“Coercion,” Landon supplies. I’m surprised he’s willing to tell me.
“Right. What I don’t understand is why you insist on using this power of coercion when people are willing to fall at your feet without it.” My eyes narrow in on his. “Unless theyaren’twilling, and you have that deceptive little gift turned on constantly.”
Landon scoffs, giving me a look that tells me he thinks I’m an idiot. “I don’t have tomakepeople like me, Nathaniel. I’m hot, and I’m kind. What more could they want?”
He is so incredibly full of himself that I can’t even comprehend it. Who justsaysthey’re hot? Ridiculous.
“So then tell me,” I insist. “Why do you feel the need to force people into making your tea when you could just ask?”
Landon looks… genuinely confused. “Why wouldn’t I ensure things are done the right way? I’m not hurting anyone.”
“But youare. You’re taking away their free will.”
He eyes me for a moment before his gaze falls to the floor contemplatively. Don’t tell me this man genuinely didn’t understand what he was doing.
“Interesting take,” he mumbles, his brows furrowed as he thinks it over.
“How come you didn’t use coercion on Julian?” I ask.
The question has been bugging me since I saw them in the foyer that day. Landon could very wellmakeJulian love him, yet he doesn’t.
Landon looks at me like I’m crazy. “What?Why in the world would I do that and spend the rest of my life knowing he’s a hostage? That our love is a farce?”
“So it’s because it’d be fake, not because it’s wrong,” I push, and Landon rolls his eyes again.
“Andit’s obviously wrong. Jesus, what is this? A test of my moral compass?”
It kind of is. I already know what I believe and what needs to happen here, but I can’t help but question him. I have a desire to learn Landon, even as I know I’ll be feeding the B109 to him very soon.
The moment he tried to use his coercion on me, the moment hesucceededin using it on me, his fate was set.
“Does it hurt?” I find myself asking. “That he doesn’t love you, I mean.”
“Pardon?” Landon’s eyes form slits as he glares at me, dropping his hands to his sides.
“Are you upset that he wants Atlas, who is completely different than you? Are you in pain?” I’m not surewhyI’m asking him these things; I just feel like I need to know.
“You’re crossing a line,” he tells me, and I can see the anger building inside of him from the way his jaw is clenching.
He doesn’t want to talk about it. Unfortunately for him, I do.
“It makes me curious because outwardly you seem perfectly fine, but back at Chastain Castle, you looked so upset,” I add, and Landon takes a step closer, his shoulders squaring.
“Nathaniel, I do not want to talk about this,” he says sternly.
And yeah, I don’t particularly likeNathanielcoming out of his mouth. Nate was just fine.
“Do you miss him? Do you wish he’d love you and not—”
Landon is across the room within a singular second, his hand reared back to slap me. I grab his wrist before he can, tugging him between my knees as I stare up at him, calm and composed.
“Stop,” he pushes out, panting heavily. And still, I sense no traces of sadness in his eyes. Only rage.
“I don’t take orders from those below me,” I say.
“Below you? You’re a fucking cook, Nathaniel. My net worth trumps yours tenfold.”
“I wasn’t talking about net worth, little Lanny. As a human being, I am simply better than you.” Saying it does feel kind of mean, but it’s true.I’mnot a manipulator.
