Vicious Prince (Royal Elite #5)(80)

“I-I’m g-going to k-kill you, Eduard,” Edric manages to get out past a clenched jaw.

His brother’s face pales at that. The realisation of what he’s done sets in. He knows, he just knows his fate at Edric’s hands will be worse than anything else that could be done to him.

“Edric…you believe this nonsense?” Eduard’s voice shakes. It literally shakes.

“Kill. You,” Edric mutters.

“I was abused too,” Eduard pleads, that tremor still there. “I-I…my first stepfather used to do things to me, Edric. Your father saved me. You think I want to be this way? You think I like it?”

“But you acted on it.” Ronan shakes him as if he’s a sack of potatoes. “Does being traumatised give you the right to traumatise others?”

“I’ll make you regret the day you were born.” Edric’s voice is clearer now, the drug’s effect barely noticeable. “I’ll shun you, break you until you choose to put a bullet in your head.”

“Edric…” Eduard’s voice catches. “You can’t do that. I’m your only brother.”

“I have no brother.”

That sets Eduard off.

His features contort, and with the blood, it looks as if someone smeared it all over his face and he’s now transforming into a monster.

Or rather, he’s revealing the monster that’s been inside him all along.

“If you want someone to blame, blame your pretty little child.” His gaze slides to Ronan and he grins. “You were the forbidden fruit I could never have because of that fucking Lars, so do you know what I did, my dear nephew?”

“Shut up,” Ronan commands while gritting his teeth.

“No, it’s truth time, so let’s do it.” He laughs, showing his bloodied mouth. “I’ve fantasised about your entire body, about your little hands and small penis. I jerked off to your picture more times than I could count, my lovely little nephew. So when I couldn’t have you, I found other little hands who resembled yours, and I made sure I could mark their skin. They didn’t bite and hit like you, so I did it for them. They cried, though — except for this one.” He motions at me but never takes his attention off Ronan. “I remember her — of course I do. She was one of the quiet ones, the ones who didn’t speak a word. I didn’t tarnish you, my little boy. Aren’t I a good uncle?”

“You fucking—”

Eduard cuts Ronan off. “If you want to blame someone, blame yourself. You’re the reason for all their trauma. If you had let me touch you, I wouldn’t have ruined other children. You’re to blame Ronan — only you. When you’re holding your beautiful fiancée, I want you to remember I came all over her cunt because I couldn’t have you.”

Ronan growls and drags Eduard to the cliff. I’m opening the door and running after him before I even realise it.

He holds his uncle by the collar on the edge. “Say goodbye, Eduard.”

“You’re going to kill me and then what?” Eduard laughs like an insane man out of a psych ward. “Can you live with the fact that you’re behind all those children’s misery?”

“Shut the fuck up,” Ronan roars.

“It’s you, my little nephew. It’s all because of you.”

“It’s not.” My voice is thick with emotions as I stop a small distance away, afraid of triggering Ronan if I get closer. “It’s not you, Ronan. It’s him. You’re not responsible for his choices and his actions. You’re the victim, he’s the assailant.”

Ronan breathes harshly, his chest rising and falling so fast I’m afraid something will happen to him.

“It’s not you,” I repeat, inching towards him.

My arm finds his and he lets me touch him. He doesn’t flinch or shove me away.

A warmth expands in my chest as I slowly stand beside him, my heart beating loud and fast.

Ronan’s fingers start to uncurl from around Eduard’s, and I release a slow breath. It’s not that I’m worried about that bastard; I just won’t allow Ronan to become a murderer because of him.

I’m good with becoming one, but Ronan can’t. He’s prim and proper and…light. He’s my light, and I won’t let any darkness wrench him away from me.

The door of the car opens, and Edric slowly pulls himself out.

The slight disturbance of the scene distracts me for a second too long.

It’s enough for everything to end.

It’s enough for my world to be flipped upside down.

“You know what? If I can’t have you, why should anyone?” Eduard throws his tied hands around Ronan’s neck from behind. “Till death do us part, my little nephew.”

And then he pulls Ronan with him over the cliff.





35





Edric





Being born with a title brings responsibilities.

I was raised to believe in two things. One, the Astor name. Two, not showing emotions in order to uphold the Astor name.

My life has been ruled by strict traditions and expectations. My father was considered a disgrace for marrying a commoner after my mother died.

I thought he was brave.

But I knew I wouldn’t be forgiven such a mistake. Two generations in row would kill the respect we’d gathered for years.