Page 210 of Heartless Legacy

Holden finishes my train of thought. “You think she planted these clues?”

Finn asks, “If the team building challenge was the lead up to entering the bloodline challenge, then why were first year prospects put on the teams?”

Pax offers up a possible answer. “To help figure out the clues. Once they actually enter the next level of the challenge, they’d stop, including the first years. Of course, all that’s assuming they let the first years participate to begin with. Our team dismissed Thea as soon as we entered the crypt.”

Finn says, “My team did the same thing. They established their bullshit pecking order and second-year prospects and below were treated like wasted space. What about you, Holden?”

He says, “I was bored and barely paid attention. But same. The fourth years thought they knew it all, and everyone else just accepted what they said. The only other person who wasn’t involved was Gregory Lloyd, because he was upset about an article he found.”

Deacon has been listening to us brainstorm but now he says, “Before we run with the theory that the team building challenge was the entry fee for the bloodline challenge, can anyone think of anything else the clues could be pointing to?”

Holden responds, “I’m sure I could come up with several options.”

Deacon says, “Let’s do that before we jump to conclusions.” Before I can argue, he says, “I’m not saying you’re wrong, Thea. I’m saying we need to rule out other possibilities before we go down this road.”

Chapter 115

Deacon

“This is a pleasant surprise.” My grandfather says, pulling me into a hug. “Are you here to apply for a job?”

“Not a chance.” I respond with a chuckle. He asks me every time I come to his office.

“You sure? I hear you’re spending a lot of time in the field.”

“I’m hanging out with someone who’s a magnet for trouble.”

He winces, prompting me to ask, “You okay, Pops?” With a heavy sigh, he shakes his head. Getting to my feet, I ask, “Do I need to call the doctor?”

“No. Sit down Deke. It’s not a physical pain I’m experiencing. It’s an emotional one.”

“You and Gran fighting?”

He chuckles, “I wish. When we do the makeup, sex is epic.”

Now it’s my turn to grimace. What is with my grandparents over sharing lately? Pops gets to his feet, locks the office door and closes the blinds. When he returns to his desk, he looks worried.

“Pops?”

Nodding to himself, he comes to a decision, resignation now mars his features. “I have something to tell you. I should havesaid something earlier, but by the time I was ready to, you had already agreed to be Thea’s mentor.”

“We’re more than that, Pops.”

“I know, which is why we’re finally having this talk. You’re gonna be pissed and I’ll deserve it, but let me get out what I have to say first, before you disown me.”

“I wouldn’t-”

“You would, and it’s fine. But your Gran doesn’t deserve a shunning. You will maintain contact with her no matter what. Understood?”

Squirming in my seat, I agree, and he says, “I know The League has issued their impossible challenge again this year.”

I answer slowly. “They have, but I don’t know anything about it.”

“That’s good. But if you did know something about it, I hope it’s what the challenge actually is.”

“Finding an original chess set.”

He walks over to the wall and presses a button, revealing a retractable cabinet and the item hanging inside it. I join him over by the wall and ask, “What’s this?”

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