Chapter 231 — A Family Divided

Chapter 231: Chapter 231 — A Family Divided

~ Raven ~

Celeste’s question drew another round of curious looks from the students nearby, but Alaric seemed more irritated by the confrontation than concerned about the growing audience.

"I’m not defending anyone," he replied, looking directly at his sister. "I’m telling you to stop making a spectacle of yourself."

"A spectacle?" Celeste gave an incredulous laugh. "She’s standing here mocking our family, and you’re telling me I’m the problem?"

"She’s trying to leave, Celeste. Let her."

Raven looked at him more carefully.

He sounded genuinely irritated that he needed to explain something so obvious, which was rather rich coming from him.

"Actually, I’d be quite happy to leave if everyone could stop discussing me for five seconds," Raven interrupted, adjusting the strap of her bag.

Alaric glanced toward her, and for a moment, Raven thought he might say something.

Instead, he looked away.

That was even stranger.

Celeste, however, was nowhere near finished.

"You know what she’s done to this family," she continued, her face growing red with anger. "You know how much she’s embarrassed us, and now you’re standing here taking her side?"

Alaric’s expression hardened.

"Watch what you’re saying."

"Why?" Celeste demanded. "Are we suddenly not allowed to talk about Raven Rivers either?"

Alaric stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"Because you don’t understand what you’re doing."

The warning seemed to catch Celeste off guard, and Raven noticed something unusual about Alaric’s expression.

He looked genuinely troubled.

That was strange enough to make her forget whatever she’d been planning to say.

Celeste stared at him for a moment before folding her arms.

"Then explain it. What exactly am I doing that’s so terrible?"

Alaric’s gaze moved briefly toward Raven, lingering on her for a moment before he looked back at his sister.

"This isn’t something I’m discussing here."

Celeste’s expression changed.

"So there is something you’re not telling me."

Before Alaric could respond, Kieran stepped forward.

"Hold on. What exactly is going on here?"

His brother turned toward him, clearly displeased by the interruption.

"Nothing you need to involve yourself in."

Kieran gave a humorless laugh.

"She’s our sister, Alaric. Of course I’m involved."

"Then perhaps you should tell her to stop provoking unnecessary confrontations."

Raven watched the exchange with growing disbelief.

Had somebody replaced Alaric while she wasn’t looking?

Kieran seemed to be wondering the same thing, because he studied his brother for several seconds before speaking again.

"You’ve never cared about Celeste arguing with Rivers before. Why does it suddenly matter now?"

Alaric didn’t answer.

Kieran glanced toward Raven, then back at his brother, his expression becoming increasingly irritated.

"You know what? Forget about Rivers for a moment. I’m getting tired of this habit of yours."

Alaric frowned. "What habit?"

"Deciding what everyone in this family is allowed to know."

The accusation seemed to catch Alaric off guard.

Kieran stepped closer, gesturing toward Celeste.

"You tell her she doesn’t understand something, but you won’t explain what it is. Then when I ask you a question, you tell me it doesn’t concern me. Do you have any idea how irritating that is?"

"Kieran, I’m trying to prevent an unnecessary argument."

"And I’m telling you that you’re the one causing it!"

His voice rose sharply enough to attract more attention, and Raven noticed several students gathering near the covered walkway.

A few had already taken out their Linkslates.

Goddess, Bellringer was going to have a wonderful time with this.

Alaric noticed the growing audience too, and his expression tightened.

"This conversation is over," he said firmly. "Both of you can return to your Wings."

Kieran stared at him before letting out a bitter laugh.

"Of course. Because Alaric Blackthorn has decided we’re finished talking, so that’s the end of it."

"Kieran."

"No, I’m serious." He stepped directly in front of his brother. "Have you ever considered that maybe we’re tired of being ordered around?"

Alaric’s patience was beginning to wear thin.

"What exactly is your problem?"

"My problem?" Kieran repeated incredulously. "Goddess, you really don’t see it, do you?"

Raven found herself watching him more carefully.

She’d seen the twins argue before, but usually Kieran complained for a while before eventually accepting whatever decision Alaric made.

This time, he seemed determined to challenge his brother.

"Father trusts you with everything," Kieran continued, his expression growing bitter. "Whenever there’s something important to discuss, he calls for you. Whenever the family has to make a decision, you’re the one whose opinion matters."

Alaric frowned.

"What does Father have to do with this?"

