Golden Crown Series 02: The Twin Dragons (13 page)

“You belong to me
, Beth,” he whispered.

Chapter Seventeen

As Planets A
lign

Molly Renew stood at the door and smiled as Ryan walked towards her, he stepped in quickly and then turned and shut it behind
him. She fell into his arms and kissed him passionately as he let her. She slowed as he did not return her affection and it bothered her.

“What is it?” she asked as she placed her hand on his face and he said nothing.

“Has she fucking angered you again, my love?” Molly asked him and he shook his head.

“I am sorry, I am just having troub
le with business, it is nothing,” he said as he kissed her slowly and she moaned at his lips. He stepped back from her and smiled.

“I have
missed you,” she said. He walked with her to the large living area. He looked around the room and then back to her.

“Sometimes I wonder why I did not marry you
, Molly,” he said.

“Just leave, and come here Ryan. There is nothing to hold you there once the children leave. And they will.”

“Oh I know that they will.
I am giving them the apartment as a gift.”

“740 Park?” she asked and he looked at her.

“Yes.”

“I love that place.”

“I did, I did love it once.”

Molly watched him and then decided to light a cigarette.
“Does Beth know you are giving her gift away?”

Ryan took a slow breath and then turned to her.
“No, she doesn’t.”

She laughed and it echoed in the room. He looked u
p at the large painting of her father over the fireplace. If there was one thing that was the same amongst all of the rich, they loved to be immortalized like royalty…but there were no Queens or Kings in the world.

“Bethany will be livid,
” Molly said and Ryan turned to her.

“I do hope so.”

“Ryan,” Molly said as he joined her on the couch and she touched his face as he closed his eyes. “Leave her and come to me, I love you.”

He opened his eyes up and stared at her.
“I know that you do.”

She narrowed her eyes and then sighed.
“Will you never say it to me?”

He touched her hair and grinned.
“Love is a fools game, loyalty is lasting.”

“You have nothing but loyalty from me.”

“Oh I know Molly.”

She watched him as he stood up and walked to the
fireplace; he stopped and looked up at her Fathers painting.

“
You know your father was a ruthless man, Molly.”

She stood and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I loved him, more so than my mother,” she said.

Ryan turned and smiled at her as she watched him with adoration.
“You remember what I did for you?” he asked and she nodded to him.

“I don’t like to talk about it
, Ryan.”

“I killed my f
ather for you, Molly, when he abducted you for money,” Ryan said and she nodded to him.

She then kissed him. He allowed her affection as he needed it more now than ever before. She then hugged him and spoke quietly. “I met August today.”

“What?” Ryan said as he backed up a bit and looked at her.

“I did, at the Museum. Zoey brought him.”

“We are having a party to celebrate the boys 18
th
birthday tomorrow, come,” he said as she stared at him.

“I will come
, I will be there tomorrow,” she said as Ryan turned and walked to her door, leaving with a smile on his face.

****

I sighed as I looked at the card in my hand and then looked at the building. I could not be certain that Mani was even here now but I had to come. I had to come and talk to him about what we did. I bit my lip and then stepped up to the doors and opened them up myself. I had taken a cab into the city to avoid the driver being with me and in turn I hoped no one would know where I had gone.

“Beth,
” Mani said as I stopped and saw him. I think a part of me wanted to tell him goodbye and the rest of me wanted to run into his arms and have him hold me. I walked towards him, as he did the same, and we stopped with a few feet between us knowing that we had to hold back from showing any affection.

“You left.”

“I had to,” he said and I sighed.

“S
o, I mean….what is this?” I asked quietly, and he stepped up and took my arm. We walked down a hallway until we reached what had to be his office and he opened the door, ushering me in. I stopped when I saw all of the papers piled on his desk and then turned back to him. He closed the door and watched me closely, his look was not one of anger or even irritation, in fact he looked happy to see me.

“I apologize for leaving you there, I mean, I felt foolish and somewhat out of place so I left after I took you to your room.”

“You could have stayed, you were told to stay.”

He laughed quietly and wal
ked up to me, looking down and shaking his head. “I guess I don’t take orders very well.”

“Is this your office?” I asked him and he nodded to me.

“It is.”

“
You said you worked for the FBI,” I said as I looked around and then turned back to him.

“Worked
, being the key word.”

“So you don’t anymore?” I asked him as that sparked my interest.

“No, I mean…I removed myself.”

“Why?” I asked him and he walked to his desk and sat down on the corner of it.

