Page 56 of Dark Reign

I rarely allowed myself to think of how important my role was to the cause, for fear of venturing toward a place of arrogance or self-importance, but I was aware. The hard work my team and I dedicated our lives to had snowballed into an entire movement of humans finally taking back some of their power. And with Liv, Felix, O.C., Alex, Banks, Jonesy and Shay being selfless by nature, they only supported me being made the face of the operation.

So now, to think I’d be marred as a supporter of the Ianite way of life … I could hardly breathe.

“I need a minute,” I replied, struggling to hold in a rush of tears.

Elle seemed confused when I placed my hands on her shoulders and removed her from the room. I hightailed it into the bathroom next and shut the door behind me. Right after, my eyes flooded and there was no stopping it.

Had it not been for the faint static in my ear, I might’ve thought Felix had left me with how quiet he was. But then his voice returned, and the sound of it was even more comforting than before.

“… Cori?” he called faintly.

I couldn’t respond. Never in my life had I ever felt so powerless. My parents had managed to instill a sense of strength and hope in me, during a time when we humans had been made to feel weak and hopeless. I couldn’t understand how it all fell apart.

“You’re not in this alone,” Fe assured me, but … how could he say that? I wascompletelyalone here, on the verge of being marked as property. At the thought of it, I scoffed with disbelief.

“We’ll find a way to bring you home,” he promised. “But, in the meantime … I think your options are incredibly limited.”

With those words, my gaze lifted to the mirror above the sink. “What are you saying?” I asked, being mindful to keep my voice down. “I should just let this happen?”

“What I’m saying is that you’ve got two ways out of this. Either you let them mark you, which doesn’t change who you are, or how we feel about you. Or,” he went on, “You can protest this, make such a fuss that they say to hell with it and turn you over to the magistrates.”

My heart raced a mile a minute as I considered what Felix said, knowing he was completely right, but it didn’t make it easier to accept.

“Do this, Cori. Accept the mark, choose to live, and we’ll figure out a way to bring you home,” he repeated.

The idea of home made my heart ache, made me long to return to our elaborate bunker with no running water, shoddily rigged electricity, and limited resources. I’d choose that any day over … this. All the luxuries in the world meant nothing if you didn’t have your family.

“Tell everyone I love them,” I choked out.

“Don’t give up, Cori,” were Felix’s last words before I removed the com from my ear and tucked it inside my pocket when I stood.

My steps toward the bedroom door were slow, but when I opened it, I wasn’t surprised to find Elle parked right outside. She stood beside the guards tasked to watch me through the night, and apparently again into the morning.

She looked me over, her gaze lingering on mine as I imagined she took in the sight of my red-rimmed eyes and the same redness that spread across my nose and cheeks.

“You’ve been crying,” she stated with what nearly sounded like sympathy. “Is something wrong? Is there anything I can—”

Lifting my hand, I cut her off, ignoring her attempt at coddling. There was only one thing that mattered in this world I didn’t belong in now. These people didn’t care about my feelings or whatIwanted. All they cared about was that I bent to their will, abandoning my own.

So, as much as it pained me, that’s exactly what I did.

“Tell him I accept,” I answered, my voice strained. “I’ll … accept the mark.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Julian

Three men sat surrounding me, all staring at the large clock on the wall with the same stoic expression. The rhythmic ticking nearly drove me mad as we waited.

Silas and Roman were known to bridle their thoughts on occasion, but for Levi to have been silent was perhaps the most unnerving part about the entire process. They’d stuck around for moral support, knowing this morning would be a challenge. I couldn’t express how grateful I was for that.

There was little more than an hour before I was expected in my father’s office. Hence the reason this business had to be settled beforehand.

Two representatives from the magistrate’s office had come and gone. Their business interrupted Dr. Driskel’s examination, but the pair were anxious to do their work and leave. It was clear they believed their visit took precedence over Corina’s health exam, which came as no surprise.

Once they initiated the transaction, it didn’t take long. Within half an hour, the paperwork was complete, and it was all official according to Ianite law. There were legitimate court documents stating that Corina was mine.

The lie I told the night before was suddenly realized.

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