"Everything!"

Kieran spread his arms, looking at his brother as though he couldn’t believe the question.

"You’re the responsible one, the dependable heir who never makes mistakes. Meanwhile, I’m the reckless twin who needs someone to keep him under control."

Raven’s attention sharpened.

She remembered hearing similar things during her years at Blackthorn. Alpha Blackthorn had always treated Alaric as the more dependable of his sons, while Kieran was constantly reminded to follow his brother’s example.

At the time, she’d assumed Kieran didn’t care much about those comparisons.

Judging by his expression now, she’d been wrong.

"Father expects more from me because I take my responsibilities seriously," Alaric replied.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed.

"And I don’t?"

Alaric exhaled sharply, visibly struggling to keep his patience.

"If you have a problem with Father’s decisions, then take it up with him. Don’t turn a disagreement about Celeste into something else."

"That’s the problem, Alaric. You think everything is a small disagreement you can settle by telling people what to do."

Kieran shook his head, his voice becoming colder.

"I don’t need you making decisions for me, and I certainly don’t need you deciding what I’m allowed to know about my own family."

For several seconds, Alaric simply stared at him.

Then he glanced toward the surrounding students.

"Whatever problems you have with me, we can discuss them privately. This isn’t the place."

Kieran followed his gaze and gave a bitter smile.

"Now you’re worried about embarrassing the family?"

"Someone has to be."

The response was immediate, and Raven saw the way Kieran’s expression changed.

That had clearly struck a nerve.

Celeste quickly stepped between them, although she looked more upset than interested in calming the situation.

"Can we please remember why this started?" she demanded, turning toward Alaric. "You humiliated me in front of everyone because of Raven. She’s the one who caused all those problems with the mate scandal, and now you’re treating her like someone we should protect."

Raven sighed.

For Goddess’s sake, was there any possible way to have a conversation with these people without somebody bringing up the mate bonds?

"Look," she interrupted, drawing their attention, "whatever problem you three are having, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t involve me. I haven’t asked Alaric to defend me, and I don’t need him doing it either."

She looked toward Celeste, who was still glaring at her.

"I was perfectly capable of handling our conversation myself."

Kieran gave a short laugh, although there was little amusement in it.

"She’s right about one thing. Rivers doesn’t need your protection, and Celeste certainly doesn’t deserve to be humiliated because you’ve suddenly decided to play the reasonable brother."

Alaric turned sharply toward him.

"I’m not humiliating Celeste."

"Then stop speaking to her like she’s some disobedient servant."

Alaric’s expression darkened.

"Careful, Kieran."

His brother laughed again.

"See? There it is. The moment someone disagrees with you, you start issuing warnings."

Raven felt the tension between them changing.

Kieran had moved closer to Celeste, placing himself firmly beside her, and there was something unmistakably challenging about the way he faced Alaric.

Even the nearby students seemed to notice.

The excited whispers gradually quieted as everyone watched the brothers.

Alaric drew a slow breath.

"I’m giving you one last chance to stop this."

Kieran’s eyes narrowed.

"Or what?"

Alaric didn’t answer, and Raven noticed that he was having considerably more difficulty maintaining his usual composure.

She’d seen the Blackthorn twins angry before, usually at her, but she’d never witnessed them turn on each other quite like this.

It was almost difficult to believe they were the same brothers who’d once stood together in the Blackthorn banquet hall, perfectly united in their determination to reject her.

Now they couldn’t seem to agree on anything.

"Move aside, Kieran," Alaric instructed.

Kieran brother didn’t budge.

Celeste glanced nervously between them, but Kieran had already taken another step forward.

"I’m not going to stand here and let you treat her like this just because you’ve suddenly developed some strange concern for Raven Rivers."

"Kieran, don’t test me."

The warning only seemed to make him angrier.

"That’s the problem with you, Alaric. You think everyone in this family has to obey you simply because Father always puts you in charge."

The words landed harder than Raven expected.

Alaric’s expression changed, and for a moment, she thought he might finally lose his temper.

But Kieran wasn’t finished.

"You can give orders to whoever you want, and you can keep whatever secrets you think make you so important. But I’m done following your decisions without questioning them."

He moved directly between Alaric and Celeste, his eyes beginning to glow amber.

Alaric stepped toward him.

"Kieran."

"No." His brother held his ground, staring directly into his eyes. "If you want to silence her, you’ll have to go through me first."