God of Ruin: A Dark College Romance (Legacy of Gods Book 4)

What. The. Fuck?

I’m going to kill this bastard. How dare he look at Bran—my fucking twin brother—like he’s his next bitch?

My. Fucking. Brother.

The Landon King’s identical twin.

Thank you for letting me into your world.”

“Thank you for being my world.”

“Thank you for helping me get my voice back.”

“Thank you for letting me hear it.”

“You won’t touch anyone but me.” Not a question, but a demand.

And yet he answers, “I won’t.”

My fear of the dark is a tale of missed opportunities and a different life whose ultimate development I’ll never know.

The reason she stopped her jealousy fits after the kidnapping wasn’t because of a screwed-up sense of sisterhood, it was because of guilt.

The way she insisted I tell her first if I remembered anything wasn’t because she wanted to be there for me. It was because she needed to warn Mrs. Pratt or shut me up if I ever decided to come forward.

The reason she was so jealous and disapproving of Landon wasn’t because she wanted to protect me like Nikolai does, it was because she was worried I was slipping between her fingers and confiding in someone else other than her.

Everything was lie after damn lie.

Please, Mia. Please don’t stop talking to me. I’m ready to do anything…”

“Give me back my voice for the last eleven years of my life.”

See, Maya was always jealous of you, Mia. You were the bright, smart twin who attracted everyone’s attention. Even your aunts and uncles preferred you over her. Before she transformed into this beautiful swan, she was the introverted twin who would spend time alone and only had you as company. Your teachers preferred you to her, despite you having the same level of intelligence. You were outgoing and kind. Always got flowers for your teachers and called them pretty. Always complimented their looks and smell and hugged them goodbye. Maya didn’t or more like she didn’t have the capacity to fake her emotions at the time. The more they treated you better than her, the deeper her grudge toward you grew. She didn’t show it, though, because she genuinely loves you.

“One day, she muttered under her breath, ‘I wish Mia would disappear even for a few days,’ so I made it happen, though a year later. See, I was more attuned to Maya’s emotions than your mom, who just focused on giving you equal attention and opportunities. I recognized that hidden jealousy in her and nurtured it well. After all, I was always treated as inferior to my more accomplished sister and could recognize it in others. So a year later, when I accidentally met Maya outside her school and asked her about the route, she willingly gave up the information. I couldn’t ask you, because you were much more suspicious and would’ve told your parents about it. Maya wouldn’t because, deep down, she always wanted you to disappear. For good.”

Brandon: How is everything? Did Lan cause trouble?

Define trouble, because if it means stomping all over my heart, then he did that with flying colors.

“I love you,” I sign before I can even think about it.

He stops at the threshold of the room, but it’s only for a second before he continues to the bathroom. “Let’s get you in a bath.”

My lips tremble, but I control the urge to scream and rage.

I knew Lan doesn’t subscribe to the notion of love, but still, it hurts to say the words and get nothing in return.

I wiggle out of his hold, so he puts me down and I face him. “Aren’t you going to say something? Anything?”

He pauses, seeming lost for words for the first time ever. “Do you want me to say it back?”

“Not if you don’t mean it.”

He looks at me with that frown again and it hits me then.

Landon is a blank page in the emotions department. He’s an emulator and a master adapter. None of the sentimental feelings are his own.

And I just demanded that he feel an emotion he absolutely can’t.

“Forget it,” I sign. “Those words were said in an emotion high and didn’t mean anything.

I go to the bathroom and close the door.

Then I slide to the floor and cover my face with my hands.

I always thought I’d be okay as long as Landon was a decent human being who didn’t just get off on violence and anarchy.

But now, I can only watch my heart bleed as I realize I want more.

I want the love he’ll never be able to give me

Besides, you just called me son, so I take that as you welcoming me into the family.”

“You wish.”