“Personal reasons,” he said and I wanted to press him for more information, but something in the way he looked at me told me not to.

“So, what now?” I asked him and he pulled me to him and kissed me slowly at first and then harder until I felt my body tense up. I grabbed at the back of his head and let m
y fingers wind themselves in his hair as his hands lowered on my back, resting at the top of my ass. I sighed at his lips as he leaned back and watched my expression.

“Bethany Bittermend, you are just a welcomed surprise.”

I smiled as I touched his face and leaned in to kiss him again. I now knew that he would be in my life and the battle would begin.

****

“Seriously, if one more fucker drops a plate I will go psychotic,” Cas said as August laughed and held Zoey from behind. She laughed to as he turned to them.

“Do you see this shit?” he asked
, and August leaned down and kissed Zoey quickly, he then let her go and walked to Cas, placing his arm around him and grinning as he looked out at the garden which was transforming into a magical fairy tale. White lights covered the trees and columns had been brought in wound in real ivy.  Cas sighed as August leaned into his ear and spoke to him.

“You have to fucking relax.”

Cas closed his eyes and then turned to him, letting his expression relax as he glanced at his clipboard.

“I am fin
e, I just want it to be perfect,” he said and August smiled.

“It will be
, brother. I have all faith in you.”

Cas watched him walk away as Zane came into view. He then looked down and turned as Zane stepped up behind
him and tapped him on the back.

“So, why haven’t you called me?” Zane asked him
, and Cas looked around the garden.

“I have been busy.”

“I see, this is…”

Cas looked at him and Zane smiled and stepped up to him, reaching out and touching his shoulder as he spoke.

“Amazing, as always,” he said and Cas nodded to him as Ryan stepped out and looked around the garden. He held a drink in his hand and it spilled a tiny bit onto the concrete below him. Cas noticed and turned back to keep giving direction.

“Holy shit, Cas…come here,
” Ryan said as Cas turned and stared at Zane for a moment. Zane raised an eyebrow and Cas walked to Ryan, he stopped a few feet in front of him.

“What the hell is going on here?” Ryan asked him and Cas shook his head and stared at his clipboard like he was flustered.

“I mean is anyone in fucking charge?”

“Me,” h
e said quietly as Ryan leaned down.

“What?”

“Me…I am in charge,” Cas said as he looked up at Ryan and Ryan tilted his head as Cas looked different to him for a moment.

“Well, it is incredible,
” Ryan said, and Cas opened his mouth as if he was about to defend himself and then he stopped.

“Really?” Cas asked and Ryan smiled and walked up to him, pulling him forward and hugging him.

“I am so proud of you,” he said as Cas closed his eyes for a moment until they were bumped by August who held up his glass.

“
I didn’t know you would be here,” August said as he walked by the two of them and then stopped. He held his glass up high and looked towards the sky.

“To Uranus,” h
e said as he took a drink and Ryan watched him and lowered his glass.

August turned and smiled at the two of them.
“No one has a sense of humor in this house.”

Cas shook his head and walked back to everyone working in the garden as Ryan watched August approach him.

“I have a gift for you and your brother,” he said, as August stopped next to him but avoided eye contact.”

“What, are you
moving out?” August asked, and then he left Ryan standing there as he raised an eyebrow and took the last of his drink to the back of his throat.

Chapter Eighteen

Surrender

I sat at my vanity and stared at my face, just weeks before I had felt as if age and this house were bringing me to ruin. I leaned up and grinned as the thought of Mani’s lips against mine consumed me. I placed the red lipstick to my lips and moved it slowly, being careful to not go outside my defined lines. I set it down and pressed my lips together as my face looked more radiant than it had in years. Here on the eve of my son’s birthdays, I was finding a new freedom. I had feared their departure into adulthood as the last nail in my coffin. I really dreaded the thought of it as much as I dreaded trolling around this large house in borrowed clothing and a life that should be long removed from me, that of my mother’s.

Mani had brought a breath of life into a corpse, because that is what I was until his touch and need for me brought my senses back to life. I then closed my eyes as I heard Ryan’s voice behind me and I refused to turn and look at him this time. I opened
them up to see his reflection right where it should be, trapped in the mirror itself. He stepped up behind me and I sighed as I played with my hair and he reached down and placed a necklace on me. The diamond was small but tasteful and I fingered at it as he worked the clasp. I then turned and he looked at me as he stepped back.

“I don’t think I have ever told you how beautiful you really are, but you are stunning Bethany, you have always been.”

