Not long after, Zayne reunited with Damien in his study.

"Are you expecting a child?" Zayne asked, assuming it to be the reason for the rush. "Am I going to be an uncle?"

"’She is not pregnant. I have not touched her in that manner," Damien replied, followed by a sip of rum.

"You have not? You said you would only marry a lady you could love, yet you are going slow with your wife. I think your siblings have finally pushed you to lose your mind. Is there some secret to why you married her?" Zayne inquired as he sat down. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"I got married because I wanted to. I am not going to address the private affairs of my marriage with you, so don’t pry. I might be kind to invite you over for dinner so you may meet her," Damien offered.

"Why does it feel like you have come to use me? I appreciate the visit, but what do you want? I am fully awake now," Zayne said, seeking the truth.

Damien smiled, his mischief showing in the small action. "There is a man whom the court recently arrested. He’s going to be there for a few months before he’s released. It would please me if his life were to be made hell while he is there."

"I see. You want me to speak to my uncle. Are you mad?" Zayne exclaimed, believing Damien wanted him dead. "If I approach him with a simple greeting, he would send me away. Having a warden for an uncle isn’t easy."

"I would enjoy it," said Damien.

"That is because you don’t fear him, and strangely, he has some liking of you. I won’t do it," Zayne said, thinking of his well-being. "There’s not enough money in this world that you can bribe me with."

"I’m not here to bribe you. I am here to ask a dear friend for a favour," Damien said, trying a kind approach.

"That’s not going to work on me. I avoid family dinners for a reason-"

"You avoid them because they ask that you get married," Damien spoke over Zayne.

"You don’t know what goes on inside my head," Zayne responded.

"You told me, you fool."

"Oh yes," Zayne said, the memory slowly coming back to him. "We do share far too much with each other. At least tell me what this man has done to you. Did he steal money from you? Did he trouble one of your siblings, or is he an old lover of your wife?"

"No. This is her uncle. He killed her father, tried to steal her childhood home, and arranged for her to marry a man who killed his first wife," Damien shared.

Zayne took a moment to process all that he was told. "He sounds deserving of a stab or two. Your wife’s family sounds awful. Did she get justice for it all?"

"I wouldn’t be coming to you for a favour if he were punished for all of it. They’ll only imprison him for forging a will, not for killing her father. I want him pushed to the point that he confesses to his crimes," said Damien.

"Why wasn’t he arrested for killing his brother? Was there no proof?"

"No, only her word against his, but the motive is evident. You know how the court is," said Damien.

"You believe her without doubt?" Zayne asked, the corners of his lips curving upward into a smile.

"He’s in debt and needs a way out. I believe he did it, and once you see him, you can tell he is haunted by his actions. Why are you smiling like a fool?" Damien asked, annoyed by Zayne’s expression.

"It’s heartwarming to see little Damien be so protective of his wife. Now, I must meet the lucky lady who added some warmth to your cold heart. I will speak to my uncle, but don’t have high expectations. Do not come with these requests again," Zayne said, unwilling to do it twice.

"The cells are already awful, so if this is a man who hasn’t been there before, he’ll lose his mind after the first day. Consider getting him stabbed as my wedding gift to you. I will ask that he be stabbed so that he won’t die from the wound. Does that please you?" Zayne asked, fishing for a compliment.

"It does. As soon as you have succeeded in getting your uncle to agree, you may come to the estate for dinner. When you meet my wife, I ask that you don’t speak of this to her. She isn’t all for the violence," Damien shared.

Zayne’s laughter filled the study. "She doesn’t like violence, yet she married the most violent man I know? That says a lot, given that I have an uncle for a warden. Did you lie to the poor woman about the kind of man you are? Now, I am starting to pity her."

"I didn’t lie. She knew very well what she was in for and decided to marry me. She needed protection, and there was no one better than me. If you get in her ear and spoil my name, I will bury you where your family can never find you," Damien threatened Zayne.

"You know I would never work against you. Though it is a surprise, I welcome the news that you have gotten married. It was long overdue for you to find a wife. Did your siblings welcome her?" Zayne asked, curious.

"No. My dear brother seems to have feelings for my wife," Damien revealed.

Zayne wasn’t the slightest bit surprised. "Well, that is quite like Kyle to be that way."

"I am speaking about Quinn," Damien corrected Zayne.

"Quinn? That’s a first. He usually keeps to himself and doesn’t step on your toes. Wait," Zayne said, a face coming to his mind. "Eloise? Are you speaking of the girl who used to run around your estate? The one we all liked."

"We?" Damien asked, annoyed that yet another man had eyes for his wife.

"Calm down. I didn’t like her as you did, and it has been years since I last saw her. I can’t like her now if I don’t know what she looks like. Brothers shouldn’t be at odds over a lady. Why don’t you find someone else to capture his attention?" Zayne suggested.

"Do I look like a matchmaker?"

"No, but it could help to mend your relationship with your brother. In time, Quinn is going to get over it. He might just be yearning for what you have, and then he’s going to lose interest. We all do it," Zayne confessed, lacking shame. "I bet he will move on sooner than you think."