The Crowns Choice

❦ Chapter Thirty-Two: Atlas ❦

The room is buzzing with a strange mix of tension and excitement as we settle in for the evening. Kaius, Charlotte's twin brother, has taken a seat at the poker table with us, his presence adding a layer of ease to the group. Damon, though, is a different story. There's a wariness about him that none of us can ignore, especially since he's Charlotte's ex and Kaius's best friend. It's like he's trying to find his place among us, but we're not making it easy.

The cards are dealt, and I glance around the table, gauging the expressions of the others. Kaius is cool and collected, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he studies his hand. Damon, on the other hand, is more guarded, his eyes flicking from his cards to the rest of us. There's history here, and it's like we're all waiting to see how it'll unfold.

"So, what's the bet?" Sebastian asks, leaning back in his chair with a grin. He's always the one to keep things light, but even he seems a bit more cautious tonight.

"Let's keep it simple," Kaius suggests, his tone easygoing. "Just enough to keep things interesting."

We all nod in agreement, and the game begins. The chips clatter onto the table as we place our bets, the sound filling the silence. It's a small thing, but it feels like we're testing each other, seeing who will crack first.

Kaius is the first to speak up, his gaze fixed on Damon. "So, Damon, how's it feel to be back?" His voice is casual, but there's an undercurrent of something more—something only a brother could pick up on.

Damon shrugs, trying to play it cool. "It's different. A lot's changed since I was last here."

Oliver snorts, unable to hide his scepticism. "Yeah, no kidding. You walk in, and suddenly everything's different."

Damon gives a tight smile, clearly aware of the tension but choosing not to address it directly. "I'm just trying to find my place, same as the rest of you."

"Good luck with that," Sebastian mutters, but there's no real malice in his words. It's more like he's testing Damon, seeing how he'll react.

The game continues, and we fall into a rhythm. The banter is light, the stakes low, but there's an unspoken challenge in the air. We're all trying to figure out where we stand now that Damon's back in the picture.

Kaius is surprisingly good at the game, his poker face solid as he bluffs his way through a few hands. He's the kind of guy who doesn't give much away, and it's clear that he and Charlotte share that trait. I can see why Damon's his best friend; there's a loyalty in Kaius that's hard to miss.

As the game goes on, I can't help but keep an eye on Damon. He's good—too good, almost like he's used to playing with higher stakes. I wonder how much of this is about the game and how much is about proving something to the rest of us.

"So, Atlas," Kaius says, breaking into my thoughts. "You and Charlotte seem close. How'd that happen?"

I glance up, meeting his gaze. There's no hostility there, just curiosity, but I can tell he's protective of his sister. "We just clicked, I guess. She's easy to talk to."

Kaius nods, but Damon's the one who speaks up. "Charlotte's always been easy to talk to. That's one of the things that made her stand out."

The room goes quiet for a moment, the weight of Damon's words hanging in the air. It's like he's reminding us that he knows Charlotte in ways we can't begin to understand, but Kaius quickly steps in.

"She's got a way of making everyone feel like they're the most important person in the room," Kaius adds, his tone light. "But don't let that fool you. She's got a mind like a steel trap."

Oliver laughs, the tension easing a bit. "Yeah, we've noticed. She doesn't let much slip."

Damon stays silent, his focus back on the game, but I can tell he's thinking about something—maybe about how much has changed since he was last part of Charlotte's life.

The game continues, with chips being won and lost in quick succession. Kaius and I exchange a few words here and there, the conversation easy and natural. He's good at keeping the mood light, even when things get tense.

Eventually, it's down to just a few of us, and the stakes are higher. Damon's still in, his gaze intense as he watches the table. Kaius is still cool as ever, and I'm holding my own, but I can't shake the feeling that there's more to this game than just winning or losing.

As the final hand is dealt, Damon glances up at Kaius. "So, what's it like being back here with Charlotte?"

Kaius doesn't miss a beat. "It's good. She's grown up a lot since we were kids, but she's still the same in a lot of ways. Stubborn, determined, and way too smart for her own good."

There's a flicker of something in Damon's eyes—maybe regret, maybe something else—but he doesn't say anything.

I take a chance, pushing the conversation in a different direction. "And how about you, Damon? What's your plan now that you're here?"

Damon shrugs, his eyes still on his cards. "Same as the rest of you, I guess. Try to figure out where I fit in all this."

Kaius raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but he doesn't press the issue. Instead, he lays down his cards with a grin. "Well, wherever you fit, just know that I'm not going easy on you in this game."

We all laugh, the tension breaking as the final round plays out. In the end, Kaius takes the pot, his grin wide as he sweeps up the chips.

"Well played," Damon says, his tone grudgingly respectful.

Kaius just shrugs. "It's all in good fun. But next time, I expect you all to bring your A-game."

The night winds down after that, the conversation easier now that the game's over. There's still a lot unsaid between all of us, but for now, we're content to let things be. Damon's still a wildcard, but with Kaius here, it feels like we've got a better handle on things.

As we wrap up, I can't help but feel like tonight was a test—a way for all of us to figure out where we stand. And while we're not all on the same page yet, we're getting there. Slowly but surely, we're figuring out this strange new dynamic. And with Kaius by our side, I think we've got a fighting chance.