I fingered at the diamond and then turned back before I made the mistake of returning his kindness. “This is a bit small for you,” I said as I let it fall against my skin and he laughed.

“That was his gift to you,
” Ryan said as he left me sitting there suddenly realizing that Ryan had surrendered the gift Mani had intended for me. It was a small, yet beautiful diamond that suddenly meant the world to me. I looked into the mirror as it captured the light and then I removed my ring and placed it on my vanity. I wiped my eye and re-powdered my face, as I knew Ryan was finally offering me freedom after all of the years we had held each other captive.

I stood up and placed my black cloak on and adjusted it, I reached down and picked up my mask. The only thing that would be showing was m
y eyes and my lips and I guess I could have ignored the rest. Cas had insisted that we do this, this is what he said that he and August wished for their party and I am more than happy to do whatever will make this the perfect night for them. I still cannot believe that they are graduating and will be moving into adulthood. I also know in the darkest recesses of my heart that I am not their birth mother, but I do feel that way. I feel as if I had them myself and I would do anything to protect them both.

I placed the
white mask on and stared at myself in the mirror as I pulled the hood up and I smiled. This was going to be a great night, the best in the house I had known of in a long time. I was completely sober, Mani would be here, and Ryan was giving me my freedom from him or at least his blessing. I will not say that I am shocked to a certain degree. Ryan is one to collect things as much as I guess that I used to be. Funny how I seemed to be changing into what he must have once been while he slowly became what I was. It may be the curse of this house or perhaps my family. I could not be sure, but if I were to ever thank him for anything it would be for this night and what new hope it offered to me.

I stepped out to the top of the stairs and looked down as many people started to enter the house. Each one was given a cloak and mask at the
door and some protested but succumbed to it, as they knew this was the party of the season and to leave now would not allow them to be leeches on the lavish things we offered. I smiled as I started to walk down the steps. I reached the bottom as some turned to watch me and Ryan stepped up, taking my hand into his as we played out this last loving scene for the public. He kissed my hand and then placed his mask on. He paused as he stared into my eyes.

“You look happy
, Beth.”

I nodded to him as he led me to the garden and we stepped out into a magnificent scene. White lights wrapped every tree and black satin flowed from the branches, there was just enough breeze to make them flow slowly as if Mother Nature was here to make sure the twins would have the perfect night. I looked across the lawn and saw several large ice sculptures, drinks pooled beneath them. Each one carved to perfection. Ryan led me to one as I looked up. Lights had been strategically placed to light them up and I grinned as I looked at the large cock made of ice staring back at me.

“Well,
” I said as Ryan handed me a drink and grinned.

“Bring back memories?” he said quietly in my ear and I laughed. I saw no need to deny him at this point. I mean to be a bitch would be fruitless and I truly felt
as if we could give each other this gift. We could be civil and allow it to play out as it should, right here in the home I had always known and on top of bones that should be well rested.

“Good ones.”

Ryan looked at me momentarily, slowly lifting his glass to his lips as I did too. “To us, Beth,” he said as he watched my mouth.

“To us,
” I said as I took a small drink and then another. “Mmm.” I said as Ryan lowered his glass and I turned when I heard a familiar voice.

“Mother.”

I saw two men, no longer boys, dressed in black cloaks and white masks. The men’s masks were a bit less elaborate than the women’s and covered their faces almost completely. At least my lips were completely exposed with mine, making it exciting as you looked around and had no idea who was who.

They both hugged me as I sighed and then backed up. I touched my mask and one of the men stepped up and smiled at me.

“No one takes their masks off tonight.”

“Cas, I just…”

“It is August,” he said and I laughed.

“Exactly, I can’t tell who is who.”

“Well that is the point,” Cas said as he stepped forward.

I grinned and took another drink.
“So what is the plan?”

“To enjoy,
” Cas said and I smiled again.

“Okay then, I will just do that.”

****

Ryan stood at my vanity and held the red ruby ring in his hand, turning as the door opened behind him and he grinned. Molly stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, reaching down and grabbing his cock, caressing it slowly as Ryan sighed. He turned and held the ring up to her as she eyed it like a prize she had always wanted.

“Is that Beth’s wedding band?” she asked him and he took her hand and placed it on her finger as she watched him with excitement.

“She wo
n’t be needing it after tonight,” he said as Molly looked up at him and then lunged. Pressing her lips against his as she was full of passion and he tried to return it to her the best that he could. She pulled back and placed her hand to his face as the ring fit her finger perfectly.

“Tonight you shall be free,” s
he whispered and he remained silent as she kissed him one more time.

