Page 102 of Owned

“Just imagine the look on Lucian’s face when we present our little gifts,” Bastian said with a satisfied sigh. “He’ll trust us after this.”

“Have you lost your mind?” I hissed.

Bastian let out a derisive snort. “You think I give a shit about talking in front of those traitors? They won’t live long enough to say anything to anyone—”

I thought I heard a muffled moan at those words.

Dumb bastards.

They should have known they wouldn’t survive this.

The road was familiar—but not for the right reasons.

I could remember very clearly the last time I’d driven it and each second tightened the knot in my chest.

“You’re no fun at all, Titus.”

Bastian’s voice was teasing—no, it was mockery—and I clenched my jaw as fury simmered just beneath the surface.

“Neither are the consequences if you keep flapping your mouth.”

“Relax! We’re making history here!” He laughed, carefree and infuriatingly alive.

The sound was chilling.

If Bastian was laughing, it wasn’t a good thing.

As we approached the imposing gates of Messana Academy, I took a deep breath. The walls loomed high, a fortress of secrets. The SUV passed through the wards and Bastian sat up a little straighter and cracked his neck.

“Their wards are still shit,” he muttered.

He wasn’t wrong.

The Sages were arrogant.

Especially within the comfort of their hallowed halls.

Revered and sanctified.

Lies.

Weakness.

Corruption.

That was all that remained behind those stone walls.

“How long has it been?” Bastian asked.

“You knowexactlyhow long it’s been,” I growled.

Bastian laughed at that, but at least he didn’t say anything else as the SUV swept through the wrought-iron gates and into the expansive courtyard in front of Messana Academy’s ancient buildings.

“Has it always been this ugly?” Bastian mused. “They should have knocked it down years ago…”

With one last glare at my brother, I pulled the SUV to a stop and Bastian rocked in his seat. In the trunk, there was a thud and a chorus of muffled groans as our prisoners were jostled around.

“Pathetic,” Bastian muttered as he opened his door and stepped out into the sunshine.

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