Page 28 of The Misplaced Warrior

Liv didn’t have an answer for this. That was what was tripping Gen up all along. She didn’t have an answer for why her father, sister and the other Founders had elected Dwayne as the leader of the Rogue Riders when he seemed like such a bad guy. However, Gen had reasoned that just because he was unlikable, it didn’t mean that he was a bad leader.

“Just admit that you’re bitter that Sophia was fired from this position and it was given to me,” Dwayne said, his voice gloating.

Liv shook her head. “Sophia was happy to step down. She wants what is best for the Rogue Riders. I’m just not convinced that it’s you.”

This produced another round of chatter from the riders gathered around.

The vein on Dwayne’s forehead pulsed now. “It doesn’t matter what you think. It doesn’t even matter what the council thinks. It is the Founders who make the assignment and they put me in this role and therefore, I’m firing Gen from the Rogue Riders.”

“The thing is that you can’t,” Liv countered matter-of-factly.

“Of course I can!” Dwayne boomed.

“She hasn’t been convicted,” Emperor stated. “In this country and under the laws of all civil races, the accused is innocent until proven guilty. She can’t be fired for a crime she didn’t commit.”

“A crime that she may or may not have committed,” Dwayne corrected, his eyes flashing with anger. “And that’s fine. You are suspended from your duties as Rogue Rider until you’ve gone to court for this crime, Gen.”

“What duties, sir?” Gen dared to ask. “I have endless training hours and no assigned case in sight.”

“Well, your training is suspended until this matter is resolved,” Dwayne stated. “I can’t have you out there representing the Rogue Riders if you’re a felon.”

“I’m not,” Gen argued. “And that’s fine. I’m already done with classifying the three-thousand magical animals you assigned me.”

Surprised anger flared on his face. “That’s impossible.”

She shook her head. “Apparently, these nano-creatures that Bermuda Laurens introduced me to at MystTech Creations are each their own species, much like the magical birds she showed me. So in one afternoon I observed over fifteen hundred creatures.”

Liv slapped Gen on the back. “Hey, maybe this internship will prove to be a good thing after all.”

“Once we clear your name,” Emperor added.

“If you do,” Dwayne corrected. “And if you are found guilty, well, you’re fired. But that’s obvious since you’ll be serving a prison sentence in the House of Fourteen. It will be ironic that you’ll be confined to the place you brag about founding to govern magic.”

“She doesn’t brag,” Liv said at once. “Gen states the facts. And speaking of the House of Fourteen.” She turned to Gen. “In light of this matter, the council wants to speak to you about these charges and the strangeness of them.”

“They do?” Gen asked, surprised.

“What do you mean by strangeness?” Dwayne questioned.

Liv shrugged, casually. “They simply think that it’s odd that Gen has been accused of such a crime and want her testimony. There are many bizarre things happening in Los Angeles that are getting the council’s attention.”

“I suppose,” Dwayne muttered. “Well, then tomorrow we will attend a council meeting.”

Liv shook her head. “Oh, that’s okay. You stay here and do…well, whatever it is that you supposedly do. The council only wants to meet with Gen. They said, and I quote, ‘We don’t want her to feel inhibited by any authority figure trying to maintain an air of superiority by showing their dominance.’” Liv tapped her chin, pretending to think. “What do you think they mean by that? Or rather, who do you think?”

Dwayne’s eyes looked close to bulging with white-hot anger. “I’m certain that’s not what the council said. But regardless, Gen, report to the House of Fourteen and then you can return to doing nothing until you stand trial.”

“Oh, no, she won’t be doing nothing,” Liv said with an encouraging smile. “Gen is going to be clearing her name. Then she can finish up training and you can assign her a case as a Rogue Rider. Won’t that be great?”

“We will see…” Dwayne turned, stomping into the Rogue Rider Mansion, a threat exuding from his words. Gen simply couldn’t understand why he seemed to want her gone. He had assigned her to that internship. Could he be behind framing her for the crime? If he was, then she would find out, and she’d make him pay—big time.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

FEASTING ON CONCERNS

Gen’s Room, Rogue Rider Mansion, Beverly Hills, California, United States

That was apparently a night to take dinner away from the others. Gen didn’t know what Amanda meant when she said that she would Uber Eats her some food. However, she was grateful that this apparently meant she wouldn’t have to suffer the long loathing stares of the other Rogue Riders in the kitchen or dining room. When Amanda showed up to Gen’s room with a bag full of something that smelled delicious, she was even more grateful.

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