19

Anatoli
I’m at Raventhorn Hall, the headquarters of the Knights. It is situated on the grounds of Raventhorn University.
This is the place where the Ritual of Initiation is conducted. Here you take the oath, pledging your life to the Knights to live and die by the vows you make.
I walk into the ritual hall making my way down the path where Aleksander Ivanov stands at the head.
When I gave him my report last night his one request was for me to do this-take the oath again in front of him and the Knights’ council.
That report included the truth about my father. As I am going to be Aleksander’s second in command, Leif thought it wise to tell him and I agreed. I need this man to trust me, so I will tell him all the things I feel he needs to know about me.
Aleksander is standing between the stone statue of Raventhorn and the Fountain ofPromises, symbolic of the river the Viking Knights used centuries ago for rituals like this.
Around Aleksander are the twenty four members of the Knights’ council. Leif is one of them. He is judge number eight. With the changes in the structure, he assumed the role at the same time my father got the Sovietnik position in the Bratva.
Next to Leif are my brothers who stare at me the same way they did yesterday, with curiosity and an air of trepidation.
Everyone, myself included, is wearing the Knights’ tunic.
The last time I was dressed like this was years ago when I’d gone through the same ceremony. Except mine was conducted under the old pagan ways at the Knights’ temple in Uppsala, Sweden.
Although this hall is underground, the reverence is the same as at the temple and the same emblems bind them together. The main one being the Raventhorn Crest which is high above me on the center of the ceiling. It has two blue ravens on either side of a shield and the letter R engraved in the middle, along with a golden fleur-de-lis banding the ravens together. Around the crest are black carvings of the Elder Futhark runes, paired with their Greek counterparts: Alpha, Zeta, Sigma, and Omega. Those represent the four factions of the Knights.
I, like my brothers, am a Sigma. They are tasked with the first order of knighthood, which is protection and defense against enemies.
As I continue my procession toward Aleksander, all eyes are on me-the man no one knew about who could overthrow everything if he wanted to. Because of my rune.
The law of Odin’s Rune exist to show that things can change. Something can come along to challenge the life you know, the riches you hold, and the world you think you’ve built. It’s like having a reset button.
The tension coming from those wondering what my intentions are is so thick it could choke me.
I cut Mikhail a glance as I walk by. The scent of his thirst for vengeance is like acid in the air and I wonder what stolen opportunity he hates me for the most. The legacy I seized from him or the woman I took.
Both losses must be eating him alive in equal parts. I know I’ll be enjoying both ventures. Especially the woman.
Avrora Galitze has plagued my mind from the moment she walked into the dining room this morning. With her perfumed hair damp, face free of makeup, and her helplessness hanging on her sleeve, I found her even more beautiful than she already is.
It’s nearly nine at night and I’m still thinking of what those pillowy lips would feel like around my cock.
All day, my fucking cock has stirred at the memory of how she looked when I taunted her.
I knew from the moment I left the house that this attraction between us-which I know she’s acknowledged too-is going to be a problem for us.
A problem I shouldn’t concerned about, along with her declaration that she’s been with Mikhailmanytimes. Surprisingly, that irritated the fuck out of me, but it’s something I need to shove out of my mind. I’m too old to be thinking with my dick. Everything I’ve done so far is the art of war at its finest. Many years have been put into my plan and no part of it must fail.
When I reach the Fountain of Promises, Aleksander and I bow to each other respectfully. He takes the ceremonial blade and holds it out to me.
“Anatoli Callum Scarfoni, do you swear your life and allegiance to our cause?” Aleksander keeps his gaze fixed on me as if he’s trying to see into my mind.
“I do.” I raise my right hand and pledge.
“Then please take the oath.”
“Luramentum est vita nostra et mors nostra,” I say in Latin, which translates to: The oath is our life and our death.
Aleksander dips his head but he still eyes me with scrutiny. Although taking the oath before him tells him I pledge to him as my leader, I’m aware he doesn’t like the idea of me. He doesn’t know me and he’s just as threatened by my presence as everyone else. When he chose my father for this role, he knew he was choosing the Scarfoni line. In our family, roles like this are inherited from father to son or brother to brother. It was an act signed in blood that can’t be relinquished now no matter how he feels.
