Page 3 of Heartless Legacy

He huffs, “I can see you don’t believe me, so let me set the record straight. The League doesn’t give a shit about you. The only reason the high council even noticed your absence is because you didn’t complete your last challenge and didn’t show up for a mandatory meeting.”

He tuts at me. “You’ve been nothing but problems since they invited you to join. This latest stunt just gave the recruitment council the push we needed to wash our hands of you. We’ve already submitted the paperwork to declare you a cast off who’s forsaken your oath. If you’re ever mentioned again, it will be in the context of how you made a mockery of our traditions and repeatedly embarrassed the esteemed members of our brotherhood.”

“Who the hell did I supposedly embarrass this time?”

“There are consequences for turning your back on The League.” He says, ignoring my question. “I, of course, can smooth things over with the council and ensure you’re not punished.”

He wants something. “What do I have to do for you in return?”

“You simply have to agree to the rules and conditions I put in place for you.”

Rules. It’s alwaysrules. “And those rules would be?”

“For one, you immediately and formally withdraw your status as a Wren.”

“Can’t do it, sir. Therulessay I’m a Wren for life.”

“You’re still a first year prospect, only a few months out of indoctrination. I’m sure they’ll make allowances. Second, you’ll attend classes on etiquette and social graces. No more of this ruffian behavior. You’ll dress as I tell you, eat what I tell you. You’ll be the perfect legacy daughter.”

I’m not stupid. It can’t be as simple as me agreeing to these rules, and all is forgiven. My word wouldn’t be enough to ensure that I don’t run to avoid those horrible sounding etiquette classes, and there’s still the threat of incarceration hanging over my head. Agreeing to give up my autonomy tohimwould be trading one prison for another. “I’ve stayed in worse dumps than this. What’s a few more days?”

He studies my face before asking, “Is that what you think? That this is all temporary and you’ll be released?”

“Involuntary psych holds can’t last forever without a diagnosis. The judge will expect me for a trial at some point.”

“Thatwouldbe the case if there was a judge. But that would require you to be arrested.”

“I was.” I wave my splotchy fingers at him. “Got fingerprinted and all.”

“Yes.” His jaw ticks. “Too bad there was a computer glitch, which erased those records.”

From the tone in his voice, I’d say getting fingerprinted wasn’t supposed to happen. His comment was supposed to dishearten me, but it has the opposite effect. As Sasha’s fond of saying, there’s no such thing as erasing a digital file. If it existed, someone can find it and piece it back together.

“If you want your freedom, then you’ll adhere to the rules I set out, y-”

“Then what?” I ask, cutting him off.

“Excuse me?”

“Then what? I agree to your rules, then what happens? I become the perfect companion and you marry me off to Pax after I convince Joshua to give him a part of his company?”

He flashes his sparkly white, dental perfect teeth. “Wrong, Cox.”

“You?” I snort. “Why would Joshua give you shares in his company if I’m tied to Pax?”

“Because those familial ties will be to me.”

Huh? It takes my mind a second to catch up to what he’s saying. Is he delusional? He has to be. “Look, I know there’s been some talk about me and my truthfulness, but despite what you and The League may think, I reallydon’tknow where my mother is.”

“Nobody’s interested in that conniving bitch, Hailee.”

I clench my jaw, pressing the palms of my hands against the ground to keep from jumping to my feet and knocking his teeth down his throat. “Well, it’ll be impossible to convince Moira to leave Scott.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m setting my sights a little younger, isn’t it? Gives me more time to create another heir.”

My stomach heaves. Is he fucking serious? Hecan’tbe serious. “Are you high? You must be high. There’s no way you seriously think I’m hooking up with you.”

“I can assure you I am quite serious about this arrangement. Agree to my terms, and at the end of your training,youwillmarrymeand produce an heir.” He waves his hand, indicating my cell. “OrI’ll leave you here to rot.”

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