Page 170 of Ruthless Legacy

His gaze shifts to the wall again. “We weren’t invited. I just happened to be at The Tomb, because…”

“Because?”

He finally looks me in the eye. “Because I was tracking Vincent Malone, trying to get intel on his team’s next challenge. Once I realized where he was headed, I decided to have a look around. The challenge council was in chambers and everyone was in attendance.”

Finn points out, “Not everyone.” He flicks his finger between the two of us. “We weren’t there. And given what we know if in-chamber challenges, Vincent shouldn’t have been either. He’s only a second year.”

Pax nods. “I know. I’ve been trying to understand the reasoning myself. There were a lot of prospects that shouldn’t have been there, based on what we know about in-chamber challenges. But we obviously don’t know everything. This event had to have been invite only.”

I know he can’t tell us who was there. The secrecy of chambers is a big deal. But whatever happened that night was enough to make him suspicious. Why didn’t he say something? I answer the question for myself. Because to infer something negative about The League of the Daggered Raven is an act of disloyalty. “How bad was it?”

“Thea was on the verge of declining her challenge.”

Once again, I wonder if that’s what she wants to do. Say no, or sabotage her efforts, putting the responsibility of her dismissal on the council’s shoulders. “What was the challenge?”

He swallows before answering. “She had to stand in front of the room and get fucked in three holes while everyone watched. Or go through a beating, which would have dropped her to the bottom of the challenge board.”

“What did you do?” I can’t hide the accusation in my voice. Did he inflict pain on her? Is this stupid grievance he has with her still driving his actions?

His jaw clenches. “I let my mask and hood protect my identity from the rest of the room, and made sure she completed the challenge.”

Finn’s mouth gapes open. “You had sex with her? Knowing how she feels about you?”

Pax’s answer blows me away. “I made sure she knew it was me. Okay? And I didn’t have sex with her. Not really. I kept strictly to the wording on the paper. Penetration in three holes. I used my fingers where it counted and only took her mouth for a small part of the time.”

His eyes bounce between me and Finn. I can see the turmoil in them. “I understand if you’re pissed about this. About me not telling you. I tried to be respectful of how I handled it, and didn’t want to make things awkward for her if she didn’t want anyone else to know. But there was no way I was gonna stand there and let masked men do what-”

He clears his throat. “You’re my brothers. My Trium. You would have protected her, and since I was there, it was my job to stand in for you.”

Whatever lingering doubt I’ve had about Pax, and his commitment to our group, melts under his admission. He’s still with us. Finn looks up from his phone and says, “Uh guys, I think I know why Thea’s being targeted.”

Pax and I both ask, “Why?”

“My dad says look at Rule 308.”

Pax frowns. “What’s that?”

I shake my head. That can’t be what he meant. “308 is not a rule. It’s a special incentive.”

He arches a brow, and says, “Well, then Thea has been incentivized.” He passes me his phone. “She’s taking on extra challenges, andharderchallenges, trying to tally up enough points to skip ahead in her prospect period.”

Chapter68

Thea

Ifucking hate hospitals! I woke up an hour ago, and was told by the doctor how lucky I was that I came in when I did, because I was having an exaggerated reaction to the lorazepam in my system.

He wasn’t sure how much more depressed my respiratory system was gonna be, and of course my injuries were concerning, though not life threatening.

The doctor couldn’t tell me anything about who brought me in, and I didn’t get a look at the person. The good samaritan dropped me off at the ambulance bay. A paramedic loading his rig saw me and brought me inside. Nobody else saw anything.

I’m still a little groggy, but the best way to burn through the drugs in my system is to get moving. Plus, I need to get out of here. I’ve missed the deadline with my challenge item. Which, luckily, is still in my possession.

“Nem! Nem!”

I must be hearing things. There’s no way…

“Nem!”

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