Page 56 of Ruthless Legacy

I tilt her chin up, so she’s looking me in the eye. “I understand why you want to fight this. But consider this: your whole life you’ve believed one thing. The lies you were told were because of whatever happened in this town. This could be your chance to get some answers.”

“You sound like Van. She thinks I should play nice, too.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?” She eyes me like I’m talking gibberish. “Seriously. What is the worst thing that you think can happen?”

“I don’t know, because I don’t know anything about this whole society. Not just the secret part of it. I mean Canyon Falls in general.”

“Okay. Start there. Get answers about what any of it means.”

“From who?”

“From the only people who’ll probably tell you. Your boyfriends.”

She waves her hand at me. “Okay. Start talking.” Her eyes widen as she realizes what she said.

“I meant Finn and Holden.”

“I, um.”

She averts her gaze, and I stifle a laugh. I don’t want her to take it back. I haven’t wanted to label what we’re doing, but she’s mine. She has been since the night we met. But she’s also got a connection with Finn and Holden. She’s been clear about one partner not being enough. I guess the question is, can I share her with them all the time?

It’s one thing to be on the phone, or to chaperone when she’s drugged. But that was all passive participation. Can I do it? Be there, in the mix of it all? I need to figure that answer out, but one thing at a time.

The League of the Daggered Ravens doesn’t like to be refused, and I need Thea to make the safest decision, which means going along with what they want. She has nothing to bargain with to get out of it. I’m not sure how she got out of joining the guardian line unscathed. I’ve seen what they do to families they consider a problem.

“Just talk to The Trium. Ask them whatever questions you have, then decide how to proceed from there.” She wants to say no, so I press a little harder. “What’s it gonna hurt for you to do it?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want to.”

“Not even to make me happy?”

She turns the tables. “How about you do something to make me happy? Be a good boy for me for once.”

Okay, I’ll play this game. “I’m listening.”

“You cook dinner for me.”

“I’ve already done that.”

“Yes, but while we’re eating, I want you to tell me something about yourself.”

“You know everything there is to know, Thea.”

“Do I? Because you’ve never said how or why you know so much about The League, or why you hate the legacy families so much. I think that’s important to know, since you’re pushing me to be one.”

“Not pushing. I’m encouraging you to get all the information you can before saying no. You have a rare opportunity here. You didn’t grow up in this world, so there’s a lot of leeway.”

She presses for an answer. “That’s what I want. In exchange for talking to them, you talk to me.”

She doesn’t have to bargain for this. I’m happy to tell her what I can, within reason. “I can do that.”

Glancing over her shoulder, I call out, “If you’re done eavesdropping, Mr. Rhodes, please accompany Miss LaReaux back to the dorms.” Before she can protest, I say, “I’d do it myself, but my evening class is here.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I know. But I still don’t like the idea of you walking across campus at night, alone. Let him walk with you. Because I won’t be able to do my job if I’m worried about you.”

“Fine. But only because I don’t want you to do a crappy job and get fired.”

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