Page 72 of Ruthless Legacy

Finally, my grandfather takes the podium. His eyes gleam as he takes in the room and tells everyone how proud he is of the work they’ve been doing. How strong the financials are projected to be at the end of the first quarter. Then he adjourns the meeting and everyone breaks off for drinks and socializing. He motions for me and my friends to follow him to another room. “Close the door.”

I’m the last to enter, so I shut it behind me. He asks, “Did you enjoy the meeting?”

Finn says, “Very much, sir. We’re happy to have been invited to sit in on it.”

“I think it’s important for our prospects to get a feel of all that goes into running our organization. It’s not always formal call outs in The Tomb or inner chamber.”

My grandfather fixes a drink, then he looks at me. “There is one other matter we need to discuss, and I thought it best to do it off the record.”

This is it. All my secrets are catching up to me. I brace myself for what’s coming.

“This is the first time we’ve faced this situation, and the high council recognizes how delicate it is. We’ll be making an official announcement in the coming weeks, but I thought it prudent to inform you of it ahead of time.”

He pauses to sip his bourbon. I can’t tell if it’s for dramatic effect or because he’s really struggling with the decision and needs the courage to oust me. I swallow, wetting my throat so I can speak clearly when it comes time to admit to what I’ve done.

“We’ve been discussing this for some time within our ranks, and have taken everyone’s thoughts and opinions of the matter into consideration. The motion has passed with a majority vote. We will now allow women to initiate into The League of the Daggered Ravens.”

I choke on my spit. Thankfully, Holden can still breathe. He says, “Female initiates? That’s unexpected news.”

My grandfather smirks at him. “Indeed, and I understand that there are many people who will be unhappy about the change. We wanted to announce it over the summer, but the issues with last year’s prospects prevented us from putting it to a vote. And then there was the matter of Miss LaReaux’s identity to sort out. It took seven months, but now that it’s finally cleared up, and we have a path forward, we can announce and start a new initiation class.”

“Seven months? I thought we only learned of her identity at Thanksgiving,” Finn says with a frown.

“I understand your confusion about the timeline. It seems a member of the validation committee was first alerted of her existence, around the same time the Hughes’ began making arrangements for her to come here. We still have quite a few details to work out about why they withheld that information, but that’s not for you to worry about. Her family’s status is confirmed. Everything else is just for our records and understanding.”

I keep my attention on my grandfather, because if I look at my friends, I’m going to see them trying not to lose their shit. I still held out hope that I was on the right side of this, but my grandfather’s words just snatched it away.

My father played me. It’s one thing to be kept in the dark because I haven’t earned the right to know all the details. It’s like my grandfather said. Some things aren’t for us to worry about, but Thea’s family relationship was called into question before she came to town by the validation committee. She wasn’t some deep dark secret The League didn’t know about. There was an investigation already under way.

My father set me up to do a job and pretended it was to protect The League. The organization I’ve pledged my life and loyalty to. I did it without question. I told myself she was guilty and a threat, and I let my personal opinion of her creep into everything. I stood by my decisions, even after my friends told me they thought there was more to the story. Once again, I’m hit with guilt because my inability, my unwillingness, to give her the benefit of the doubt led to her attack.

I know better than to blindly trust anyone, including my father, but I never asked why she had his attention or how he knew about her before she came to town.

My grandfather was still talking, and I missed everything he said, except, “I’m looking forward to seeing how miss LaReaux fares in her challenges.”

I blurt out, “You’re saying you wantherto pledge?”

* * *

Holden

I’m a jumble of nerves. The League invitations go out this week. After the meeting, Pax wanted to go to the gym to work off some tension. Finn and I spent hours brainstorming ideas, trying to figure out who other than Thea might be on that list. I finally asked my father if he knew anything and he forwarded a list of names for the students who attend Canyon Falls University. We spent the next hour analyzing the names and trying to determine who’d make it through the pre-selection process. We all agreed several people on the list should quit right away. Of course, Pax tossed Thea’s name in the discard pile.

Everyone is sworn to secrecy. They sign an NDA that begins the moment a preliminary accepts their invitation to start the process of joining The League. They’re forbidden to talk about The League. They can no longer be a part of spreading rumors and gossiping about The League of the Daggered Raven. Their relationships and alliances will change. We’ll be keeping an eye out for anyone breaking the rules.

Will Thea accept?

We’re all processing the news in our own way. Pax has been brooding, but Finn is happier than I’ve seen him in a long time. I don’t have much of an appetite. My brain is going through all the possible outcomes for the two decisions Thea can make.

I need to do something to settle my mind. I push away from the table. “Catch you guys later.”

I know Thea’s schedule. She’s already in class when I walk through the doors and take a seat. I ignore the looks I get from her professor and the other students. No one has the balls to say anything to me about not being enrolled in this class.

I follow her to the next class and do the same, and then to the library. I don’t talk to her. I don’t engage. I just sit behind her watching her. It’s a small thing, but following her reduces the chaos brewing inside me to a manageable level, and I’m finally able to go to my last class of the day.

I nearly collide with someone on my way back to Vale Tower. The person walking towards me steps to the right at the last possible moment. I recognize the TA from the philosophy department. He hangs out with a resident who lives on the third floor. He’s glued to his phone, but was aware enough of his surroundings not to run into me. I’m glad he was paying attention because I wasn’t. My head was literally in a book while I was walking. I step onto the elevator, putting it in private mode so I can ride to my floor in peace.

I glance over at Thea’s door before walking into my room. Her tape is still intact, which means she’s not back yet. I shower, then sit down at my computer, hoping it’s enough to distract me for a few more hours.

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