“Give me your hand.”
I hold out my hand and he slices a thin line across my palm. Blood trickles from the wound and drops into the fountain, renewing my vow to the Knights.
When I took this oath before I decided it was one I would live by because it was the anchor to my past, present and future. As I take the oath now I consciously make the decision to do the same thing.
It’s what my mother would have wanted, so my oath is for her. She came from a family who would always be servants. Becoming a Knight is something that would have made her proud.
Growing up she was always telling me stories about the old Viking Knights who were led by Raventhorn, the leader who started all this when he and his men worked for Vladimir the Great as secret assassins.
“We as a brotherhood accept your pledge and the service of your life for our cause.” Aleksander bows his head again and I do the same. When he rises, he looks at everyone else. “You may all go.”
All except me. He wants me to stay behind and speak with him. Talking to me in this sacred hall is like binding me again. Everything I say will be held as part of the oath.
The men bow and leave, but the tension is still here.
Aleksander continues to keep his face stern and gaze unwavering until
we’re alone.
At fifty-one years old he’s considered to be one of the younger leaders in the alliance, but there’s a natural ruthlessness in his eyes that makes him look much older.
He glances at my rune, then flicks his gaze back to mine. “What are your real intentions here?” The question in words and tone cuts to the chase.
“They are what you see.” That’s the actual truth, no matter what my other plans are.
“You took the oath in front of me and you’re going to be my second-in-command. That means you don’t bullshit me.”
“I’m not.”
“Then answer me this: how will you fulfill your role if you are at sea for most of the year?”
I knew I’d get asked about that at some point, but I’m not worried about my duties to the Knights. The benefits of me being away outweigh my presence here.
“You won’t have to worry about that. I will be here whenever you need me. While I’m away, whoever I chose as Obshchak will act on my behalf. My work on the ships is integral and ensures business runs smoothly for clients like you who use our company.”
That should shut his question down. He knows what I do on the ships and the benefit it will be if I continue my responsibilities.
“Alright, that is acceptable for the moment, but I request a review of this arrangement in a few months when you go back to sea.”
“Of course.”
“And what of the Galitze girl? Do you still intend to adhere to the marriage contract and take her as your wife? Although the wording of the contract pertains to you as the eldest Scarfoni son, that contract was made with Mikhail in mind. Given that I have the power to dissolve it.”
I was aware of his powers, I just never thought he would offer it. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change anything. “No, I intend to adhere to the contract and continue everything as originally planned.”
A touch of suspicion invades his expression. “Are you sure? It would be far more suitable for a Knight of your status to marry someone with a lineage from the Knights. There are plenty of women to choose from with better family businesses to align yourself with.”
“I am sure. I’m satisfied with the one I have.” I sound convincing to my own ears.
“Then I accept your decision. Welcome, Anatoli, son of Evgeni, descendant of Myrridin.” He puts out his hand to shake mine.
I shake it but I sense he’s still in two minds about me. “Thank you.”
“I’ll see you in a few weeks for Bratva inauguration.”
“Indeed.”
With another dip of my head I leave and find Leif waiting for me in the hallway. We’re in the corner so we have privacy to talk.
“How did it go?”
“As good as it can be. He suspects me.”
“Of course he does, but he’s not someone you have to worry about.”
“No.” We took measures to keep what we know about Uther’s crimes under wraps. There’s no way of Aleksander finding out what he’s done and trying to incriminate me for blackmail.
“Alright my boy.” Leif smiles and rests a hand on my shoulder. “Tomorrow is another big day. I will see you then.”
Tomorrow I get Scarfoni Inc. and everything my father owns with the Scarfoni name attached to it. “See you then, Uncle.”
With another smile, he pats my shoulder and walks in the opposite direction.
I turn to go but stop when I feel eyes on me.
I look up and find myself staring at Zakh on the third floor balcony, watching me. I can’t quite see his face properly, but from what I can tell he’s assessing me.
A good couple of seconds pass with us just staring at each other and I don’t know what to make of it. Whether it’s good or bad.
He breaks eye contact first and walks away.
As weird as that was, he’s the first of my brothers to have any interaction with me.
I guess I’ll find out what his assessment is soon enough.