bChapter /bb117 /b

    ra’s POV

    I could barely believe what I was seeing

    Everyone spoke of Danton as the doting father, someone who adored his son, Andre. But the scene before me shattered that image. A loving bfather/bb? /bThen why was her brutalizing his own son in a dark alley?

    The guards stood frozen, doing nothing. They watched, unmoved, like this was

    is an everyday urrence. Their indifference made my stomach chum

    I watched Andre’s body tremble as he pleaded, his voice shaky, “Father…please, my leg it’s broken, Can you just let me off this once?

    Danton’s eyes glinted with malice, his voice cold and sharp. “You’re nothing but a dog, Andre. You do what I tell you,” he spat, his voice seething with disgust. “Get on your knees, bNOW/bb” /b

    Andre bit down on his lip, tears shimmering is his eyes, but his body slowly crumpled. The pain in his leg was so severe it made my own chest tighten. bHis /bbreathing was ragged, sweat dripping from his forehead as he struggled to kneel,

    “Good,” Danton’s voice came through, icy and detached. “I hear you got into trouble tonight. Who did you mess with?”

    Andre’s voice cracked “Alpha Thorne and… Gamma ra… but I was drunk, Father! I didn’t know who they were–I swear

    SLAPI

    The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the alley as Danton’s bhand /bbnded /bviolently against Andre’s cheek. His face immediately bloomed red and swollenb. /b

    “Lying bastard!” Danton screamed, his fingers digging into Andre’s cor. He jerked him forward, ring with venomb. /b“Did you think they could save you? Get you out of my control? Huh?”

    “No, Father!” Andre’s words were a desperate plea, his voice breaking. “I didn’t mean it–I swear it was an ident! I know who they are… they’re our enemies!”

    Another p, this onending with the same force on the other cheek.

    Danton’s voice was cruel and condescending as he looked down at Andre, his foot grinding into the dirt. “You should thank the stars byou’re /bstill alive. The King spared you, and I raised you. You’ll act the way I want. bGot /bt

    “Yes, Father.” Andre’s voice was small, broken.

    Danton chuckled darkly. “Good. Be a good boy. No one wants to be punished, right?” The words seemed to stike a nerve, making Andre flinch as though a hidden terror surged through him.

    “No, no punishment, Father. I’ll be good,” Andre mumbled quicklyb, /balmost too hastily.

    Danton smirked. “That’s more like it. As long as you follow my lead, you’ll livefortably. Now, I bhear /bbyou /bsigned up forbat lessons with a bprivate /btrainer. Why? Trying to be a warrior?” His voice dripped with scorn.

    Andre’s eyes shed with bfear/bb, /bbbut /bhe quickly suppressed it. “Just curiosity. Nothing serious”

    bDanton’s /bsneer deepened. “Worms like you don’t need to know how to fight. I’ve canceled bit /bfor you.”

    “Yes, Father.” Andre’s voice bwas /bbarely a whisper.

    “Go have fun at some parties. Drink, chase women–just don’t get in my way. There’s ba /bSpring Fling next bweek/bb. /bYou’ll be there, won’t byou/b?”

    “Yes, bFather/b.” Andre nodded quietly, lowering his gaze.

    Danton seemed satisfied with the answer, snapping hli fingers to signal the guards “Take him to the hospitat I don’t want my son murning thos

    *bTes/bb, /bGeneral

    The car sped off into the night, leaving the alley in perle silence. I could still feel the alt heavy with Thome’s voice broke through my thoughts “can’t believe it. Danton really is a monster”

    brutality of what had bjust /bwitnessed.

    I shook my head, still processing. “How is this even possible? How did no one ever notice? My heart clenched for Andre. No one should have to live like

    that.

    Thorne’sugh was bitter, “He’s careful, knows how to hide the worst from prying eyes. But when it’s just the two of them, his true naturees out.”

    I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Andre. When I first met him, I thought he was just a spoiled rich kid, but seeing him now all I could feel

    was sorrow,

    Danton’s son, living in that shadow, hiding behind a mask of affection while enduring hell behind closed doors. He was barely eighteen, yet he seemed to carry the weight of the world.

    “This could be our chance,” Thorne’s voice was low, calcting. “Now we know their rtionship isn’t as strong as it seems. We have to exploit that, get Andre on our side.”

    “We need to talk to him,” I agreed, determination rising in me.

    “Next week,” Thorne said, ncing at me. “Spring Fling. Andre will be there,”

    I didn’t waste ba /bbsecond/b, already pulling my phone out to dial Kimberly. She picked up immediately.

    “Kimberly, there’s a Spring Fling next week. Andre will be there. Can you get us on the guest list?”

    “Of course. You want to speak to him there?”

    “Yes. But we need to keep it low key. Last thing we need is Lance catching wind of us getting close to Danton’s son.”

    Kimberly’s voice bwas /blight, teasing “A masquerade ball, huh? Well, that’s perfect. No one will know who you are.”

    I smiledb, /balready feeling the n fall into ce. “Perfect.”

    The masquerade bwas /bon Monday. Every noble and officer in the city would be there. Including Andro. Kimberly would help us get gowns made in secret. No one–not even our maids bor /bguards–would know we were attending

    The night of the ball arrived, and I was ready.

    I bslid /binto my ck velvet gown, the fabric hugging my curves perfectly. The deep sweetheart neckline made sure my corbone was on full disy. A gold bmask/b, adorned with delicate ck feathers, covered half my face, leaving just enough to tease. My hair was twisted into an elegant updo, tendrils framing my face as I finished off the look with ck satin stiletto heels.

    I could feel eyes on me as I stepped into the venue, but I didn’t care. I was here for a reason.

    The crowd buzzed with chatter, all of us hidden behind bour /bmasks. It was difficult to find anyone in the sea of bodies. But then, I spotted him.

    Thorne wasing down the staircase, his presencemanding. His tuxedo fit him like a glove, entuating his muscr frame. His gare locked on me, and with one look, I knew he was headed straight toward me.

    “Hey,” His voice was like a low murmur, and bI /bsmiled back.

    I couldn’t resist teasing him. “How did you know it was me?b” /b

    His lips curled into a knowing smile. “I always know where you are. It’s my superpower”

    Just then. The orchestra yed, filing the air with a ssical tune, seting the rhythm for the dancers.

    Thome leaned in bclose /b“Look over there.

    I followed his gaze and spotted Andre, standing alone by the dancefloor, ss of champagne in hand.

    “Let’s go talk to bhim/b, Thome said,

    But I put my hand on his shoulder, halting him.

    “No, I’ve got this,” I said, my voice firm. “You watch my back.”

    I took a breath, adjusted my skirt, and made my way towards Andre. The game was on

    AD