A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,74

to me since I accepted the position.”

“I’m sorry, man.”

“It is what it is. He was already pissed at me before anyway since I sided with Remy against the two of you and your bigotry.” He shakes his head and sighs.

“I didn’t mean to be such an asshole to her about everything. I was angry, because she’d lied for so long, hypocritical I know, but also because it put her in more danger. But trust me, these last few weeks have shown me that the shades of grey are more prominent than I ever thought. It’s hard to overcome hundreds of years of conditioning, even working with them with Archer, those prejudices are still rife, but they were working for us, for him. But I’m trying. I am.”

“Well, that’s something at least, I guess,” I say as my phone starts to buzz on the coffee table. Messages flooding in from Elijah, Dad, and Nate. Well today is going to be a fucking barrel of laughs.

“Dad and Nate are heading over. Prepare yourself, it’s not likely to be pretty. Though Dad is likely to forgive you easier than the others. He won’t talk to me or Remy, so maybe it’s a good thing.” I sigh, flicking my tongue bar against my teeth. Terrible habit, but I can’t seem to stop when I’m stressed. “Then Elijah, Danny, and the boys are coming over later. Maybe we can hurt Archer just enough that he focuses on us, rather than on trying to find Remy, or fuck with Fallon too much.”

“Whatever I can do to help.” He shrugs. “I’m going to go grab a shower and freshen up before everyone heads over. I’ve been in this shit for weeks.”

“It’s your home as much as it is mine.”

“Thank you, Colt. For not leaving me to rot,” he says softly as he stands.

“You’re family,” I tell him. Because that’s the long and short of it. My family is everything to me.

I’ve never been one to hide from confrontation, hell, I fucking revel in it.

But confronting my dad, after everything he said to me, the way he spoke about Remy. It might’ve taken me a minute to get over what my sister had hidden from us all, but considering everything between Fallon and I, well, I got on board pretty fucking fast. And if I have to hear my dad talk about my sister like that ever again, I’m likely to lay him the fuck out. Family or not.

He might be my dad, but my sister has been there for me, no matter what, through everything. Even at a cost to herself. She’s selfless to a fucking fault, and much as it hurt me when I found out that she hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me the hidden parts of herself, I got it.

I’ve been an asshole my entire existence, I’ve taken what I’ve wanted, done what I’ve wanted, and fuck the consequences. Except once all of this rolled around, I realized that I can’t be a dick any more. No matter how much it’s in my nature. I’m an Elder now, people are looking to me for guidance, for leadership, and for everything my sister has fought for, I need to step the fuck up.

Even Bauer is owning his fuck ups.

It’s time for me to own mine.

Which is exactly why I took this stupid fucking title. I’ve never wanted anything less in my life, but if this is what the guild wants, I can sacrifice for my people, the way my sister always has. It’s something to be schooled and have your ass handed to you by your little sister, let me tell you that.

So, because of all of this bullshit, I’m hiding in the garden while my dad and Nate talk to Bauer. I can hear them, if I want to, but I’m shutting it out. I can’t deal with anymore rage today. My hand still tremors a little if I let myself think about everything too deeply.

I pull the string of the bow back, the arrow lined up, holding my breath before letting the arrow fly towards the target at the other end of the yard, before nocking another. It’s not quite punching Archer in the face, but imaging his face on my target board is doing all sorts for my inner happy right now.

I just wish there was a way to get in touch with my sister. To see if she’s found Fallon, hell, to make sure she’s still alive, though if anyone