Page 59 of Devious Knight

I have to stay focused.

My mother didn’t sacrifice herself to save me only to have some guy mess up my future.

So I can’t allow him to destroy me.

Chapter Fourteen

Kade

“Sanguis sanguinis mei, caro carnis meae, cor cordis mei,” Aleksander speaks the binding Latin creed and raises his hands.

We all repeat the words. Our voices rise and touch each corner of the stony walls in the room.

I’m in the meeting hall at Raventhorn Hall again, surrounded by the other initiates. Tonight we were given our first assignment for the next phase of our training.

Aleksander starts talking about the plans for the rest of the month but I zone out like I knew I would. I’ve been doing it all night.

Actually all damn day, since the incident. My mind goes straight to the girl I now have under my thumb.

Isabelle shocked the hell out of me today.

I’ve never thought of her as weak. She’s one of the strong ones. I thought she could be fiery when she needs to be and chooses her battles well.

Today, though, that was something else. Something more than fire and rage.

Had she been a guy or even had Knights training, she would have kicked my ass from here to kingdom come.

When she rushed me at the café I really thought she was going to tear out my throat. If she'd had a knife she could have done it.

But Isabelle Kolyav is not a killer. She’s not me yet. And I don’t want her to be.

I know I more than deserved what she gave me. I won’t deny that.

What I did to her sculpture was truly fucked up but it was the only thing my twisted mind could think of to keep her at Raventhorn.

Then the poor doll fell right into my trap. Actually she all but tied herself up and jumped into the trap. Now I officially own her.

Things couldn't have worked out better if I'd planned them myself. No way would I have been able to get Aleksander Ivanov to make her my servant for the rest of the school year. It’s like being made to do community service, but more fucked up.

After I insisted on not pressing charges for the destruction of my bike, Aleksander told me he was going to put Isabelle in my service because he didn’t want her to walk scot-free.

I had no problem with that.

With Isabelle in place for phase two of my plan I can now focus on other things.

Aleksander has tasked the guys and I to work with Caspian and Thorne to capture three small-time criminals from the Armenian mafia who stole one of our weapons shipments. We’re supposed to find them, deal with them, and get back the shipment.

The moment I heard what Aleksander wanted us to do I thought I’d use the time we’ll be off campus as an excuse to further my advances with the Malina. The next guy on my list just happens to be in the shipping industry, so I can kill two birds with one stone.

Our stunt last week at the restaurant went down well, but it’s time to strike again. A little harder this time, with something that sends Nikoli a more powerful message.

When the meeting ends an hour later I catch Thorne looking at me from the high table.

I’ve been waiting for him to confront me about Isabelle all day.

Things blew out of my control today but I’ll deal with whatever he throws at me.

He marches toward me as soon as he finishes talking to Caspian and Aleksander. Building rage fills his eyes and I know he wants to fight me.

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