6. Thorne
Chapter 6
Thorne
Ivy Yegorov…
I wonder how much more freaked out she would be if she knew I’d been smoking outside her dorm for several hours.
I saw her leave at this crazy hour and decided to follow.
Earlier when I went out for a walk I didn’t intend to end up at Ivy’s dorm, but my mind drifted to her and that’s where I went.
I was near her the whole time and she didn’t even know. Not until I was sitting right in front of her, gazing into those silver eyes.
Silence can be a man’s best friend when you know how to use it properly.
It’s as subtle as breathing air and deadly as a lethal poison.
I’ve been able to hide in plain sight since I was five, and walk into a room like a ghost—unseen and unheard.
It was a trick my father taught me, while my mother appealed to what could pass for my softer side with music.
I’m not entirely sure if I ever really had such a thing as a ‘soft side’ or if I just made my mother believe I did to please her. I think it’s the latter.
There was never anything soft about me. I was always fucked up, but my mother was the exception to every rule in the book. So was my sister Anushka, who was five years older than me. Our mother gave us piano lessons together because it was the thing we bonded over.
Having them—all of them, my father, mother and Anushka—ripped out of my world turned me into the soulless creature I am today.
That’s why I don’t play the piano anymore. It reminded me too much of them. Of how they went. They were all good people who never deserved to die the way they did.
The last time I saw my mother and father, the house was under attack and they were telling Caspian and I to hide. I saw my sister several hours before when we sat in the kitchen eating ice cream. We were staying at one of our safe houses, but neither of us would have known that was because my father was protecting us.
Sometimes I’m grateful I never saw their deaths, then like now, I feel like a coward for admitting that. Because Caspian saw. At eight-years-old he was forced to watch them die. Their deaths were so horrific it took him years to tell me how it happened.
They beat my father to death with a metal pole, but before he died, the men made him watch them rape my mother and sister. They’d gouged out my mother’s eyes, so at least she didn’t get to see what happened to Anushka.
The devils then left the remains of my family to rot in the bottom of a well with Caspian, who they tortured daily until he was rescued nearly a year later.
That is the horror I was spared from. I will always be grateful to Caspian for what he did for me, but I hate that I wasn’t with my family in their final moments.
For a time I tried to keep them alive in music but all that did was make my grief and loss worse. So I stopped.
From time to time the music calls to me. It did tonight when I saw the little deer’s composition. And I guess I can still read music and put notes together well enough to surprise people like little Miss I’m-not-your-type.
Despite the dark memories of my family, thinking of the shock on her face makes me smile to myself as I step onto the cobbled path leading back to my dorm.
She’s actually right. She’s not my usual type.
So why am I jonesing for this girl?
What the fuck is so interesting about her when I have a sea of women at my beck and call?
She’s beautiful with a kind of beauty I haven’t seen before. And yes, I’d love to get a taste of that body of hers, and I meant what I said. But that’s not it.
None of those things is what has my interest.
Maybe it’s because she’s actually scared of me. People know to fear me and they’re wary enough of the Ivanov name to know not to fuck with me. But she… she’s genuinely terrified.
Even when she’s trying to mask her fear by throwing her snippy remarks, the scent of it is as rich and potent as fresh blood. I’m like the shark when I smell that, and I still want a taste of the girl.
When I reach Erebus I go up to my room and stare at the computer, at the email from my uncle that sent me outside.
Aleksander wants to meet first thing in the morning, before I start my training.
Motherfucker. He would want to meet then, wouldn’t he?
This year I’ll be spending Wednesdays and Thursdays at Ivanov Tech and the rest of time on campus. Over the summer I was counting down. I couldn’t wait. Now I’m dreading it.
Today is my official start and my uncle has already ruined it. The prick wants to go over the matters he discussed on the phone the other night and the unit Caspian and I will be selecting this year.
What pisses me off is I’m still in that mindfuck limbo where I’m not sure what to do. Nothing may come to me until my uncle makes his move.
I guess I’ll know more in a few hours.
Until then I’ll occupy myself with something a little more entertaining.
Using my tracker pad I flick back to Ivy Yegorov’s high school records and scroll through the details on my little deer.
Music, music, music. That’s all she seemed to love.
