Page 107 of Owned

Good.

News of this was going to spread far and fast.

And we wanted it to.

Rubble littered the floor, and my boots crunched over it as I finally followed Bastian and our captive out into the courtyard. The sun blazed overhead. Too bright. Too fucking bright.

Bastian waited on the grass. The once proud Sage was limp and silent behind him. My lip curled as I glared at him.

How had I ever been afraid of this pathetic roach?

I crossed the courtyard and ignored the dozens of eyes that watched with horror from the windows of Messana Academy’s ancient buildings.

“Satisfied?” Bastian asked with a grin.

“Just tying up loose ends,” I muttered as I walked past him, and Bastian snorted as he followed me and we walked across the courtyard toward the SUV.

“Well then,” he said. “I guess it’s time to go home.”

I opened the trunk.

The two figures bound inside looked up with unfocused eyes. The others we’d taken were of no real importance, but they had enough power and position to make a statement. Scorched duct tape covered their mouths, and they winced as light streamed into the space.

“Make room!”

Bastian didn’t bother being gentle as he shoved the Elder in with them.

“We’re going to have plenty to report,” Bastian said, as he slammed the trunk shut and walked around to the passenger seat.

I looked back at the Academy, and a smile tugged at my lips as I watched green tinged black smoke rise from the ruined hall.

Screams and the sound of alarms and bells echoed in the stillness of the early afternoon and figures in black robes ran across the campus like panicked birds in flight.

We had delivered our message, and it would spread like wildfire—Lucian hadn’t asked for this, but he’d relish it.

He’d probably pretend it had been his intention all along.

But this wasn’t his plan.

It wasmine.

Ours.

I wanted Lucian reactive.

I wanted him on edge.

This would push him closer to that weakness.

I needed him to make a mistake.

My brothers should have fallen into line.

But Bastian had been more unpredictable than usual.

And Valen— he was too sentimental.

I wasn’t sure if I could trust them.

---