Golden Crown Series 02: The Twin Dragons Read Online Free Page B

you as mortality creeps up. There is no amount of money that can change the number you carry, just the wrinkles you show.
    I set my glass down and looked at August who was busy eating his half raw meat on his plate. A bit of blood spotted his lip and it looked normal which is disheartening. I then looked to Cas who was always a bit tidier with his food.
    “How was your day? I asked, and it sounded as awkward as it felt.
    August stopped chewing and looked up at me as Cas grinned and set his utensils down.
    “What?” August asked me and I cleared my throat and said it l ouder as the table is too big just like the room. This house is not built for comfort and intimacy; it is built to make you cold and able to survive on your own.
    “Your day? How was your day?” I yelled and it echoed a bit as Ryan laughed under his breath and took a bite of food. I glanced at him and he chewed as he leaned back and waved his knife in the air.
    “Yes…tell us,” he added and I looked back to August who looked a bit disgusted, but Cas, who has always been more human to me, smiled and stared with enjoyment.
    “A g irl tried to kill herself today,” he said, and I swallowed and leaned forward to be sure I heard him correctly.
    “Suicide?” I asked and Cas nodded as he looked to Au gust. This is how it has always been. Cas would say something and then tag team his brother to continue on. I stared at August who sighed and set his fork and knife down as if he was being bothered to a certain degree. He wiped his lips with the white napkin and left the blood stain behind from his meat.
    “It was just terrifying,” h e said, as he looked disinterested.
    “What happened?” I asked and he leaned back and glanced at Ryan who said nothing as he continued to drink and eat.
    “She climbed up to the bell tower and jumped,” he said as if he was telling me the sun was shining in the sky.
    “And, ” I said and he smiled and shook his head.
    “Well, it was ridiculous. She got caught on a statue and then wiggled out of her bag strap and fell the rest of the way, her legs were all crooked.”
    “So gross,” Cas added and I glanced at him and then back to August.
    “Did you know her? ”
    “What?” August asked me and I stared at him and repeated myself even though I know he heard me.
    “Did you know her?” I said again.
    “Well, I mean I knew of her as much as anyone else does,” he said and Cas cleared his throat. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
    Cas looked down and I looked back to August.
    “Honesty is a character trait you should embrace.”
    “What a great way to call someone a liar,” he said to me.
    I stared at him and he grinned as he took a drink of his wine. Ryan always insisted the boys should have access to it as to stop them from doing it outside of the home. I remember laughing the day he said that when the boys turned sixteen and he appeared to be playing a Father to them for a second. Personally, I would rather them not. I have no idea how much of that is true as far as indulging a child in things like that at home. I would think it would make it that much easier for them to do it with their friends.
    “I was not calling you a liar. I just know when you are taking the long road on something.”
    “There is no long road, Mother,” he said to me and I picked up my glass and took another drink. I know he is lying just as Ryan lies and after so many years of hearing it, I can always tell.
    “ Perhaps I should start a club, it would certainly look good on my resume for college, maybe after fall break I will do it,” August said and I stared at him with the edge of the wine glass at my lips. I set it down and then pushed my plate back.
    “A club?” Cas asked him and August looked at him and smiled.
    “A suicide watch club.”
    “Oh, ” Cas said as he nodded and cut into his meat again.
    Ryan started to laugh and then it echoed in the room until he finally stood up and rose his glass into the air as a