But there must be something darker in that pretty little soul of hers.
She portrays the sweet little angel but her music says otherwise.
It speaks of darkness.
Darkness like mine.
Aleksander’s office door is already open so I walk in.
He’s standing by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows talking with his new secretary. Another young pretty toy for him to bang.
He leans forward to rest his hand on her ass and the sun makes his white hair look like a ball of light.
Watching him squeeze his secretary’s ass and licking his lips makes me sick.
He’s only fifty-two but he looks like he’s in his seventies. That hasn’t stopped the women.
The prick keeps a steady supply of young women around, so he can fuck when he feels like it. There’s never a shortage because of the money and power attached to his name.
I grew up watching him and his harem of women.
But, if I’m being honest, his one redeeming quality was that he loved his wife, Caspian’s mother.
He never remarried after she was killed and it broke him when he found out she cheated on him throughout their entire marriage.
Aleksander glances my way when he hears my footsteps, so does the secretary who composes herself. She was smiling before at something he said.
As he’s not a funny guy I can only assume he’s paying her the same kind of money to laugh at his jokes as he is to suck his dick.
“Wonderful, you’re here.” His cold voice takes on that authoritative tone I loathe.
“Bright and early at your request.” I summon a fake-as-fuck smile I know he can see through but I don’t care.
New toy smiles at me and makes her way out. Aleksander stares at her ass until she goes through the door.
It makes me sick that he doesn’t even have the decency to hide his disgusting habits. Should I even bother to tell him that new toy left lipstick on his collar?
No. He can fuck off and look stupid all day for putting me through this bullshit.
“Take a seat.” He points to the chair in front of his desk.
I go over and sit, while he lowers into the winged leather chair behind the desk.
Steepling his fingers he sets his elbows on the arms of the chair and stares at me as if he finally has me exactly where he wants me. I suppose he has, but it won’t last forever.
“You didn’t reply to the email to confirm.” His jaw clenches.
“I didn’t think I needed to.”
“In future you will be required to respond with your confirmation to all my emails, and act in a professional manner. Is that understood?”
“Loud and clear, my Lord.” That’s what we have to call him when we’re at Raventhorn Hall—my Lord. He’s anything other. Usually the title doesn’t extend to Caspian and me when we’re in a setting like this, but I wanted to rile him up. The twitch of his lips suggests I have.
“I can see you’re still upset about the changes.”
“No offense, but wouldn’t you be? I prepared all my life for this. I am my father’s heir. His only heir, and you’re essentially telling me that if I don’t do what you tell me to do I get nothing.”
“But you will do what I tell you to do because you’re not the kind of person to end up with nothing .” He gives me a wide satisfied smile, and again I think he looks pleased that he has me where he wants me. “The company is changing, Thorne. We have to appease the investors and the board. You are part of the future of the company. I want people to see that you worked hard to get your share of the business.”
I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling but it’s not me. The things he’s saying all make sense, but it’s all bullshit. I know because he won’t do this to Caspian.
“What do you want me to do?” Better to cut to the chase.
“You will be training with Aiden Sabioni.”
A fist clamps around my stomach. “Aiden Sabioni as in your vice president’s son who’s currently at M.I.T?” And hates my guts.
“Yes.”
“Why? Why does he have to train with me?”
“He’ll be working here after graduation just like you. You’ll be in the same department and have the same role.”
Fuck . This is it. The first heads-up. And now I know he’s trying to get rid of me. Aiden would make a fine replacement for me. M.I.T is exactly where I would have gone if I didn’t have to go to Raventhorn. I was offered a place when I was fucking sixteen but the old man raised hell, asking me if I wanted to throw away my legacy in the Knights.
“How the hell is he supposed to have the same role as me?”
“That is what I would like. Of course if you make it that far.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The two of you have to complete various challenges that I will personally judge. If either of you fail to impress me… well, I think you know what will happen then.”
“I get nothing,” I fill in, keeping my tone measured.
“I’m sure you won’t let that happen.”
But he will. Then Aiden will take my place. What a fucking joke.
Aiden will take my legacy and my uncle will allow this because he’s threatened by me.
