Page 136 of Ruthless Legacy

She’s right, there isn’t. “The families rotate who’s matched with whom. They trade up until they have the best, richest, mostpowerfulmatch. You’re a Wren. A first year prospect. That automatically puts you ahead of anyone who’s not.”

“Let’s not forget what they really think of me. I’m a troublemaker, noncompliant, a pain in the ass. I won’t make a good match for anyone with power, and I’m bottom of the barrel. Just ask the kids at The Trium table.”

“Those kids regurgitate what their parents say, and are misinformed. Your grandfather, Joshua, was only two years away from joining the lower council until Hailee and I made a fool of him.”

She nods when my mouth gapes open. I hadn’t realized that he was that close to a seat of power.

“And even Hailee’s uncle, her mom’s brother, holds a significant position within the league.”

“Wait, what? I didn’t even know mom had any other family. Why hasn’t anyone mentioned him before? Hasn’t he wanted to meet me? Do you think he knows where mom is?” I feel myself getting angry after those questions tumble out. They’re still keeping secrets from me.

“Relax, Thea. It’s not what you’re thinking. He’s expressed an interest in meeting you, but with everything going on with my father, he didn’t want to add to the conflict. His relationship with dad is strained and the league’s pulled him into questioning multiple times. They also want to know if he knows where Hailee is.”

I cross my arms and huff, “Right. League politics.”

“Now that you’re initiating, you’ll have access to him. Emmett Holt is one of the league historians. He works full time in the archives, and no, I’m afraid he hasn’t heard from Hailee. Trust me, I’ve asked.”

Scott said to go to the archives if I had questions. Maybe this is why he said that. Scott comes in, kisses Moira and goes to fix himself a drink. I ask him, “Do you have secret family members in The League, too?”

“No, and I wanted to keep it that way.” He deadpans, “Hashtag fail.”

I snicker at him, trying to sound cool. His lips twitch, then his phone rings, saving him from having to answer any more questions. He walks out, leaving me alone with Moira again.

“What else aren’t you telling me, Moira?”

Her shoulders tense. “I can’t say for certain, but if I had to speculate, I’d say your name is being entered into the companion matching pool. From what you’ve said about being approached on campus, it’s likely that a match is imminent. My father will push for it to be with a high-ranking legacy family, so the request will go up for review and rejection several times.”

“The matching. You’ve said before that it’s the reason you and Hailee schemed to get away. I understand if people hate who they’re stuck with, but if it’s temporary, how bad can it be?”

“The matches are temporary until the families decide to formalize the agreement. Roughly thirty percent of initial matches end in marriage. Those are usually the ones arranged when the kids are still in diapers by families who know there’s no room to go higher. That’s not the situation here. My father still has room to advance, and so do you. He’ll use that to his advantage, and won’t care how you feel about it.”

“Your dad is a power hungry cunt. Noted.” I stare at a spot on the wall, thinking through options. “How do I fight this?”

“Thea, fighting this is the reason we lost eighteen years with you, and it failed. You’re in the exact situation I didn’t want you in.”

I meet her eyes. “Fighting is what’s kept me safe and alive. On. My. Own. For thirteen of those eighteen years. No, it’s not easy, and no, it doesn’t always turn out the way I want. I’ve had tons of losses. But each time I considered it a win because I didn’t just accept what people said or did to me. You lost eighteen years, -and yes, I’m here now- but maybe think of it as a win, because for eighteen years I wasn’t being programmed or forced to conform to this life. I’m here now and I’m old enough to fight for myself. I have the tools to fight for myself. And because of some legal loophole that growing up in foster care afforded me, I’m not subject to Joshua’s whims. He can’t decide anything for me. I canchooseto fight for myself.”

Her mouth opens, then shuts. I watch her process through everything I’ve said. Finally, her shoulders relax, a small smile on her lips. “You sure you really want to hear this?”

“I’m sure I’m tired of being kept in the dark, and if part of this process means I’m matched with someone, then I want to do whatever I can to stack the deck in my favor the way I did with my mentor.”

She leans forward. “Keep your eyes and ears open on campus. The students will brag about who their parents are having cigars and drinks with. Which families have had dinners, or recently traveled together. Those are the families in preliminary negotiations. You do your research on the sons, the nephews, any males in your age group, and decide if they’re worth your time and effort. If they are, then you take steps to be friendly at school with them or their sisters, cousins, whichever family members you have access to.”

She laughs when I grimace. “Not overly eager. Just interesting enough that they take notice. Once they do, they’ll invite you places. I know you’re a loner, and it goes against what you want to do, but accept. It’s important that you’re seen interacting with them in public. Word will get back to my father, and he’ll do the rest.”

“Don’t waste my time and energy on busters. Got it.”

“I’m serious, Thea. You need to pick carefully. These men all know how to hide their vileness behind charming smiles and immaculate suits. They teach their sons to do the same. You have to watch for what they do and say when no one’s looking.”

I think back to what she told me about mom’s match stringing her along because he really wanted Moira, and the ick factor that gives me. “I’ll be careful.”

Chapter55

Pax

There’s a new slate of prospects to target on campus, but I’m focused on the older groups. Challenges were on hold while the new group went through Indoc, but that doesn’t mean I’ve grown complacent. I can’t say the same about anyone else.

I grab a spare mask and robe from the corridor and enter the inner chamber of The Tomb. I’m taken aback by the number of people here.

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