****

Cas stepped into his room as his phone went off in his pocket. He sighed, as he saw who it was but knew he needed to know the results.

He placed the phone to his ear and then stared as the voice spoke on the other end.

“What?” he said and the voice spoke again.

“The skull has your DNA
, Cas.”

H
e lowered the phone and let it drop to the floor. He then ran to his bag and ripped it open, the locket flew from it and slid across the floor as tears welled up in his eyes. He held it up and tried his best to open it up but nothing would make it open. He then left his room and took the back stairs to the kitchen, knowing he would find a knife there.

Cas stopped as he heard voices and slid to a stop by the open doorway. He then narrowed his eyes as he recogni
zed his brother’s voice. He heard laughing and sighed as he thought Zoey was alone with him so he started to walk back to the stairs and then he stopped as he heard a voice he did not intend on hearing. It was that of Zane’s. He walked back to the doorway and peeked around the corner as he saw his brother standing close to Zane and then Zane touched his face and leaned in to kiss him. Cas covered his mouth and backed up, tears welling up in his eyes and pressing him even further in his madness. He lowered to the floor as his heart ached but he kept quiet as Zane and August came out of the kitchen laughing as they placed their white masks to their faces.

He stood up, pressing his back against the wall and then ran into the kitchen and grabbed a knife from the cabinet. He pulled the locket and shove
d the tip of the knife into it. As he tried to pry it open, it slipped and sliced his finger. He hissed and tried again as the blood smeared the cover and started to expose the etching even better to him. He stopped as he held it up and saw initials on it.

“M.B”

He then placed it back down and slipped the tip of the knife into the side of it and finally, as he grunted a bit, it popped open to him and he lifted it with a shaking hand as two names stared up at him.

“Cassius and Augustus”

He let his eyes move to the right and there it was, a picture of a woman, holding two babies in her arms. He leaned in and looked at her face and started to cry as he closed it and lifted it to his lips. He lowered to the floor and held the locket tightly in his hand until he suddenly felt the anger rising in him. He stood up with the locket tightly clenched in one hand and the knife in the other and ran from the kitchen.

****

I sat at the table and looked up at the lights as the drinks had definitely gone to my head. I turned to see a man approaching me and I nodded to him as he bowed. I rose as he took my hand and led me to the center of the garden. Once there he turned me and pulled me to him, I rested my head on his shoulder and listened to the strings playing in the open air. I grinned as I heard his voice.

“I think this is the perfect night
, Beth,” Ryan said and I took my head from his shoulder and looked at his eyes.

“It is
, Ryan,” I said as he grinned.

“I know that I have been,” he stopped as I tilted my head.

“Well, you know,” he said and I nodded.

“Me to
o.”

I rested my head back on his shoulder as Mani approached
, and just like a torch being handed off to a runner, Ryan handed me to him as easily as he had entered into my life so many years before. I will not lie and say that a part of me does not expect Ryan to say or do something but as Mani took my hand in his and Ryan stepped away, I felt a sense of calm come over me that I had never had in my life. If this was how it was supposed to be then I welcomed it, I truly did after all that had happened.

Mani pulled me close to him and I leaned in and felt his warmth. I closed my eyes as he swayed back and forth and then I lifted my head to look at him.

“I am grateful,” I said and he nodded.

“You are a beautiful wo
man,” he said to me and the words sounded so sincere.

“Is this a dream?
”

“Yes, to me it is,” Mani said as
I rested my head back on his shoulder and he swayed with me.

****

Ryan entered his room and took his mask off as he stared at his bed. He removed his cloak and tossed it to the bed. Running his hands through his hair, he walked to his bar to grab a much-needed drink. He noticed the time and pulled his phone, typing in “cancel” and then tossed it back to his bed as he jumped at the sound of a voice.

“Father.”

He turned to see Cas standing there in the shadows.

“Fucking hell
, Cas! What are you doing?”

“Oh!” he said as he snapped his
fingers. He turned and grabbed one of the black boxes from the bar and turned with it in his hand.

“I have a gift for you,
” Ryan said.

“I have one for you too
, Father.”

Cas lunged at him and stabbed him in the side as Ryan cried out and froze, holding onto his son.

“Cas,” Ryan said as he gasped for air. Cas jerked the knife out and stabbed him one more time as Ryan moaned and started to slump to the floor. Cas let him go and stood there, gripping the knife and tears rolling down his face. He then ran from the room and down the hallway.

Chapter Nineteen

A Dragon Rises