“This year will be about learning everything you can about Ivanov Tech, so you’ll both begin training next week. Of course you’ll have the unit to look after as well, so I expect you to organize your time efficiently.”
“Sure.” Asshole.
“A word on the unit: I need you to be highly selective on who you choose. In other words don’t pick shit. I don’t think I have to remind you that these people will form the next generation of the Knights leadership.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I don’t like Lucian Sokolov or his family. You know this, but I see you and Caspian have him and his cousin at Erebus house all the time. They are not fit for the elite.”
This is where I draw the line and take back the reins of control. He’s not allowed to tell me who to choose. It’s against the Knights’ law.
“Yes they are.” My voice is firm and I take pleasure in hearing it.
“You dare defy me on this?” His brows knit.
“Uncle, you know damn well you can’t sway my decision on the unit.”
He looks me over with distaste. “You need to remember who the fuck you’re talking to. Your future is in my hands, boy.”
“Maybe so, but you won’t choose my men for me.”
He looks taken aback and I’m actually surprised when he appears to back down. “You better make damn sure you pick the best.”
“Let me worry about that. What else do you have to talk to me about?” It’s time to change the subject before I say something I can’t take back.
“Your marriage prospects.” It’s he who claims back control now.
As he’s the head of the family and all things that have power over me, the fucking marriage is one topic I definitely can’t fight. It would be like trying to put out an infernal fire with a bucket of water.
“What about it?”
“I’ll have some marriage prospects for you within the next few weeks.”
“Weeks?” This is so much worse than I thought. I sensed he may do shit like this to me but I never thought it would be as soon as weeks .
“Yes. I want you engaged by the end of the year. I have my eye on a few potentials.”
“Like who?”
“You’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime try to keep your dick under control. Wouldn’t want you to father any bastard children.”
“Don’t worry about my dick.” I should spite his ass by fucking every woman within my sight, including his new toy. “Anything else?”
“Not right now. I think that’s enough for the day don’t you?”
I don’t answer. I just stand and march out. Not looking back.
I’m screwed to fuck and I can’t see a way around it.
When I get down the hallway and I’m sure I’m alone I throw a fist in the wall. It’s concrete so I feel the pain shooting through my knuckles.
It hurts like a motherfucker. But that was the idea. I needed to feel something other than fury.
I have to figure out this shit. Somehow, some fucking way.
I can’t let Aleksander shepherd in Aiden to boot me out. No doubt he’s getting him in to learn my tech skills and anything else he’ll pick up from me when we work together.
And as for being engaged by the end of the year…
Fuck.
Fuck him.
My phone buzzes in my pocket with a text. I pull it out and look at the message. It’s from Lucian. He’s sent his guest list for the Lords and Ladies party Erebus and Lapetus house are hosting. It’s on Saturday night and it’s an invite-only party.
I’m supposed to approve all guests because it’s going to be one of those wild risqué events that everyone will remember for time to come. The idea behind it is a dark fantasy version of a speed-dating session where you can do anything . The girls who are invited agree to be tributes to the Knights who pick them. Everyone gets seven minutes in heaven.
Lucian has sent me eight names of girls who live at Myrrdin house. Eilish is at the top of the list as his plus one—as expected. And beneath her name is Ivy’s.
Something I can’t quite describe pulls on my insides. It feels like rage. I’ve been feeling that asshole emotion all week, so I’m not surprised it’s eating me alive again. What’s surprising is I’m feeling it for a girl I haven’t even fucked yet.
When I imagine her going from guy to guy to play seven minutes in heaven doing fuck knows what, a rush of primal possession charges through my blood.
They’d get to touch her before me. Or do other things.
There’s a lot you can do in seven minutes, including taking someone’s V-card.
Ivy would have to put her name forward for this party knowing what it was. Even though this is clearly Eilish’s doing. She’s the student counselor for the Thetas, so I can imagine her rallying the girls who need to get a life. The other girls on the list are freshmen.
Tiffany already sent a list to me of who she wanted to attend. But I know what that bitch is like. She would have excluded anyone she didn’t like. Eilish gets special privileges because of Lucian.
So, Ivy wants to be a tribute?
Yeah she will be. She’ll be mine.
It’s time to have some fun.
With her.