Ss‘ jaw clenched at those words, snapping the cigar in half with his finger.


    Seeing that reaction, I wanted to push, taunt. It seems I never realized my hatred for this man until this moment, this moment when I feel like he might have told Vera something very important and personal to me. Something sensitive.


    He might be drunk, but that still doesn’t give him the right.


    “Don’t look so surprised,” I said, straightening and shoving my hands into my pockets. “You knew when you lost my respect. It was when you killed Mom.”


    He shot out of his seat, pushing his desk, his eyes wild. “I didn’t kill her!” he bellowed, his chest heaving.


    “But you did!” I shouted back. “You fucking killed her, Ss! When she needed attention, you gave her a big, shiny mansion and locked her in it. That was you casting you away. She understood. She knew her purpose in your life was fulfilled and you had no more use for her, and that’s why she did what she did. She loved you more than she loved her own sons! So you killed her.”


    He was panting now, looking nothing like theposed man from moments ago.


    “You know nothing, boy,” he snarled.


    “I know enough.”


    “Things like affection and love are for humans,” he said, his voice a low growl, his eyes glowing faintly. “They are not for superior beings like us. Those things will only be a burden to us.”


    “And yet at the mention of Mother, you get all fired all,” I scoffed, shaking my head. “You can’t fool me, Father. I see right through your performance.”


    He faltered then, staggering back and I pushed forward.


    “You loved her. You loved Mother, but you didn’t want to believe it. Why? Superior beings can’t love? Now because of your pride and foolishness, you lost the woman you love and we lost our mother.”


    He picked up the ashtray and threw it with a force so powerful that when itnded, my head snapped to the side, the skin on my temple splitting open and blood rushing out.


    But I barely felt the pain. All I could see was the look of madness and pain in his eyes, and I couldn’t help butugh like a madman, my head thrown back. Blood entered my eye but I didn’t even notice that.


    “I was right! I was fucking right!”


    It was just a guess, just a wild fucking guess, and he gave me a reaction I never in a thousand years would have predicted.


    Myughter finally died down and I looked back at him to see him seated, his expression back to beingposed, but all that was just a facade.


    You stop seeing at gin<b>, </b>he saiu anu


    “Like hell I will.”


    “That was amand, Axel!”


    “When have I ever listened to your fuckingmands? When have I ever listened to anything you say? Give it up already.”


    But it was like the old man wasn’t even hearing a word I said. “You will end everything you have in London and you’ll return fully and resume your duties.”


    “Damn those duties to hell!” I roared, pushing his bookshelf to the floor. Itnded with a loud thud, books falling. “What have those duties ever done for me?”


    He remained unfazed, his chin ced on his joined hands. “They have sponsored your expensive lifestyle. Bought those fancy cars you ride, the suits, paid for the whores you fuck. Those are what those duties do for you.”


    “You think I can’t survive without those? You think my life would be over if I don’t go around driving fast cars and showing off to whores?”


    Ss leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming a rhythm on the desk like he was ying a game of chess and not tearing his son’s life apart. “You won’tst a month without me, Axel. Strip away the money, the cars, everything, and what’s left of you?”


    v, wiping the blood off my temple with the back of my hand. “Me. That’s all that will be left. I a day without your money, but that doesn’t mean I can’t and will continue to remain tied to


    clenched, his eyes narrowing into slits. “And what about the girl?”


    My chest tightened, fear wrapping its cold fist around my heart. “Don’t you-”


    “I could have her taken in a single breath.” He leaned forward, his voice low, venomous. “If she means nothing, then walk away. If she means everything… then she’s leverage.”


    The beast inside me wed at my ribs, howling, demanding blood. I mmed my palms on his desk so hard the wood cracked. “Touch her, and I swear to God, you’ll wish you never made me your son.”


    His expression didn’t ev weakness destroye


    blinded by her. Just like your mother was blinded by me. And that


    yed her.”


    old. “Does she even know what you are?” I flinched and that was all he needed. “She at if she does? What if she discovers the kind of monster you are? Do you think she’d think she’ll want to be with a monster?<b>” </b>


    ow nothing about her.”


    Chapter <i>75 </i>


    55 vouchers


    “I don’t, but these humans are the same. At least your mother knew what I was before she got married to me. Rosette doesn’t. What do you think she’ll feel? Betrayal? Disgust?” He paused, looking me deep in the eye. “Or fear?”


    I pushed away from the desk. “That’s none of your business. That’s my problem to deal with.”


    I turned away from him, eager to get away from this suffocating room. But then his words stopped me.


    “I brought her into your lives, Axel. I can take her out.”


    I turned very slowly to him, my body vibrating. “Touch her, Ss, and I might really kill you.”


    His lips curled up. “I wouldn’t touch a single hair on her, but there are other means.”


    I watched him, disgust turning my stomach. I just shook my head, walking away, and his words followed me, ringing in my ears.


    “Go on. Run to your cage before it’s toote.”