The Silent 222


    "I never told you to kneel, Dn said tly, shoving Matthew away with a firm hand.


    Between the two of them, Dn had always been stronger.


    96%1


    He picked up the axe and turned back toward the tree trunk he''d dragged home that morning. His thatched hut wasn''t sturdy enough, barely licable. He''d been gathering lumber to rebuild it properly-this particr log would''ve made the perfect central beam.


    Seeing Dn go about his work like they didn''t exist made his blood boll. He stepped forward and nted his foot squarely on the log, then yanked the axe out of Dn''s hand.


    "If you don''t give us an answer today, he snapped, "then forget finishing this stupid shack. I''m not letting you touch this log again.


    "I don''t know what you want from me," Dn said, his face nk. "And whatever


    it is, I''m not giving it. So go. Hand me back the axe and stop wasting my time. I have work to do, and none of it involves either of you."


    "Work, work, work. I''ll show you work." Matthew finally lost it. He swung the axe down with a loud crack, driving it into the center of the log


    "Stop!" Dn roared.


    Matthew dodged Dn''s outstretched arm and brought the axe down again.


    "I said stop!" Dn growled, grabbing him by the cor and ripping the axe out of his hands. He shoved Matthew aside and rushed back to his lumber-but it was toote. Two careless strikes had already split the log. It was ruined.


    Fury boiled in Dn''s chest. He hurled the axe aside, charged straight at Matthew, and punched him square in the face.


    "You think I care about this damn house? Who gave you the right to touch my things?"


    Matthew had already been on edge, and now that Dn had actually hit him'' He lost it.


    The two of them went at it hard-fist for fist, blow for blow. They tore into each other until their faces were ck and blue, even knocking down part of Dn''s thatched roof in the scuffle.


    Seeing his house copse made Dn even more furious. He pounded on Matthew harder.


    "You''re seriously going all out?!" Matthew cried, feeling like Dn was about to knock his teeth out.


    He doubled down too. They were seconds from biting each other when Anthony, finally fed up, threw two small vials of muscle-numbing powder into the air.


    Matthew groaned, breathless. Seriously, Anthony? Couldn''t you have thrown that stuff before my jaw got cracked? And why''d you knock me out too?!".


    He''dnded hard-nearly right on the leg that was still bound in a brace. Dn had been careful during the fight not to hit that leg, but everything else? Total warzone. Both of them were covered in bruises, scraped, and bleeding


    Dn sat up, wincing. "Shit." Matthew had blood running from his mouth, but Dn''s lip? Swollen like a balloon.


    "Son of a Dn hissed, scowling at Anthony. "Fine. You''ve stopped the fight. Now give us the antidote


    But Anthony didn''t move.


    Instead, he smiled politely. "Sorry, Dn. Before we came, Father gave us instructions. If you still refused to help Sophie,


    10:43 Sat, 19 Apr A.


    then we were to bring you back by force-and let him convince you


    Dn froze.


    His voice dropped to a chilling quiet. "I''m not going back."


    Anthony shook his head. "We gave you a chance, Dn. But this isn''t your choice anymore."


    Dnughed coldly. "A chance? You mean a chance to betray my sister? That''s what you''re calling


    Anthony''s expression hardened. "Eliza''s name was already removed from the family tree. She''s not our sister anymore. You are still on it. And so is Sophie. So she''s your only sister now-our only family."


    "Shut your mouth!" Dn snapped.


    His voice was raw with fury as he dragged his heavy limbs upright, ring at Anthony like he wanted to burn him alive.


    “Eliza and I share the same mother. We are blood-real siblings. You want to call Sophie your sister? Fine. Go ahead. But leave me out of it. I only have one sister in this world. Her name is Eliza."


    Anthony''s eyes turned cold. "I didn''t expect you to be so heartless toward Sophie. You''ve really disappointed me, Dn." He looked down at his half-paralyzed brother, tone as chilling as ever. "I don''t know what kind of poison Eliza''s fed you and Benedict, but it''s fine. Once I bring you back, I''ll fix both of you. I''ll make you see the truth."


    Dn''s heart sank. He didn''t know what Anthony was nning, but the look in his eyes sent a cold shiver down his spine.


    "If you


    dare drug me or pull any of your twisted stunts," Dn hissed, "I swear, I will make you pay for it."


    Anthony simply smiled. "Don''t worry, Dn. I won''t hurt you."


    Then he pped twice. Two guards stepped out of the shadows, lifted both Dn


    and Matthew like sacks, and hauled them. into a waiting carriage.


    As the wheels began to roll, the sound of hoofbeats echoed across the dirt road. Just like that, Dn was being dragged back to the Stonor estate.


    Comment