Page 54 of Heartless Legacy

“Unlawful detention and violation of your civil rights.”

With a shake of my head, I tell her, “I actually hadn’t thought about that. My focus has been on adjusting to being back here.” I settle back onto the couch, draping a blanket over my legs. “I’d rather not think about what happened and where I’ve been any more. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

I let her chatter wash over me, forcing myself to comment in the appropriate places as she tells me what’s been going on in her life. She’s spent most of the time I’ve been gone fulfilling family obligations. There’s a note of sadness in her voice, which I chalk up to her feelings about what’s happened to me.

When she runs out of things to talk about, we turn on a movie. It’s just background noise. My mind races over all the things that I need to do in the next few weeks. To Alexz’s great disapproval and Wolfe’s, I’ve chosen to return to school, so I’ll need to re-enroll and register for classes.

Carla brings us a snack, and at some point, LJ drifts off to sleep. I stay with her on the couch, a knife under the cushion at my back, trying not to react to every sound or flash of light.

Mrs. Mercer walks into the living room, and flicks on a lamp, then sets a tablet on the coffee table in front of me. “There was a rash of disturbances in the neighborhood in your absence, so the security system has been upgraded. Now, all you have to do is say your distress code and help will come.”

“What’s my distress code?”

She rolls her eyes and says, “I didn’t pick it and it’s ridiculous if you ask me, but Carla thought it might be relevant. Phoenix. Your distress code is Phoenix.”

“Huh?”

“As I said, Carla picked it. I see no such similarity to a magical bird of fire, but I suppose it’s easy to remember.” Her words are blunt, but they don’t match the momentary flash of emotion on her face. “So if we’re ever attacked here at home, you yell Phoenix.”

LJ and I talked almost every day over the break, even when she was on the slopes in Denver with her family for New Year’s. She’s slowly gotten me caught up on what I’ve missed and helped me move into the dorms this morning.

Thankfully, re-enrolling in school wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I finished my last semester with passing marks, and they couldn’t reject my enrollment based on their felony policy since the charges were dropped and I was never actually convicted of anything. I felt an enormous sense of relief when they told me my housing assignment changed. The fourth bedroom in Vale Tower is out of circulation again. I’m sure plenty of people will be happy that I’m not living there this year. My new dorm is close to LJ’s. I’d hoped to at least be in herbuilding, but as a late enrollee, there weren’t any spots left. The dorm isn’t bad. It’s also not very secure, which has thrown Wolfe into overprotective mode.

“They’re engaged,” LJ says, as she stares across the street. “Nobody really mentions it, because the paperwork is still being drafted, but my mother overheard Eloise’s mother telling someone.”

I tilt my head back, cracking my neck, and taking a minute to enjoy the feeling of the air and sun on my face. “Lemme know when they post their registry. I’ll send a gift.”

“I’m sorry, Thea.”

My head drops as I return my attention forward. “For what?” I force myself not to stiffen when she touches me.

“This literally happened the day you left. They must’ve been messing around behind you and Finn’s backs.”

She rubs my shoulder, trying to console me over the fact that Pax moved on while I was locked up. I haven’t told her what I overheard at the party. Pax never gave a shit about me to begin with. I was merely an inroad to a deal. I wonder how much of Eloise’s daddy’s business he’s getting.

Turning to face her, I take in the pinch of her brow and the tight set of her mouth. I suspect the look on her face is about more than just me and my life. She’s quieter than she ever was before and changes the subject when I ask about these frequent family trips and events she’s attending. I completely understand compartmentalizing and fixating on other things to avoid facing your problems. I’ll give her all the time she needs to open up to me.

“Don’t feel sorry for me, LJ. Finn’s the one who needs sympathy. His best friend was sneaking around with the girl promised to him since infancy. Nowthat’ssome foul shit. Or maybe they were sharing her all along.” I shrug. “Either way,I’m not a victim and I’m happy to have survived being forced to spend time with any of them.”

The Hellspawn and his queen are walking towards us. Their ears must’ve been burning. Coming to the annex today was intentional. In the movies, I love a big reveal, and I get to act one out now. We’re sitting at an outside table having lunch, because I want as many people to see me as possible and get the rumor mill going. The more people who spread word that I’m back following a stint in jail, the better. They’re welcome to pull up my mugshot and pass it around.

Pax and Eloise are closer now. There’s no way they don’t see me. They might pretend not to, but I know they do. I stare them down, refusing to avert my gaze. I want them all uncomfortable when they see me. Choking on their hypocrisy.

I’m supposed to be one of them. A first year prospect,and none of them looked for me. They immediately labeled me a traitor and never even considered foul play could’ve been involved. Or maybe they were hoping I was dead. I would have died eventually. Either in that place or with whoever I ended up with. Their oath of loyalty is such a joke.

Eloise reacts first. Her eyes widen, then narrow as one corner of her mouth tips up in a snarl. I take note of her tucking herself tighter against Pax’s side, then she leans up to kiss him. Oh wow. Is that supposed to bother me? Her need to stake her claim is so pitiful that I snort out a laugh.

A whole school year and she hasn’t learned pissing on her man is not the deterrent she expects it to be? She didn’t need to go through the trouble. I want nothing to do with the asshole she’s currently attached to. The sight of him rolls my stomach and makes my fingers itch to bury my knife in him.

Pax stares at me. He’s worth even less of my time than she is. I shift in my seat, giving them both my back, while LJ veers off to another topic.

Pax

She’s here? Thea’shere.Eloise and I are in the middle of another one of our mandatory outings. I was already in a pissy mood, but now my skin feels tight across my bones.

My girl is back. Did she agree to my father’s terms? Is that why she’s free? It must be. Why didn’t he mention it to me? I answer my own question. Because of what just happened. He’d want me caught by surprise. My gaze flicks to Eloise. Did she know? Is that why she picked today for our outing? Thea doesn’t even flinch when Eloise kisses me. She laughs like it’s funny. Like she doesn’t care. I hate the sound of that laugh.

As much as I want to go to her, I don’t, because if my father gets wind of me interacting with her, he might hide her away again or go after Finn and Holden to teach me a lesson. I don’t want any of those things to happen, so I endure Eloise’s clammy hands, and bright red lipstick kiss on my cheek.

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