Page 31 of Owned

My own tiny act of rebellion.

Lucian didn’t own me.

How had I never noticed his presence in my life?

How had I not known?

I threw another piece of paper into the flames.

My graduating grades—at least, they should have been. But I hadn’t graduated.

Not really.

Not properly.

I lifted another sheet of paper.

She plans to study at the Sages University. Despite her pale magic, and although I have attempted to discourage her, she seems determined to go through with her applications. The Sages who have served as her instructors have voiced theirsupport for her application… they seem to believe that she could be an asset to their outreach programs. Perhaps as an inoffensive member of their cross-border programs with some of our less talented neighbors…

The signature on the letter was familiar.

Messana Academy’s headmaster.

My blood froze in my veins and something twisted in my spine.

If I’d finished my applications… I would have been accepted.

I would have been accepted.

But, instead—

Instead, my mother had been engaged to Lucian Romano. She had torn me away from Messana Academy.

And now she was dead… andIwas engaged to Lucian Romano.

My hands shook with rage and hot tears streamed down my cheeks before I could take a breath—

How could—

Had this been his plan all along?

I would have been free…

In my mind, the grimoire’s whispers sharpened. As though it was jealous of the life I could have had—I would never have opened or spilled my blood on its cursed pages. I would never have known it existed.

I would never have met—

The red orb that floated above Lucian’s desk pulsed brighter, and the mist that swirled around it suddenly changed direction.

Shit.

I barely had time to scramble to my feet before the door swung open, drawing all the air with it.

He stood there, a dark eclipse that blotted out my fleeting victory.

I reeled back, but his gaze caught me, pinned me, unraveled every moment of defiance I’d clung to.

I was out of time, out of luck, out of my mind to think I could escape.

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