Page 16 of Ruthless Legacy

“What is it?” She huffs.

The pant of air could be because she’s aggravated by my non-answer, or because I’ve upped the speed on the treadmill by another point five miles per hour.

“Why do you think I know?”

“Don’t fuck with me, Wolfe. I know you know. You know every. Fucking. Thing. And before you need to know me, or try to lie, I already know some students go to MISTIC, which is somehow connected to this guardian shit. Now talk, or the kiss you got will be the last one you ever get from me.”

For that threat, I up the speed another level. She’s running at an almost full out sprint. She can’t sass me if she can’t talk.

I walk over to the other side of the gym and lay out the gloves she’ll need for when her warm up is over. Ten minutes later, she drags over to where I’m standing, chest heaving. “You are such an asshole.”

“I know. Grab some water, and glove up, so we can work on your footwork.”

I have my pads strapped to my hands when she enters the ring.

“Are you really not gonna answer me?” She asks, as she pulls on her second glove.

“How about you tell me what you’ve heard, and I’ll say whether or not I’ve heard the same thing?”

She swings her arms, warming up her shoulders, then lifts her hands, settling into her fighting stance. She gives some test punches to the pads, and I circle around, making her move with me, watching her footwork.

“Why are you asking about MISTIC?” I infuse my voice with the question, so she doesn’t catch on that I already know the answer.

“Because I’m stuck in a never-ending battle with this town that wants to classify me assomethinginstead ofsomeone. They want to take away my identity as an intelligent woman who’s capable of making her own decisions.” She strikes out again.

“What happened? The Trium acting like idiots again?”

“Always, but this is about the broken wings society. Apparently, they’ve all voted and decided to change my designation from being a lowly legacy to a guardian, and I want to know what that means. Moira is the one who said guardians attend MISTIC and I know some of the students in Physical Enhancements class go there, but that’s all I know.”

“MISTIC stands for Military Science and Tactical Strategy Command Campus, and it’s an honor to get an offer to attend. They offer internships and work-study programs that give you the opportunity to network with some of the most influential families in the country. Depending on what tract you study, you’ll go into personal security for athletes, entertainers or government officials, or you can join the civil service corp or military and become an expert strategist, making military decisions that protect our country. With your fighting skills, and stab happy hands, you’ll do great there.” I cringe as my usual speech falls from my lips.

She jabs at my left hand and follows up with a cross to my right. “Why do you sound like a recruitment poster?”

“You asked about the program. I’m telling you what I know.”

She lowers her guard and says, “I don’t give a shit about strategy and influence, and don’t want the rah-rah spiel. I need real details, Wolfe. I heard a family found a way to get out of being a guardian, and since you train MISTIC students, I need you to tell me if you know who this family is, and get me an introduction so I can find out how to do the same thing.”

I blink at her answer. She doesn’t want to do it. “Thea, what I know is that if you’re on The League’s radar, you’re either a legacy or a guardian. If you’re neither of those things, you’re labeled as unaligned. You won’t get any of the opportunities the other students will. Job recommendations from teachers and counselors, forget about it. You’ll tank your ranking at school.”

“There are plenty of students who have nothing to do with any of that.”

“True. There are some who don’t want it and don’t need it. Like your pal Austin. His family name comes with its own recognition and power. But for most families in town and the students who go to this school, they want to be affiliated with The League in any way they can. They fight for the right. They’re always trying to earn it. That’s what all the stupid ass challenges on campus are about. It’s a way to rack up points and get noticed by The League and legacy families.”

She gives me another combo and ducks my hand when I swing at her. “I want to graduate and travel and discover missing civilizations. I wanna get my name in the paper for great finds and returning lost pieces of history to the correct families and societies. I wanna be Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, and Benjamin Franklin Gates, not military barbie or trophy wife barbie.”

“Thea, if you turn down this opportunity, your life here would be miserable. You’d be alone.”

She drops her hands and stares up at me. “Why? Are you gonna to turn your back on me? Am I only friendship material because I was almost a legacy?”

“You know I don’t care about any of that shit.”

“Me either. And I don’t care about staying here beyond graduation.”

I swallow. She’s been consistent about this. She’s only here to get her degree, then she’s leaving.

“With all the traveling you do, I’m sure you have a passport, right?”

“Ri-ght.”

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