Torn Between Us

an eerie gray, as if even the heavens

rom fear, but from the strange gravitational pull the brothers had on her. Leo with his damaged truths, and Julian with h

e house buzzed

pectacle of wealth, influence, and manipulation dressed in diamonds and silk

eless, with a slit high enough to make a statement. Her hair was swept back

" came Julian's voi

sn't told I'd be expec

ightening her shoulder. "You're on display now. What you say, w

like be

rself indispensable. No one t

harm. He offered his arm, and de

tables set with gold-trimmed china. Waiters moved like shadows, and soft c

names, faces, alliances. She was good at t

n Leo a

rolled at the sleeves, and eyes tha

n's arm, his gaze sharpe

t her?" he

ictoria replied

it," Leo

gne. "Everyone's something

f before the tension

the night. The garden outside was lit with warm fai

wasn't

ng against the stone railing

well," he said wit

about to punch your wa

one it

Why do you stay, Leo? Wi

eyes replaced by something rawer. "Beca

t tr

esn't deserve the power she holds. That I was here long before e

"You think you're

nly one who doesn'

. "That's not honest

hing darker than a smile. "Ma

mething dangerous pulsing i

ak when Julian stepp

. "Mother wants Amelia back inside. Th

hed. "You reall

d him. "Let's

e didn

rd, as did Julian. Th

er like a pawn,"

she walked through the door

said suddenly

n turne

truth. But I am no one's weapon. And if either of you thinks I can

ed was thick with disbe

ust a flic

st both of them, reenter

he hidden one Leo retreated to, but the curated version

e smiles. The family portrait on the wall, where Leo w

at it for a

" came a voice f

li

the room, no mask n

ating your latest politica

think I'm predictable. T

ous," she said, standing. "What a

change. But something

ou

y hit her

play by your ru

"Because you make me

rds. It wasn't just power. There was some

could speak, he

Julian said, his voice

hy do y

he doesn't

wrapped in longing. The co

ut, fingers

ying, thrilling mo

ing could bloom,

s to protect.

aw flexed.

he

e air around her still trembli

ght, a soft knock

ed, shirt undone at the collar. He l

thinking about

raced. "Yo

e tr

e. "What do yo

r, until his sha

ryth

his hand reached up and

hispered. "But you... you

him away. She should'

ispered, "Then show

isse

refully. But like

he le

nt-they were not Hawthorne and outsi

ding in the ruins of a