Page 27 of A Dove To Break

“So…” Brent says. “Mark…”

“Alania said you went to school together?” I ask.

“Yeah… He’s also bisexual…” Brent says, and both Raul and I start laughing. “Is that funny?”

“Please tell me you two are together,” I laugh.

“We are,” Brent says with a frown.

“That’s great,” I say. “Look. So… Mark was paired with Alania. He definitely fisted your sister yesterday.”

“Wait, really?” Brent asks.

“Hand to God,” I say.

“I love that for him,” Brent laughs. “Charles probably put him with her thinking it would be easier since he knows her and knows she would be supportive.”

“Is that why Charles is bending enough to keep Fredrico from getting to her?” Raul asks.

“Probably. He knows we are together and he supports Mark. He is trying to get Mark out of this, but it’s hard,” Brent says.

“Well,” I say. “Let’s focus on just getting her through school. If I see an opening to get her out, I’m taking it.”

“I talked to Charles a few hours ago. He is trying to find a way to speed up the education. I don’t know why they do the Hunt in the fucking winter anyhow.”

“To slow the girls down,” I say. “They aren’t allowed to wear anything.”

“That’s fucked,” he says with a frown.

“One of the girls, the one who was Fredrico’s submissive, almost died last night. The girls are pissed. Everyone is because he is still there. Maybe I could suggest a fast track. Crash course and do the tests. If they move up the Hunt, they can start another class sooner.”

“A week to prepare for the test, rather than a month,” Raul says. “All of the girls are more than capable of passing.”

“I’ll suggest it,” I say. “He’s afraid of me.”

“Everyone is, especially Dad. No one knows if your views align with your father’s or not. But he’s not willing to have you killed,” Brent says. “If you are like your dad… my dad knows he is fucked. No one wants you to try and take over because everyone will automatically follow you.”

“Do you want it?” I ask. “Honestly.”

“No,” Brent says.

“Then, let’s get Alania through the Hunt, and then we will start a war,” I say. “And Alania will be the queen.”

“A bratty queen. Just what The Society needs,” Brent laughs. “She has always been headstrong, and Dad fucking hated that he couldn’t break her… She told me once when she was probably ten and I was thirteen… She said she’d rule the world someday, and all the bad people in the world would pay. I guess she was right.”

“What about your mother?” I ask.

“She… Honestly, without him controlling her, she will need to be institutionalized. He’s destroyed her mentally.”

“I’ll make sure she is somewhere safe before I go after him then,” I promise. “Start visiting Alania. She speaks highly of you.”

“I’m planning to come tomorrow,” he says. “Don’t tell her I came here, please. It’s easier that she doesn’t know anything until after.”

“Especially considering one of the tests is to get fucked by all of the masters and training masters,” Raul laughs.

“God, I can’t wait to tease him about that,” Brent says, but pauses and looks down to think for a minute. “Is she happy?”

“Alania? I think so,” I say. “I’ve never been so enamored by someone so fast.”