Page 168 of Heartless Legacy

“I don’t know why you’d think that. Weird shit isn’t exactly my thing, Finn.”

“No, but being sneaky is.” He nibbles my ear, trying to lower my defenses and distract me. “And the thing that happened has your brand of sneakiness all over it.”

“What happened?” My question comes out breathier than I’d like.

“Some computers were tampered with. Files were lost. A whole evening's worth of blackmail material just gone up in smoke when the computers caught fire.”

“And you think I had something to do with it?” I tap his phone screen and put some space between us. “Do I look like I’ve been in a fire?”

“You look very pleased with yourself, Pet. As if you have a juicy secret.” He advances towards me, and I retreat until my back hits the wall. “Even now, there’s a hint of mischief in your eyes. Mischief, and peace.”

“It’s called being free of toxic men named Holden and Finn.”

He chuckles. “Nice try. You’re not free. I’ve just given you a longer leash. So tell me, Thea, in a time when everyone else is stressing about their family’s place in the league, why aren’t you?”

“Why should I be? My status here has been questioned since day one. It’s up to Joshua to prove we descend from the right bloodlines. I think it’s a fifty-fifty chance that he paid his way in. If he gets kicked out, or sidelined again, that’s his problem. Not mine.”

Holden comes to stand on my other side. “Ifhegets kicked out. You’re not worried about yourself?”

I’ve been thinking about Wolfe’s suggestion. I don’t need their help, but coming clean will be one surefire way to get them to show their true colors.

“No, I’m not worried about myself. I’m operating as an independent, remember? Plus, will it really matter how my family ranks when I win the challenge for that fourth bloodline?”

It’s been a minute since I’ve seen them share one of their hive mind-meld looks, but they’ve dusted it off just for this. I pick my nails as they wordlessly converse. Holden asks, “How do you know about that?”

“I know, because there are a lot of people who don’t understand the secret part ofsecret society.”

He says, “You’re not eligible to join that challenge.”

Here we go. “Why not? Because it’s only for second years and up?”

Finn says, “Actually, yes.”

“When have you ever known me to let a stupid little rule like that stop me, Finn?”

Holden says, “The game masters won’t send the tasks to you, so there’s no way to participate.”

“Didn’t you hear the part where I said people talk too much? I don’t need to get the alerts. I just need to know someone who has gotten them before or who’s getting them now, and figure out what the clues mean before anyone else does.”

Finn asks, “Is that why you gave away some of the items you took for the amnesty challenge?” He laughs. “Yes, Pet. I know you played Robin Hood, because there’s no way some of the prospects on the dais had the nerve to rip anyone off.”

“I wanted to help a few of the prospects, because they needed it. But yes, for the others, I’ll use them for information about the history of the league and Canyon Falls.”

Holden tilts his head as he considers my answer. “They wouldn’t have insider knowledge about anything useful. You could’ve kept your points and came to us.”

Poor, sweet, delusional genius. “Holden, why the hell would I come to you about anything?”

Finn sighs. “Because you can trust us, Thea. We’re on your side.”

“Those are just words, Finn. I’ve haven’t seen any evidence of that, andno, fucking and stalking does not mean you respect me as a person or want to help me achieve my goals.”

I jog up the steps to my next class, ignoring his request for me to come back and finish the conversation.

Chapter 96

Thea

Pax is in my gym. He’s got two perfectly acceptable gyms to himself on campus, but he’s at Wolfe Pack. My gym, in my ring, withmyTank. I’m scowling at the both of them as I approach the ring.

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