eyes, a mixture of shock and disbelief clouding her features. “You mean...” she trailed off, unable to voice the implications of my words.
“Yes, with Kai and Theo,” I confirmed softly. “And tomorrow night, at The Ceremony, we will be expected to participate. It’s a tradition that has been ingrained in our families for years.”
Mila's silence was deafening, her gaze shifting from me to the walls closing in around us. I could see the turmoil brewing behind her eyes, the clash between her love for me and the reality of the world we were part of.
“I had no idea,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible in the heavy air of the room. “Is this what you want?”
The question hung between us, laden with more weight than I could bear. How could I admit that my desires were inconsequential compared to the demands of The Brotherhood? That my heart belonged to her, but my duty was sworn to a legacy built on sacrifice and submission?
“Fuck no. It’s not about what I want,” I replied, the truth bitter on my tongue. “It’s about what is expected of us, of me.”
Mila’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, the hurt and betrayal evident in her gaze. “And what am I in all of this? Just a pawn in your game with The Brotherhood?” Her voice trembled with anger and sadness, the raw emotion tearing through the fragile facade of our life together.
“No, Mila. Never,” I protested, reaching out to hold her hands in mine. “You’re not just a pawn. You’re...” I faltered, unable to find the right words to soothe the pain radiating from her.
“A sacrifice?” she finished for me, her voice laced with bitter resignation.
I closed my eyes, unable to meet her accusing stare. “I should have told you earlier. I should have prepared you.”
“Prepared me?” she scoffed, pulling her hands away from mine. “How do you prepare someone for something like this?”
Mila’s eyes bore into mine, a maelstrom of emotions swirling within them. I could see the hurt and the fear battling for dominance behind the mask of composure she tried to maintain.
“You should have told me,” she said at last, her voice a whisper.
“I know, baby.”
“And if I refuse? If I refuse to be fucked by your brothers? Then what? We can’t be together?”
“If you refuse, I’ll support your decision, and I will do everything in my power to protect you. Even if that means dying for you.”
“Dying for me? Fuck , Archer. Protect me from what?”
“From my father and the other leaders of The Brotherhood.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Kai and Theo’s fathers and all of our grandfathers are still alive.”
“What the fuck is going on, Archer? Why would you need to die for me? Why do you need to protect me from them?”
“The Hunt and The Ceremony are given to us as a reward for the difficult sacrifices we make for The Brotherhood, with the understanding that if we choose one of our Chosen to be our wife, they must make certain sacrifices. That’s you. Your sacrifice shows us that you are willing to give yourself to The Brotherhood and become one with me and us.”
“Haven’t I sacrificed enough for you yet?”
I could see the hurt and anger simmering just beneath the surface of Mila's usually calm demeanor. I knew I had unleashed a storm that threatened to engulf everything we had built together, but I also couldn't deny the truth any longer. The weight of my loyalty to The Brotherhood bore down on me, a heavy burden that threatened to crush me under its immense pressure.
I reached out tentatively as if trying to bridge the growing chasm between us. "Mila, you have sacrificed more than I could ever ask for. I never wanted this for you, and if you tell me no, I will fight for you. I will gladly die with your name on my lips.”
Mila's gaze was fixed on me. "So you’re telling me I have no choice in this?”
“You do have a choice. There’s always a choice.”
“Sure, I can either be fucked by three men or walk away at the cost of your life. That’s no fucking choice, Archer. I’ll always choose your life.”
“There’s no walking away from The Brotherhood. Not when you know what you know.”
“They can’t keep me here.”
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then speak fucking clearly, Archer.”
“If you choose to walk away, you will be passed along from member to member, starting with the elder leaders. They won’t stop until you're broken completely.”
Mila recoiled, her eyes widening in horror at the implications of my words. The reality of the choice before her seemed to finally sink in, the weight of it bearing down on her like a leaden shroud. She sat there, staring back at me, her jaw clenched in determination.
“Fuck the patriarchy,” she stated, her voice firm despite the tremor betraying her resolve. “I refuse to let a bunch of old men make decisions for me. I will not be used as a sacrificial lamb for your Brotherhood. The whole patriarchy, with its archaic rules, can go to Hell.”
I watched in awe as Mila's resolve hardened before me, her spirit shining brighter than ever before. The fire in her eyes ignited a spark within me, a newfound admiration for the woman who stood her ground against years of tradition and oppression.
She turned to face me. “I belong to you, Archer—no one else. The Brotherhood does not own me. They don’t own you. I will do whatever it takes to be with you. If that means I have to play a role, then I’ll play it. If they want a queen, then I’ll give them a queen. And then I’ll burn their fucking kingdom to the ground.”
“Mila,” I breathed, my voice filled with equal parts pride and love. “I’m constantly amazed by you.”
“Now, tell me everything you know about Alexander Benson and my father.”
And I did. I started from the beginning. I told her about her father’s business dealings that he hid from her and everyone behind the stocks and bonds company, Grey Industries. He had been dealing guns long before she was born. He had always been our ally until he wasn’t. Until trafficking guns wasn’t enough for him. Trafficking humans was more profitable. His greed forced him to adapt and make deals with The Collectors—with Alexander Benson. The Collectors ran him into the ground with their demands, and he thought he could play both sides. I told her about how we had been fighting to end human trafficking and the hold that The Collectors had on the city. They ran a super highway from city to city. Their reach was endless. And no depravity was too low for them. I told her about my role in The Brotherhood and the lives I took willingly. I made no excuses for the killer I was. She saw me at my worst, and she didn’t run.
As I spoke, she listened patiently, letting me speak. I watched her facial expressions, but she remained calm, soaking in everything I told her. When I was finished, she sat with a pensive expression on her face.
“Are you okay?” I asked her nervously.
“I think so. I am not surprised that my father is a monster. I remember how he spoke to my mother. And how easily he struck me, even with people around. But I never imagined that he would be willing to give his only daughter to someone worse than him.”
“I’m sorry, Mila.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just walk me through what’s next. What should I expect during The Ceremony?”
“During The Ceremony, you will be presented as my chosen queen to The Brotherhood. You'll have to wear the ceremonial gown they provide and walk down the aisle toward me in front of all the members. They will watch your every move, looking for any sign of weakness. We will recite a blood bond to each other and solidify our union with Kai and Theo. And then, it’s you and me.”
“Okay,” she nodded.